Welcome to Year 4 - Five Ways Primary School

Welcome to Year 4

The Team
• Mrs Darby (Team Leader)

• Mrs Gosling (Forest School Leader)

• Mrs Robinson (Eco/Science Leader)

• Mrs Testill (Teaching Assistant)

A New Era!

• Start of Year 4.
The children have already experienced their first year in KS2.
They will now be familiar with the KS2 part of the building
however, they will start to use a larger area of the school at
playtimes, lunchtimes and for certain lessons.

• Transition Activities

General Information
Year 4 Teacher:   Class Name:   Class room
Mrs Darby         Falcons       Y4 corridor
                                (opposite the staff
                                room)
                                Enter and exit from
                                the door next to the
                                KS2 Hall.

Mrs Gosling       Eagles        Y4 corridor
                                (middle class room )
                                Enter and exit from
                                the door next to the
                                KS2 Hall.

Mrs Robinson      Hawks         End of the Y4 corridor
                                Enter and exit from
                                the main KS2 doors at
                                the bottom of the big
                                playground.

Home – School Communication
• ‘Home-Link’ books

• Adult on entrance doors

• Open door policy – all welcome!

Home-link Books

Home-link Books

Home-link Books

Timetable

Curriculum
• Core Subjects – English, Maths, Science, Computing

• Foundation Subjects - History / Geography
  (Topic), Religious Education (RE), Physical Education (PE),
  Design and Technology (DT), Art, Music, French (MFL)

• Other areas of learning - Personal, social and
  health education (PSHE), Social, moral, spiritual, cultural
  education (SMSC) Relationships and Sex Education (RSE).

English
• Reading

• Writing. The children will be used to using success
  criteria to help them to be successful in their writing.
  The children will already be familiar with symbols from the
  writer’s toolkit. This will continue and the range of tools
  that they use will be greater as they become better
  writers.

• Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS). We use No
  Nonsense Grammar and No Nonsense Spelling to support
  teaching and learning. Use lots of strategies to practise
  spellings at home.

• Speaking and Listening

Reading
School reading
Focus on comprehension, layout of text, the author’s style
and the language the author uses
Reading VIPERS questions
Read daily (in English and other subjects) – whole class, group
or individually
Home-link book required every day
Bug Club / extended levels for Oxford Reading Scheme
Home reading
At least 3 times a week
Access Bug Club at home
Parent or child can make comments in the diary
Child’s responsibility to change their own book
Reading incentive tree in each Year Four Class.

Writing
Text types

 Stories based on a ‘real life’ theme or issue

 Myths – Link to work on Ancient Greece

 A range of narratives from other cultures

 Persuasive adverts and letters

 Non-chronological reports

•   Spellings – weekly list or activity

•   Handwriting

Handwriting
Year Four pupils will be taught to:

• use horizontal and diagonal strokes to join letters and
  understand which letters are best left un-joined
• increase the legibility, consistency and quality of their
  handwriting
• ensure lines of writing are spaced sufficiently
• develop the right posture in order to write correctly
• practise their handwriting in their English books, so that
  learning is not seen as a separate skill

Mathematics
• Mental Recall –   Times tables, number bonds, doubles, halves

•   Number
•   Measurement
•   Geometry
•   Statistics

• APPLYING AND REASONING
• CPA model
• MOTD – Maths of the day activities.

Multiplication Tables Check
• In January 2016, the government announced
  its intention to introduce a Multiplication
  Tables Check (MTC) for Key Stage Two pupils.
  In 2017, it was decided that this check would
  take place by the end of Year Four, in line with
  the requirements set out in the national
  curriculum. The MTC will become statutory
  for schools to administer in the 2019/2020
  academic year.

MTC
• The check is designed to test children’s fluent and rapid recall of the
  multiplication tables up to 12 x 12, through a set of twenty five random,
  timed questions. The test will only test multiplication facts and not the
  related division facts. Pupils will have six seconds to answer each question
  with a three second pause between questions. I would like to reassure
  parents that all pupils will have been prepared for the MTC pilot before
  they participate in it. They will have had the opportunity to practise
  sitting the MTC with the support of their teacher or myself.
• To further prepare, all pupils have been given a personal login to Times
  Table Rockstars, which we have purchased with the help of the PTFA. This
  is a valuable resource that will provide the children with endless
  opportunities to practise the multiplication tables. As part of this game,
  the children can play Soundcheck games which is the closest game to the
  MTC because if gives twenty five timed questions. We recommend that
  the children use the Times Table Rockstars daily if possible. Rapid recall of
  the multiplication facts is built through repetition. Alternatively, the
  children can play ‘Hit the button’ or make flashcards to assist them.

How can you help at home?
• Telling the time
• Rapid recall of multiplication tables, up to 12 x
  12. Ensure children are using Times Table
  Rockstars.
• Use MyMaths to reinforce learning and to
  practise work being completed in school.
• To use maths in a real life context
• Cooking
• Shopping

Work in other subjects
       Science                                  Topic
   States of matter                            Europe
    (solids, liquids and gases)
                                         Comparing Modern
     Teeth and the                         Day Greece to
    digestive system                      Ancient Greece.
          Sound                                 Rivers
       Electricity                       How did the Roman
      Living things                    invasion change life in
(including habitats and food chains)           Britain?

Marking and Feedback
• New research – DfE / Ofsted
• Extensive discussions
• Clear philosophy

• Already trialled by Year Leaders
• Roll out to all classes – age appropriate

Homework
• Maths / English – Approximately 30 minutes
• Support/consolidate work in class
• Reading (at least three times per week)
• Spelling
  (use a range of strategies, e.g. pyramid words, rainbow writing)
• Use of My Maths.
• Times Table Rockstars

• Expectations- homework book.
• Communication / Support

(Support – help as appropriate, but indicate if a
lot of help has been given.)

P.E.
• 2 lessons per week – 1 games lesson, 1 gym/dance.
• Health and Safety – no jewellery
                     - long hair should be tied back
                     - plastic glasses are preferable.

Kit – please ensure EVERYTHING is named.
Indoor
Blue shorts, white T-shirt, bare feet

Outdoor
Track suit, trainers

If your child cannot participate,
please ensure that you send a note in the Home-Link book.

What stays the same?
•   Uniform - labelled

•   Expectations of behaviour

•   Style of teaching

•   Open door policy

•   The children will all receive a Home-Link book

•   Junior Governing Body

•   Parent consultation meetings – October 1st half term.

•   Pupils are requested to bring a healthy snack from home for break
    times.

New Experiences
•   New classes
•   Different Curriculum clubs
•   Eco-council
•   Junior Governing Body
•   Forest School

Upcoming Events
• Christmas Service

• Theatre Visit

• Roman Day – Summer term
  (approximately £5.50 per child)

• Charity support – this year we have supported a
  local Hedgehog organisation.

• A parent workshop will be held during the Autumn
  Term, further details to follow.

Thank You