Welcome Back: Spring Term 1

I hope you have all had a good break and I am looking forward to being back with you all this term.

Our topic in literacy this term is 'Heroes and Villains'. We will be looking at Shakespeare's Macbeth, and using this text to write our own descriptions, playscripts, poetry and a debate.

In Maths we are continuing to follow the White Rose scheme of learning and will be covering, mutliplication, division, ratio, fractions and decimals this term.

Spellings will continue to be handed out on a Monday with a weekly test on Friday morning.

Weekly spelling lists will be added to the web site each week.

There will also be weekly times tables practise and tests to help us with our quick recall of the multiplication and division facts.

School drop off / collection:

Following on from the end of last year, KS2 will be using the double doors leading from the Y5/6 classroom to enter and leave school. A member of staff will be on the playground from 8:45 to welcome the children and guide them into school. At the end of the day, the KS2 children will stand at the back gate with a member of staff until someone comes to collect them.

HOMEWORK

Homework will be set each half term in the form of a grid.  There will be some tasks (in red) that are compulsory, and others that are optional, but will hopefully spark your child's imagination.  Homework is to be completed in the homework books which should then be brought into school at the end of each half term so the children can show eachother the work they have completed.

SPELLINGS

The Statutory Year 5/6 spellings list is stuck in the front of your child's reading record.  This is a list of words that your child should be able to read and spell by the end of Year 6.   

Your child will be given a weekly  'look, copy, cover, check sheet' with a list of words that follow a rule that will be taught in class.  Sometimes these words will be taken from the statutory word list and  sometimes they won't.  The practise sheet is to complete at home but it does not need to be returned to school.  We have a spellings test every Friday morning.

TIMES TABLES

It is really important for your children to have quick recall of their times tables.

Although we practice our tables in class, it is important that the children continue to practice them at home. There are lots of apps and games children can play on their ipads / laptops to support them in learning their tables. Here are a couple of excellent sites you may wish to use:

https://www.timestables.co.uk/

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button

READING

It is important that you hear your child read regularly and also discuss what they have read. Try and do this several times a week. Please make a note of what you have read in their reading record. When they finish a book, they will take a quiz on the computer in school. Their score will be written in their reading record. If children receive less than 70% in the quiz, they will be asked to read the book again to deepen their understanding of what they have read. Stars are awarded for each time your child reads at home.  A star is picked at random each Friday and the winning child can choose a prize from the prize bag!

PE:

PE will be on a Wednesday and a Thursday, but please ensure they have their PE kit in all week in case of timetable changes. The PE kit should be black/navy shorts and a white t-shirt. They can wear pumps or trainers. Please include a warm top/tracksuit bottoms for when the weather gets chilly. A spare pair of socks is also useful.

If your child has their ears pierced, please ensure earrings are removed on P.E days, or plasters / tape is sent in with your child so we can tape over them.

Forest School:

Forest school will be every Friday morning.  Children can come to school in appropriate forest school clothing on that day.

If you have any concerns or queries you may have about your child, you can catch me before or after school or e-mail me at:

r.hough@brennands.lancs.sch.uk

Thank you for your continued support,

Mrs Hough

If you need any support or guidance, you can contact me via my school email: r.hough@brennands.lancs.sch.uk

Welcome to Years 5 - 6!

The classroom is a structured, informative learning environment where pupils begin to gain more independence and the ability to carry out personal research. Children are challenged to think independently and skills for learning are vital at this stage.  

The Junior class comprises of Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 pupils.Whilst Literacy, Numeracy, Science and ICT are a priority, the children enjoy a rich and diverse curriculum with a vast range of activities. The classroom is equipped with 16 Internet linked laptop computers and an Interactive Whiteboard which is incorporated into lessons every day.