Class 3

Welcome to Class 3, the younger Key Stage 2 class. Class 3 is made up of Years 3 and 4, and all the children are aged 7, 8 and 9 years.

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Welcome back to a new school year. I hope you had a really good summer break; it’s always good to hear children’s stories of things they have done and places they have been over the holidays. It’s great to be back with a new term ahead of us and lots of exciting topics to learn about. Here is the overview of the subject themes for the autumn:

English: Exploring poetic form and poetry performance; Stories from other cultures; Persuasive writing

In Maths each term the class covers the following units, building on knowledge and understanding as well as reviewing areas that need consolidation:
Block A – counting and calculating
Block B – shape
Block C – data handling
Block D – measures and shape
Block E – securing number facts

Science: Teeth and Eating; Materials and their Properties

Geography: Life in Kenya and Mauritius

Design and technology: Sandwich snacks; Photo frames

Physical Education: Net and wall games; gymnastics

Information and Communication Technology: Safe use of electronic communications

Religious Education: The Church – The People; Times and Seasons; Christmas

Personal Social Health Education: New Beginnings

Physical Education
PE lessons will be on Tuesday afternoons every week and ‘Buzz Time,’ a short 10 minute exercise session mid-afternoon, will take place most other afternoons. PE kits will not be worn for Buzz time. Please make sure your child’s kit includes indoor and outdoor shoes suitable for sport.

Visiting teachers
Across the school, children have specialist art and music teachers and in key stage 2, a French teacher as well. The Class 3 art lessons are on Friday mornings every other week, music lessons are Wednesday afternoon and French lessons are on Tuesday morning.

Homework
During this first half term, children will be set weekly maths homework on Thursday which will link with content covered in class each week. This is due in the following Wednesday and marked together the next day. As a guideline, children should spend around half an hour on these tasks each week. For those who are keen for an additional challenge, there is a ‘Maths Challenge of the Week’ display in class children can choose to complete if they wish.

After half term in the run up to Christmas, children will be set a short creative writing task each week. Before half term, I also like to set an extended homework task to run alongside the weekly homework, allowing the children around four weeks to complete.

In addition, I always ask that children read as much and as widely as possible outside of school and that parents develop the habit of regularly sharing a book with their child. Also, maths work in school relies greatly on children knowing their times tables. If children could practice these outside of school it would benefit their mathematical understanding and confidence.

Parent consultations
From October, there will be a sign up sheet for parent consultations displayed on the corridor notice board outside Class 3. If you would like to discuss your child’s progress or have any concerns please use this sheet to arrange a consultation. Meetings run in 10 minutes sessions from 3.30 – 4.00pm on Wednesdays. If this day is inconvenient, please see me and we can arrange another time that is suitable.

Parent help
The help that parents offer in support of children’s learning is hugely appreciated, as is your assistance on visits and when walking with the class to local places of interest. If you are able to help in class either on an occasional or regular basis, please let me know; you would be most welcome. There is always the opportunity to hear readers or help Mrs Smith, the art teacher with this practical subject every other Friday. There are also some design and technology lessons this term on Thursday afternoons which would benefit from extra pairs of adult hands.

Events
There are many class and whole school events planned for this term though the final details have yet to be finalised. More information about all events, including dates, will be given nearer the time:

Anti-bullying week
Children’s Book Week
Harvest Festival at Great St. Mary’s
Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology – this will link with the children’s science topic of teeth and eating

If you have any questions over the course of the term please feel free to catch me in the playground or sign up for a consultation.

Best wishes,

John Kett