Welcome to Year 4

INTRODUCTION

In Year 4 our teachers are Mr Ayers supported by Mrs Powell (Nightingales), Mrs Lawson-King supported by Mrs Wooldridge (Finches) and Miss Hawthorne supported by Mrs Jenkins (Larks).  Miss Swallow is the Year 3&4 Phase Leader.

 WELL DONE AWARD 

Friday 17th May 2019

This weeks Awards go to:

Nightingales - Annabel and Niall

Finches - Eva

Larks - Amelia

PGL PRESENTATION

Please click here to view the PGL Presentation and Information.

MATHS WORKSHOP - Tuesday 6th November

Please click here to view the Year 4 Maths Parent Workshop Presentation.

CURRICULUM EVENING - 18th September 2018

Please click here to view the Year 3/4 Curriculum Evening Presentation.

CURRICULUM

Please click here to view the Curriculum Overview for Year 4.

TOPIC

Where in the world is Hagley?

Our topic during the spring term is ‘Where in the world is Hagley?’ We will focus on locating countries and major cities within Europe and will draw comparisons between European countries.  During the spring term, Year 4 will be working on a project for change with a specific focus on exploring air pollution within the local environment.

MATHS

During Spring 1, the children have learned about multiplication and division. They have looked at formal written methods and have begun to identify the most efficient ways of solving a variety of problems. In multiplication they have multiplied 3 digits by 1 digit and in division, have divided 2 digits by 1 digit numbers. The children have also learned about area. They have investigated and compared different areas and problems.

In Spring 2, the focus will be on fractions and decimals. When learning about fractions, the children will: become clear on what a fraction is, find equivalents, discover fractions greater than 1, count in fractions, add and subtract fractions and finally find fractions of amounts. When exploring decimals, the focus will be on tenths and hundredths, including apply their knowledge of multiplying and dividing numbers by 10 or 100.

We will also be regularly practising mental arithmetic skills to improve children’s fluency and speed of recall.

ENGLISH

During the beginning of this term, the children have been learning how to inform the reader through their writing. Linking with our topic of Electricity, they have been planning, drafting and editing a non-chronological report, inspired by their own learning.  In the next unit of writing, the children will be creating an exciting persuasive piece by promoting ideas for change in the local area – linking with our topic project.  

SPELLINGS AND READING

For weekly spelling patters, please see your child's spelling booklet. During the Spring term, there will be a KS2 spelling competition every two weeks.  The dates and spelling list for these have been sent home and we ask that you encourage your child to learn these spellings ready for the competition!

 All children in Year 4 have also been given a reading record book.  We ask for all children to read at home a minimum of three times a week.  This reading can be independent or aloud with an adult and recorded into the reading records using the page number.  Children may do this themselves if they feel confident.

If a child has not completed 3 reading sessions during the week, we will ask them to attend an additional reading session during Monday break time.

Please click here to view list of generic questions to help parents discuss a text with their child when reading.

Please click here to view list of 'Recommended Reads' for Year 4.

Please click here to view the Year 3-4 Word/Spelling List.

Please click here to view Year 4 Spelling Outline for parents' information

SCIENCE

Living things and their habitats

• Identify different groups of living things
• Use classification to group living things
• Explore changes in the environment

States of matter

• Define and identify solids, liquids and gases
• Investigate changes of state through heating or cooling
• Explore evaporation and condensation in the Water Cycle.

HOME LEARNING

Homework will be sent out on Thursdays and is to be returned on Tuesdays.  Children in Year 4 will be set both Maths and English homework tasks each week and these will be set using your child's personal study book.  These books cover all aspects of the Year 4 curriculum with a focus on spelling, grammar and punctuation in English and basic maths skills.  These books will be provided for your children by the school and are a great way to help your child to consolidate the learning that has taken place in school.

PE

Nightingales - Outdoor: Monday, Indoor: Wednesday

Larks - Outdoor: Monday, Indoor: Wednesday

Finches - Outdoor:  Monday, Indoor: Wednesday

Please can you ensure that your child has their full PE kit in school for these days as well as long hair tied back.  For safety reasons, jewellery is not to be worn during PE lessons, therefore could you please ensure your child is able to remove it independently before the lesson or have it removed before coming into school. 

MINDFULNESS AND WELLBEING

A part of Hagley Primary School's values include children's emotional wellbeing.  Within our classes, we will be giving children regular opportunities to practise the techniques of mindfulness and discussing how this can improve concentration, focus and boost confidence.  This compliments our Growth Mindset approach which we have already established within the school.

THINGS YOU COULD DO AT HOME TO HELP YOUR CHILD .....

• Read with your child as much as possible (ideally daily but 3 times minimum) as this helps with their fluency and understanding of texts, as well as helps to increase their imagination for their own writing.  Children will be bringing home reading records to sign and date to show how frequently they have read during the week.
• Rehearse spelling patterns - weekly spelling patterns have been sent home in your child's Spelling Booklet.  These will be assessed weekly alongside a selection of words from the Year 3/4 curriculum word list.
• Practise times tables.  At the end of Year 4, children are expected to be able to recall times tables up to 12x12.  In school, children practise times tables using Times Tables Rock Stars five times each week.  This programme is also available to access at home and we encourage the children to do so as often as possible.

Education City - www.educationcity.com

Each chid in Year 4 has a log in for Education City.  This is a fantastic website full of educational games and activities and the children love using it.  Under the 'My Revision' tab on your child's homepage, they can access maths games that are tailored to their learning.  There are also games to revise different spelling patterns and many aspects of the English curriculum.

ART/OVERALL APRON

Please check that your child has an apron or an art shirt in their bags for messy activities in school.