1. Mrs Mackie 2015-16

2. Our Expectations  Now that the pupils are in Primary 4, there will be an expectation that all children respect the environment in which they are learning and respect others belongings.  We expect good behaviour and good manners at all times.  We ask the children to try their best at all times, working neatly and productively.

3. How you can help? Please support your children in preparing for school each day, your child should bring:  a sharp pencil and ruler  a rubber  a glue stick  highlighter pens  library book  reading record  a healthy, nut free snack  a P.E kit- black shorts and white t-shirt (including jogging bottoms and outdoor P.E shoes)  water bottle Please ensure that your child’s name is on all of their belongings

4. How you can help- Supporting at home Reading  Ask questions, ask your child to write their own comprehension paper.  Ask the child to summarise what they have just read in their own words  Make flash cards of any words the child is struggling to read and practise those daily  Ask your child to read to a younger sibling (if they have one)  Record an audio book, use ipad apps to video your child reading, it helps when they can see and hear themselves.  Model the reading yourself so that your child can copy a fluent and expressive reader.Maths  Regular practise of number bonds, times tables, quick fire mental maths sums in real life contexts e.g. add up the digits on a car number plate in a traffic jam.  Don’t be frightened to tell your child the answer the first time, tell the answer, then ask the question again.  Play card games, like 21

5. How you can help- Supporting at home Spelling  Practise their spelling words daily  Test them on the words  Make sure the child understands the meaning  Encourage the use of a dictionary and thesaurus  Make flash cards  Use free websites like www.spellingcity.comwww.spellingcity.com  You can enter the spelling list words into the website and play games here.

6. Homework We would appreciate all homework to be signed.  Spelling – Spelling homework is set on a Monday by your child’s group teacher and should be handed in by Friday. Pupils are tested on Friday. Words are taken from the Single Word Spelling Test scheme.  Look, say, cover, write, check.  Weekly spelling should also be completed with the appropriate spelling activities  (100 Point Activities) noted in spelling homework jotters.

7. Reading  Your child will take part in a guided reading group with the teacher or a pupil support worker. Each term there will be a focus for this reading. This term our focus is skimming and scanning skills and using a dictionary. Maths  Maths homework will be set on Monday by your child’s group teacher and should be returned on Friday. Other Curricular Areas  This term, the children have been set a rainforest challenge to complete at least 3 rainforest themed activities by Friday 16 th October.

8. Specialist Teachers We will also have lessons throughout the year from:  Miss Kerr- Music  Mrs Mitchell – P.E. Support for Learning  Mrs Kellner, Miss Kerr and Mrs Robertson will provide extra support when needed

9.  Building our class community and getting to know each other  Mini topic on our school value- Respectful  Community Contract– Class Expectations  Begun our Rainforest IDL context  Established grouping

10. The Rainforest- Literacy, Social Studies and Expressive Arts focus. Also links to technologies, ICT and Science. Maths- place value, addition and subtraction and data handling (class maths). Literacy- Non fiction reading and dictionary work, writing linked to the Rainforest (describing a scene, fact files, instructions, advertisement), spelling and grammar RME- water P.E- Jog Scotland and tennis with Mrs Mitchell Music- Call and response French- general revision of key greetings

11.  The Rainforest- animal factfiles, description of the Rainforest, comparison of Mid Calder/Scotland to the Rainforest, Rainforests in a bottle, sustainability, deforestation, how we can help, Rainforest art, tree study, classification of animals etc…  Money week- We will be presenting a Rainforest Café at an open afternoon. The children will be involved in the planning, making and serving of the food and handling the money.

12.  Linked to our IDL context  23 rd September and 5 th October  £7.50  Looking at Biodiversity  Tour of the Zoo  Tickets to see the pandas

13. Positive Ethos Policy  Dojo Points – linked to learning ladder and marbles, dojos can be earnt all around the school, including in the playground  Top Scorers  Living the Values  Star Writer  Star Pupil  Free Time Friday  School Blog  iAchieve  Achievement Assembly

14.  Warning given – using our class learning peg ladder  5 minutes incremental loss of Free Time Friday- this can build up to loss of the entire Free Time Friday session.  Reflection sheet to be signed and returned  Move to another seat in the class  Move to another class  Senior management

15.  If there is anything you would like to discuss further, please feel free to make an appointment  Use notes via your child to communicate anything that I need to be aware of.