Spring Term : Wonderful Water.
Welcome to the Oak Class page!
We are a mixed-age year 3/4 class and we are taught by Mrs Dodd and Mrs Pincher.
In Oak Class, we build on the core skills learned in Key Stage 1, such as writing and maths. We develop these skills further so that children become more confident, independent learners. In writing, children begin to use more complex sentence structures, expand their vocabulary, and write for a wider range of purposes. We achieve this through the use of rich and engaging texts, such as Escape from Pompeii, which inspire creativity and help children see the joy in writing. In maths, they deepen their understanding of number, measurement, and geometry, and apply these skills to problem-solving.
In science, we explore a range of exciting topics. In Animals Including Humans for example, children learn about bones, muscles, nutrition, and the importance of keeping healthy. In our Sound topic, children investigate how sound is made, how it travels, and how we hear it. These hands-on, investigative units help children develop their scientific thinking and curiosity about the world around them.
Along with many of our other exciting subjects, we enjoy lots of sporting activities throughout the year. A particular highlight is the North Somerset Dance Festival in the spring term, which is always a memorable and much-loved event for both children and staff.
We love to learn!
We have attached our Curriculum Web for this term, which includes our exciting new topic: Wonderful Water.
P.E. and Sports:
Please can all children in Oak have a named set of PE clothes in school with them on Monday. The kit can be taken home on Friday to be washed.
Gymnastics with Future Stars is on a Friday Afternoon.
Oak Class will attend a block of Swimming lessons at the Kings of Wessex Leisure Centre during the Autumn Term. These lessons will be taught by specialist swimming instructors. Dance rehearsals for the Dance Festival will commence in the Spring Term.
Homework
Spellings and Times Tables:
Spellings are issued via Class Dojo on a Friday.
We expect that children will spend some time looking at the spellings over the week and weekend ready to spend time looking at the spelling rule at school. You can make a nightly habit of writing the spellings out. This can help memory retention and confidence!
We test the spellings on a Friday.
Please let us know if there are any questions or queries about your child's spellings.
TIMES TABLES:
Times tables are also learned in Oak Class. We suggest that you practice these often using Times Table Rock Stars. In general, we learn times tables in an order. These are structured to begin with easier times table patterns and finish with harder ones. We also put similar tables like 3s and 6s next to each other in the order to facilitate the making of links between these two number patterns.
The order:
2 / 5 / 10 / 3 / 6 / 4 / 8 / 7 / 9 / 11 / 12
At the end of Year 4, all children will take the multiplication check which is a timed quiz out of 25 on the computer of tables up to 12x12!
Home - Times Tables Rock Stars
Reading
Your child will be reading books from our reading scheme that are phonetically decodable. This means your child will be able to read 90% of the words in this book with accuracy.
For our more fluent readers they will have a 'Free reading book' that they have chosen from our classroom book area or school library.
We read with your child weekly in school as part of a Little Wandle Reading Practice Fluency group. We are continuously assessing your child and moving them onto new book bands as they make progress in their reading.
For parents | Letters and Sounds
We ask that children read their phonetically decodable reading scheme book at least 3 times a week at home.
1 - On the first time, your child will encounter any tricky words and begin to develop fluency.
2 - On the second read through, your child will be confidently blending the tricky words they encountered and be able to use them in the context of the story
3 - On the third read through, your child will be able to focus on enjoyment of the story through their developed fluency!
In addition to their phonetically appropriate book that is matched to their stage, they will also have a Reading for Pleasure sharing book. This is a book from our school library or book corner in our classroom. It is likely that this book will contain lots of new words and may need your support to be enjoyed.
We encourage children to share new books with family and friends and enjoy these books at home and at school! We promote the reading of a variety of texts including fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Please sign their Reading Record so that your child can be rewarded with reading certificates for regular reading.
