Newsletter- week ending 27th February

Dear parents/carers,

This week has been “Yellow Book Week”, where we assess the children in a variety of different subject areas, using a range of techniques. The children have written stories, completed mental and written maths papers and made circuits, amongst other things, in order for me to see where they are now, what progress they have made and what I need to teach them next. I’ve been incredibly pleased with how well the children have worked this week and the effort that they have put into everything. It’s not an easy week when you’re 7 or 8, but my class have done a wonderful job and I’m very pleased with their progress.

You should all now have a slip telling you when your parent/teacher meeting appointment is. I am completely full for both Thursday evenings, so if anyone could make a Monday afternoon instead I’d be happy to move you! I will be limiting the meetings very strictly to 10 minutes, mainly because my 8pm in the evening I’m normally asleep! I am still suffering with some rather nasty morning/all day/all night sickness, so I would really appreciate it if you could help me get home and to bed as early as possible.

I spent Wednesday and Thursday learning how to use our new Oxfordshire Learning Platform, which you’ll probably be hearing more about in the coming months. It’s basically an interactive online repository of information, which will eventually allow you to log in and access information about our class and your children. I’ll be introducing it to the children in the next couple of weeks, so expect to be hearing about it from them soon.

On Wednesday next week the children start swimming. They must have their swimming kit with them on Wednesday morning, as well as a coat as it can sometimes be cold when they come out of the swimming baths. Also, could the children please bring one clean t-shirt (any size/colour) with them on Monday? It doesn’t matter if not, as I’ll be bringing some, but it would be really useful for the children to have their own if they can. This is for a secret project, but I can promise that the t-shirts will not be damaged in any way!

Our timetable returns to normal (well, as normal as it gets!) next week. In English we are going to be looking at instructional writing, including exploring different types of instructions and seeing how useful and useable they are. In maths my student, Miss Gill, will be recapping telling the time, as well as looking at measuring mass. This will include using different types of weighing equipment. In science we are starting our “Earth and Beyond” module. Next week we’ll be looking at what shape the Earth, Sun and Moon are, as well as working out how they relate to each other in space.

Mrs B

Three things to ask your child this week:
1 How did you feel about Yellow Book Week?
2 Which assessment did you find easiest/hardest, and why?
3 What did you enjoy about your hockey and rugby lessons this week?

Space Homework Projects

The space homework projects were fantastic! I was really impressed at how much the children knew about their chosen planets. The projects were of a very high quality and really showed how interested the children were in this project. Thank you for all of your help at home. We’ll be running another short focused project next half term.

Newsletter- week ending 13th February

Dear parents/carers,

After the disruption of the snow days the children have settled down to work very well this week. Not being able to go out and play has caused a few problems, but on the whole they’ve coped extremely well with the situation.

In English this week we have been finishing our work on story settings, as well as recapping story planning and full stops/capital letters. The children have all planned and written a short story, based around a set planning structure. After half term we’ll be looking at instruction writing.

In maths this week we’ve been looking at handling and interpreting data, including Venn and Carroll diagrams, block graphs and bar charts. After half term we’re going to start off by looking at measuring length, time and mass.

In science we’ve finished our topic on “Light” by investigating and measuring shadows. The children have looked at how shadows are formed and which way they fall. After half term we’re going to start a new unit of work called “Earth and Beyond”, which will fit beautifully with our space topic. We’ll be looking at the movement of the Earth, as well as looking at other aspects of space science and physics.

In the week straight after half term we will be assessing the children in their reading, writing, spelling, science, mental and written maths. My lovely reading helpers can have an extra week off as most of these assessments will be taking place in the morning. When we’re not working on the assessments we will be doing a range of fun activities, including art and circle time. On Wednesday afternoon the children will be starting to make their Mars bases. They have already created some designs, so the next step will be to start collecting junk modelling resources, ready to start building on Wednesday. If you could collect any likely looking boxes/yogurt pots/drinks bottles etc over half term it would be much appreciated.

Have a great half term!

Mrs B

Three things to ask your child this week:

1 How do you know where to put a full stop or a capital letter?

2 If the sun is behind you, where will your shadow be?

3 What’s the difference between a block graph and a bar chart?