Welcome to 3P
Class Teacher: Mr S Poole
Teaching Assistant: Mrs M Dillon
Autumn 1
This term, our topic is 'Roald Dahl'. In this topic, we will be learning about the life, times and works of the author Roald Dahl. We will also be looking at some examples of woodland scenes by the artist Gustav Klimt and character sketches by the illustrator Quentin Blake. We will also be experiencing first hand the sights and sounds of a woodland by exploring some of the 120 acres of maturing woodlands, lakes and ponds at ‘Conkers’ near Swadlincote, Derbyshire.
English
In our English work, we will be writing narratives as well as a biography. We are basing our story-writing on the book of ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ by Roald Dahl, which is a short, tale of a family of foxes with Mr. Fox as the head, who have many a challenge from a trio of local farmers. We will also be researching the life and works of Roald Dahl and writing a biography of the man himself. Alongside this, we will continue to develop our reading skills through a variety of texts and comprehensions in Cracking Comprehension. We are making progress in our spelling by using the Read Write Inc. programme and the children will continue to bring home their weekly spellings (which link to that week's rule). The children also spend time at school learning the statutory Y3/4 spellings and have been given these to practise at home too. Depending on which group they are in, they may not have a log book but will be given other spellings according to their need.
Please also continue to hear your child read regularly and sign their reading diary.
Maths
Our maths work, this term, will cover a variety of areas including using multiples of 5 and 10 bonds to 100 to solve additions and subtractions; add and subtract 1-digit numbers to and from 2-digit numbers; count on and back in 10s and 1s; add and subtract 2-digit numbers; solve problems using place value; know and understand the calendar, including days, weeks, months, years; tell the time to the nearest 5 minutes on analogue and digital clocks; know the properties of 3D shapes; comparing, ordering and understanding place value of 2- and 3-digit numbers; subtracting from 2-digit numbers and using prediction to estimate calculations. We will also be carrying out mathematical challenges and investigations, which involve the strategy ‘Act it Out’.
Knowing their times tables can make a huge difference to a child's confidence in maths and any opportunity to practise the 3, 4 and 8 times tables at home would be welcomed with some children aiming to learn the rest of the times tables before the end of the year! Your help with this at home would be fantastic! Helping your child to learn to tell the time to the nearest five minutes on both analogue and digital clocks would also be a huge advantage because this is a concept which many children find difficult at first
Homework
Homework is an important way to support your child's learning in class. English and Maths homework will now be sent home on a Friday and should be returned and completed by the following Wednesday. The children love using Times Tables Rockstars and this is a fun way to improve their times tables knowledge especially their recall speed. Short, daily practising of the weekly spellings and the Y3/4 spellings will also help your child develop their ability to apply the spelling rules. Children will continue to bring home a banded reading book but should also be encouraged to read a range of other good quality books. Please come and see me if you require any further information about how to help your child with their homework.
PE
PE takes place on Monday and Tuesday afternoons. The children should be responsible for bringing their own PE kit. They should also have both indoor and outdoor kits with them just in case we decide to go outside. For health and safety reasons children should not be wearing any jewellery to take part in PE or sport, particularly ear rings. These should be removed before coming to school on a PE day.
Worries and Concerns
If you have any worries or concerns about anything, large or small, please do not hesitate to send a note in or come and see me at the door in a morning or evening.
Useful websites
Times Table Rock Stars: https://ttrockstars.com/login
Abacus Maths Games: https://www.activelearnprimary.co.uk
Conkers attraction: http://www.visitconkers.com/
