Welcome to Year 4

In Year 4  we are encouraged to continue to develop independence and take initiative to help our own learning. We value the presentation of our work and take pride in everything we do. In our class we aim to be the best friend we can be and always try to help and coach our team around us. As a result, our classroom is a fantastic community in which we have lots of laughter and lots of inquisitive minds!

Curriculum
At the beginning of the academic year, we began with a whole-school theme of Enterprise before learning about Invaders with the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings.  In the Spring Term we will find out about life in Ancient Egypt.  We will also have a whole school themed World Book week and a science week to look forward to. In the Summer Term our focus will be discovering how electricity changed the world and learning about Animals and the habitats that they live in.

PE

Year 4 thoroughly enjoy P.E. and we strive to continue our sessions, whatever the weather. Our PE sessions are on Mondays and Thursday. However, we ask that PE is brought in on a Monday and taken home on a Friday as we do like to make sure the children are prepared, just in case the timetable changes. Please ensure your Year 4 superstar has both indoor and outdoor kits with them, with outdoor shoes included.  Indoor kit: White T-shirt, blue shorts
Outdoor kit: White T-shirt, blue jogging bottoms/leggings, blue hoodie/zipped jumper, trainers/black pumps.

Please could you also make sure that all PE kit is named. 

Homework:
Reading: We set the high expectation of reading at least three times each week, with daily reading encouraged.  All of the children also have a log-in for an online reading scheme, Reading Plus, where books and activities are set for each child. 

Spellings: In school, we follow the No Nonsense spelling programme where children get taught sessions on spelling patterns, homophones and common exception words. We send home 10 spellings a week, derived from the in-house learning. The children are asked to learn how to spell the words, and also how to use them in context.  In the weekly test, usually on Wednesday,  two of the given words are picked at random for the children to put into a sentence and spell correctly. Please take time playing with the English language. Some of these words can be tricky to understand if they haven’t been put into context.

Maths: All children have an access code to our online TT Rockstars account where we encourage children to log on for 5 minutes each day to practise their multiplication tables.
Year 4 is the year where learning of multiplication facts counts! Not only will acquiring these important number facts set your mathematician up for faster recall of mental facts, but there is a statutory multiplication test in the summer term of Year 4. The children will be working on the acquisition of these facts throughout the year. However, chanting these in the bath or as you walk to school would be hugely beneficial! 

Useful Websites
BBC Supermovers

The children in our class love singing, dancing and moving! We use Go Noodle and BBC Supermovers to allow them to be active more frequently, while being relevant to their learning. We link this movement to key areas within the curriculum and specifically the recall of multiples!
Hit the Button 

Hit the Button has been a huge hit with Instant Recall facts! Give it a go. It’s loads of fun.

TT Rockstars

All the children have a TT Rockstars account which we would encourage them to access for 5 minutes each day to develop their knowledge of the multiplication tables.

Times tables games - Learn them all here!
This website gives children further opportunities to practise their tables. This is very important as Year 4 children have statutory tests at the end of the academic year.