WA Newsletter - W/B 30th September

YEAR 4

We have packed lots of learning into the past couple of weeks! Our new Maths topic is Addition and Subtraction and we have been going over column addition with renaming and used manipulatives as well as our online Polypad to support this. In English, our diary entries (written as Tranio in Pompeii AD 79) have included some fabulous descriptions and feelings about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. In Art, we have used our charcoal skills to start telling a story through drawing and thought carefully about how to create and atmosphere with different techniques.

Last week, we travelled to our fellow LEO school - Shawley Community Primary School and combined eco action with competitive sport to take part in a Climate Action/Football day. It was lovely to see West Ashtead children partner with Shawley children to complete activities - they were great ambassadors for our school.

We were lucky enough on Tuesday this week to have a Humanist guest speaker to talk about this belief system and what Humanists believe makes a 'good' life. The children, and adults, found this really interesting and we had lots of questions for our guest.

This week, we also had our fabulous Life in Roman Britain workshop. The morning was spent taking part in making mosaics, frescos, charms, Roman games and learning how Romans washed (without soap!) and wrote. We were all inducted into the Roman army in the fight against the Celts and Boudicca. In the afternoon, we took part in plays and dances and enjoyed a Roman feast - served by the 'slaves' (the adults!)

2024 MULTIPLICATION TABLES CHECK

Year 4 will be again be taking part in the statutory Multiplication Tables Check in the summer term. This is done in all Year 4 classes in the country. All children are expected to know their tables up to 12 x 12 by the end of year 4, as this will support their Maths going forward. We use TT Rockstars to help us to practice for this, as well as other printed and online games etc and the children have all been asked to practice daily using the Soundcheck on TTRS as this is almost identical to the actual MTC. The children have also been shown how to find their 'heatmap' on TTRS which shows them the tables they need to work on. Once they have done 2 or more Soundchecks a day (which take only a few minutes) they can then focus on the times tables they need to work on.

Please support your child to become as fluent as possible in their times tables as this will increase their confidence across every area of Maths.

HOME LEARNING EXPECTATIONS

Thank you for your continuing support with homework and with reading for pleasure. We have had some lovely conversations about reading at school and it is great to hear their enthusiasm. Our Reading Cafe date is next Wednesday 9th October.

Just a reminder that the topic homework (a Roman shield) is due just after half term.

Our Homework in Year 4 consists of weekly Maths assignments on Century plus a Topic homework each half term. Spellings are also set each week and posted on Google Classroom on Mondays. Children do practice these in school but we ask that they also practice at home to consolidate this.

The children can access Century via their LEO Homepage on their chrome books. This will be uploaded weekly. Unless we have had a message from parents with a reason, any children who have not completed the Century homework by the due date will be asked to complete this during their lunch time. If you or your children have any problems with homework, please let me know as soon as possible and I will help.

Our Topic homework is due in at the end of each half term. This half term we will be either designing and making a Roman shield, or researching the impact of the Romans in a particular part of Britain (e.g. the city of Bath). Children can choose one of these. Homework can be presented as designs and research, including photos on Google Classroom or as a 'hard copy' of either project. These should be handed in by Tuesday 5th November (after half term). The assignment has been set on Google Classroom so that children who wish to submit a digital version of the homework can upload it directly to this assignment.

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