Mulberry Class 2019-2020

Welcome

Topics This Term Autumn 1: Autumn 2: English: English: Fantasy Stories – Wolf Brother Non-Chronological reports – producing fact files about different animals. Mathematics – Place value, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, shape. Science – ‘Animals and their Environment’ Topic – Stone-Age to Iron Age Computing – Staying safe online. PE – Tag-rugby RE – Ourselves, Life Choices Autumn 2: English: Poetry – conveying powerful images using similes and metaphors. Fables – producing our own fables. Mathematics – multiplication and division, fractions, time, angles. Science – ‘Changes of State’ Topic – Stone Age to Iron Age Computing – designing, creating and debugging programs. PE – Swimming RE – Hope

Assessment Ongoing assessment: Spelling/ times table tests Monitoring of progress through marking Exciting writing Progress weeks: Formal tests Assessment tasks Grading: Mastery approach At/above/below Objectives: See home school planners (synopsis)

Homework The homework tasks that the children will be expected to complete are as follows: Read their school reading book (daily) Practise spellings (weekly) Practise times tables (weekly) Mathematics task/activity OR English/grammar exercise Long term topic homework (termly) Homework will usually support work undertaken in class and as such, your child should be able to complete a task independently. Homework will normally be given out on a Wednesday and will be due back on the following Tuesday. Spellings will be given out on a Tuesday and the children will be tested on the following Tuesday. Times table tests will also take place on a Tuesday (your child should know the level of the Multiples Marathon that they are on).

National Multiplication Check for Year 4 From the 2019/20 academic year onwards, all state-funded maintained schools and academies (including free schools) in England will be required to administer an online multiplication tables check (MTC) to Year 4 pupils. The national curriculum specifies that pupils should be taught to recall the multiplication tables up to and including 12 × 12 by the end of Year 4. The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently, which is essential for future success in mathematics. Aim It will help schools to identify pupils who have not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support can be provided. Administration: Schools will have a 3-week window to administer the MTC. Teachers will have the flexibility to administer the check to individual pupils, small groups or a whole class at the same time.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/multiplication-tables-check-development-process

How the test will work There will be 25 questions worth one mark each. The questions will be in no particular order. Every question will follow the same format and will require the same type of response e.g. 4 x 8 = 32 Children will have a maximum of six seconds to answer each question. There will be a three-second pause before the next question is displayed. The emphasis will be on the "6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 multiplication tables", with two to four questions in every test taken from each of the 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 multiplication tables, meaning that between 18 and 22 questions will focus on KS2 content. There will be no question reversals in any test. For example, "3 × 8 would not appear in the same form as 8 × 3". Children will be randomly assigned a test. The system will provide a range of tests, equal in difficulty, but with different questions in different orders. No test should have more than 30 per cent of the same questions as another test. Children will be able to access a "practice area" in the run up to the test window in June.

Other information regarding the tests There will be no expected standard threshold, although schools will be provided with information about the number and percentage of pupils who achieve full marks. This suggests that the ‘pass mark’ will be 25 out of 25.

How can you help your child prepare? 1. Use times table wall charts Use wall charts which show all the answers for a particular times table. Stick them up somewhere they’ll be seen often. 2. Learn the tricks for difficult times tables There are clever tricks for remembering several of the times tables. 3. Play times tables games Why not play snap with some times tables flashcards, matching the sums to the answers as fast as you can? Or you could surprise your child by asking times tables questions at random times during the day and seeing how quickly they can respond (this works particularly well as a competition between siblings or friends). 4. Make it real If your child can’t see any point in learning their times tables, try showing them how this knowledge is useful in everyday life. Try to create opportunities for your child to use multiplication in problem solving. For example, ask them to scale up a recipe or calculate whether they have enough money to buy more of their favourite things (such as sweets or football cards). 5. Practise on the computer Help your child become comfortable reading and answering questions on a screen.

Physical Education PE lessons will take place Friday afternoons (Autumn Term 1). PE for Autumn Term 2 will be swimming at Southam Leisure Centre on a Monday afternoon at 1:30pm. Dance lessons on Fridays at 2:30pm First swimming session will be on Monday 11th November and will continue into the spring term. PE kit – black shorts/leggings, school PE shirt, trainers/plimsoles, school hoodie and tracksuit bottoms (colder weather). Earrings must be removed and hair tied back.

Reading Reading is an important skill and we value it highly. Please make sure children bring their books to read into school each day. It is expected that the children read every night and that they choose their own books. You can help support your child’s reading development by listening to them read, reading to them yourself and sharing a variety of books at home. We value your support and encourage you to contribute to your child’s reading diary regularly. Good readers make good writers.

How Can You Help? We want to encourage the children to be as independent as possible. They should be responsible for remembering reading books and homework, for example. Read everything! Books are for enjoyment as well as learning so encourage reading as much as you can. Talk about what they’ve read, ask opinions, make predictions, visit the library and make sure your child sees you reading too. Times tables – these are crucial and underpin nearly all mathematical concepts. Targets in the back of the home school planner. Refer to the year group topic plans and talk to your child about their learning. Support reading, spelling and homework.

Any Questions?