Monday 21st May

TEST WEEK

Yep...that time of year has arrived for Year 3 and 4 children. Following in our Year 5 and 6 children's footsteps we are aiming to complete all tests this week so that they are not looming over us on our return after the Whit holidays. It is going to be an opportunity for you all to show off your learning for this year and will also provide us with the results that are then sent home with the reports in July. For us teachers it is a chance to see what you can remember and also find out were the gaps are to ensure we fill them before you move onto your next year. It would be really helpful if you can ensure that your child is in every day this week as we understand how tricky children find it to sit a test on their own after all their peers have done it. We have found in the past that it can affect their final result.

Well done to all the children who have moved up in their colour reading scheme book this week. All the children will be tested in the coming week and also after the half term. Most children do move up a colour band. Some even move up two!!! If your child does not move up it could mean that they need extra input with their reading. This not only happens in school with a reading buddy but needs to happen at home. Please make sure you hear your child read every day so that they make the progress they deserve. Thank you.


Year Three Holy Communion

Could you please make sure that you have sent back the letter regarding Holy Communion ties and the food that you will supply for the Holy Communion breakfast. We also need lots of parents to help with transport on the Thursday and Friday before to go up to church to practise. This form is also on the same letter. Please could we have all information by this week. Those parents who have offered their help with transport we will let you know who you are taking and the arrangements after half term. Thank you.

LITERACY

In between the tests the children will be continuing on their topic of persuasive writing, as well as improving sentences with some more of the Alan Peat work - ask your child about their Punctuation Face!

Please spend some time this week looking back over previous blogs for the different types of writing we have explored this year. It would be valuable for you to re-familiarise and review some for this week.

NUMERACY

Tables...tables...tables! It's amazing how quickly we can lose our rapid recall of times tables if we neglect them, even for a couple of weeks. Use the links below to get them up to tip top condition.

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/851/Hitthebuttonv7.swf

http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/multiples/intro.htm

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/tabletrees.html

All Numeracy groups have been sent home with a review sheet. Miss Robinson's group have one that concentrates on topic type maths for the children to focus on. Look back through previous blogs or visit:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/index.html - to revise the areas on the A3 sheet.

In class this week we will be revising our number skills.

http://www.mape.org.uk/startower/sums/index.htm - solve the column addition and subtraction sums.

http://www.buildabear.com/_graphics/games/flashcards/flashcards.swf - a little bit 'cute' but a good basic level to practise your column addition and subtraction.

http://www.playkidsgames.com/games/apples/default.htm - can you help the monkey save the apples?

http://www.sgfl.org.uk/games/games/maths/countdown - can you make the Target Number?

Mrs Harding's Maths group when we manage to meet up - Will be continuing to review certain topics. The first being data handling.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/maths/revision_bites/interpretingdata6.shtml

http://www.mathszone.co.uk/

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/index.html

SCIENCE

In Science this week we will be continuing with our work on circuits. The children will be finding out/reviewing what materials allow electricity through and those that do not. Therefore, we will be learning about conductors and insulators.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/revision_bites/conductors2.shtml

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/Science/electricity.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/circuits_conductors.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/podsmission/electricity/annie02.shtml

I'm sure there will be lots of creative things going on too this week but we don't want to give too much away!

Good luck everyone! We're confident you'll all be brilliant!

Have a safe and happy week.

The Year 3 and 4 team

xxx