Class 3 Information

Class Teacher: Mrs Brocklebank

Mrs Rose - Teaching Assistant
Mrs Campbell - PE Teacher

Homework
As a rule, homework will be as follows:

• Wednesday– ‘I Can Do’ maths marking
• Daily – reading
• Regular times tables practice including TTRockstars – (Times Tables Rockstars)
• Thursday- Cracking Times Tables
• Half-termly homework Task – There will be one homework each half term, supporting a topic theme.
• MyMaths is set as appropriate to support the learning
• Spellings = Year 3/4 Common exception words – half-termly list

Homework should take no longer than 20 minutes a day. We do expect homework to be completed. If there is a problem, please feel free to contact me.

‘I Can Do Maths’ project. This scheme comprises a weekly set of problems, to be spread over the week and marked each Wednesday morning. All children should be encouraged to answer the questions independently, for homework. They can bring in their book each day, as they do have the opportunity to work on their maths in school, so can use the time to also ask their class teacher or a learning partner for help, if needs be. TTRockstars (Times Tables Rockstars) is an online program which helps supports multiplication fluency. Children also have access to MyMaths, an on-line homework and support programme, for which they each have a log-in and password which we record in their reading diaries.

Reading Diaries

• Children should record the book title, book level and quiz number of the book they choose then record their daily reading in their diaries. After completing their AR quiz, pupils record their percentage score beside the book. Parents can indicate when they are reading with or listening to their child read.

Reading Books

• All children will be given time to change their reading books and it is important that they do this themselves, right from the start. If you have concerns about the books they are choosing, then please come and see me. Please be assured that they will be supported and guided with this task and will quickly gain independence.
• We have a structured library of reading books in the corridor, which are part of the Accelerated Reading programme. Following an assessment, each child will be guided to the correct level, as a starting point. Each band within the structure offers a wide range of genres and interest areas for the children to choose from, at an appropriate level. The content of some books may not be suitable for lower Key Stage 2, hence the black band age-guide (targeted at 9 to 13 year olds). This does not mean that the black band books are too hard; it is that the content is more appropriate for older readers. They are welcome to read a black band book within their level at your discretion. The lower age-guide has white bands.
• The children cannot be listened to on a one-to-one basis as frequently as I might like, so your monitoring and support of their reading will be of great benefit to them. Their reading and quizzes are reviewed on a regular basis, usually on a Friday when I collect in their diaries.

P.E. Pupils should continue to come to school in their kit on PE days: Wednesday and Friday
P.E. kit must be fully labelled.

• Wednesday – Games (football/netball kit. Warm blue or black sweatshirt and joggers for colder weather)
• Friday – P.E. (Gym kit – shirt, shorts, pumps, trainers for hall use)

The Daily Mile

Each day the children run or jog (alternating with brisk walking if needed!) at their own pace for 15 minutes.

The Heart of England Outdoor Learning and Forest School
Our Heart of England learning in the outdoors visits will continue once every term. Activities will link to our learning in cross curricular subjects. The children wear long sleeves and trousers, waterproofs if needed and footwear appropriate for the conditions; these are essential for the safety and comfort of all. There will also be opportunities to use our Forest School to support our learning journey too.

Equipment/Desk Storage

• The children have access to a writing pencil, rubber, ruler, whiteboard and pen. If they wish, they can bring in colouring pencils and a small glue stick, to be kept in a non-bulky pencil case. Desk/drawer space is limited.
• A small named snack box is preferable (KS2 children are not eligible for free fruit or milk), again due to limited storage space.
• We would ask for your children’s water bottles to be filled at home each morning. They will be replenished during the day.
• “Fidgets” – To help a small number of children calm down and self-regulate, an item to “fidget” with can be helpful. This is a need rather than a want. For those who need such an item, it should be no bigger than their palm and not make a noise when used so as not to cause a distraction. They are not to be shared or passed around.

Rewards

• ❖ Using a tally system, the children collect individual “merit points” (mp) in both work outcomes and independent thinking skills. Each tally (or five merit points) earns a…Diddy Dot! (DD). Children collect their DDs on a card and when they achieve 9, they will receive their first certificate. They will continue to accumulate DDs, earning rewards at intervals of 18, 27, 36, 45 etc.
• ❖ The Golden Wall, present in each classroom, provides an opportunity for children to gain ‘golden bricks’ for following the...Golden Rules! At the close of each term, we place all the bricks in a hat and draw a winner. The draw ensures that all children will continue to be motivated by the chance to win a gift or voucher, by the end of term.
• ❖ Class Reward. Each lesson, by following our school values of inspiration, collaboration, nurture and respect, the children can earn a “star” for the Star Jar. Once the jar is filled there will be a class reward such as extra “Golden Time” minutes added onto a playtime.
• ❖ Each week a pupil will be chosen as ‘Star of the Week’ in recognition of positive behaviour across all aspects of school life. They will receive their ‘certificate’ of stardom in Celebration Assembly, to which parents are specifically invited.
• ❖ Building Learning Power (BLP) is an initiative introduced to help us cultivate the habits and attitudes of curious, confident and independent learners. Your child may mention having shown a characteristic of that kind of learning and been acknowledged in class; we have a board which recognises these qualities. In addition, our class positive mindset monkey (Monty) is still very popular with the children and can be called upon when they need support.

All your children are settling well into their new year groups; working hard and enjoying new challenges. I have tried to think of all the areas within Class Three that may be of interest to you, but I’m sure I’ll have forgotten to mention something! Please let me know if you do have any other queries.

I’m looking forward to a happy and productive year in Class Three.

Many thanks for your support.

Mrs Brocklebank