Welcome to Room 16 Term 1
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Welcome!
This year the class is being managed by two teachers. Des Norman will be working with the class from Monday to Thursday and Adrianna Marifioti on Fridays.
YEAR 3/4 A Learning Framework 2016
Children learn best when they are actively involved in their learning, when the learning has meaning and when the children are encouraged and challenged to the best of their ability.
Our class should:-
Be safe
Be stimulating
Be welcoming and supportive
Be free from bullying
Be inclusive and respect the diversity of children’s backgrounds
I encourage children to take some responsibility for their own learning, be happy to take risks and enjoy sharing their ideas within our class and with others. I encourage them to develop independence, responsibility and to resolve conflicts assertively and fairly. Having fun, developing friendships and social confidence are also important for children.
Home – School Relationships
As your child’s first and most important educator I highly value your observations and input. I believe in an effective and meaningful relationship between school and home. I have an open door policy that welcomes all parents/caregivers as communication is an essential basis for this relationship.
Regular information through the class blog will also keep you up to date about our program and class/ school events. The diary will also help with this. I will also use email for private communication.
My blog site is https://clgps19.edublogs.org however you can also access my blog by going to the Colonel Light Gardens School website. Click on the Staff and Student Tab, click on Class Blogs then click Rm 16.
My school email address is Des.Norman951@schools.sa.edu.au Please email me so that I can get your email address also.
Year 3/4 Learning Program
ENGLISH – this is the term used to describe all aspects of English language teaching in writing, reading and viewing, spelling, handwriting, speaking and listening.
Writing
Throughout the year children will be involved in weekly writing. This may include writing narratives, recounts, procedures, expositions, poetry, recording facts and information and writing descriptions. This will occur in all areas of learning and inquiry topics. In writing, children first write a draft copy which is then edited using a strategy that focuses on capitals, omissions, punctuation and spelling. They will be given rubrics, which help guide them and make them aware of what needs improving.
Throughout the year children will be taught specific skills in grammar such as punctuation, parts of speech, paragraphing and sentence construction. In this year’s LAN test the genre will either be a persuasive or a narrative text and considerable practice will be done on both of these. Oral language will also be practised and morning talks will be part of this.
Spelling
Students are grouped and given a bank of words appropriate to their ability to learn. Their is a focus on looking at words closely by breaking them up into their respective sounds and syllables and by looking at the special features of words. Words learnt will usually have a common feature/sound/structure. Children will also be tested on the Oxford Word List. Any words they cannot spell will also be a focus. Developing vocabulary is another crucial component in advancing children in their spelling and general literacy with writing, reading and oral language. Students will be introduced to synonyms of commonly used words as a weekly exercise in their Word Study book.
Reading and viewing
Children are encouraged to read regularly and widely in order to develop an interest in reading and to make continual progress and improvement. Major elements of our reading program include:-
*Teachers reading to students
*Students sharing what they have read (literature circles)
*Children responsible for recording their readings
*Guided reading groups
*Comprehension, cloze and other related reading activities.
*Looking closely at the features of the text and the author’s intent
*Writing book reviews and doing activities on completed books
*One of the goals this year is for each child to complete the Premier’s Reading Challenge.
*Daily reading by students at home and at school (a record sheet will be used)
*Borrowing of lexile books. There is a comprehension test which they do online which determines what level they need to start at. They will stay on that level until the next opportunity to set the test occurs normally after 50 days. They may show improvement and be put at a higher Lexile level. Once they have finished reading a book they are able to do a comprehension quiz which determines their level of understanding. They can also review the book. Many of the books are found in our school library but you are encouraged to browse the Mitcham Library catalogue.
*Class borrowing from the library occurs each Monday after recess and their is an opportunity for individual borrowing in the morning till 9:20 and straight after lunch till 2:20.
*There is an expectation that children do some reading at home for at least 30 mins each week and have this recorded.
Handwriting
In Year 3 and Year 4 students learn South Australian Modern Cursive and begin linking letters. Good writing posture and habits along with the correct letter formation and linking will be demonstrated in handwriting lessons.
Children will be encouraged throughout the year to take pride in the presentation of their work.
Mathematics
This year’s maths program contains topics that are designed to stimulate mathematical thinking and communication. I build onto what students already know and develop programs that are designed to meet a wide range of mathematical abilities in our class. Areas covered are – Statistics and Probability, Measurement and Geometry and Number and Measurement.
There is now less of an emphasis on knowledge but more on deep understanding, problem solving, fluency with number facts and relating maths to real life situations and curriculum areas.
Each week a written mental sheet is given out which gives valuable practice and revision. In addition to this children are to learn a number fact each week and be ready for a test on Thursday. The aim of learning number facts is to improve their automaticity and speed of recalling them. This ability helps them cope much better with solving the more complex areas of mathematics. This term division and multiplication of number facts will be our focus. At the Year 3 level the minimum requirement is to learn their their two, three, five and ten tables and the division facts for these. At a Year 4 level they are expected to learn all tables from one to ten. Both year levels can go beyond this.
History
The main strands to be covered are Importance of Place to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Change and Continuity, People of Diverse Backgrounds, Idigenous People in the local area and Commemorations. Students will be encouraged to do inquiry into some of these areas.
Geography
The major strands include Geographical Knowledge and Understanding and Geographical Inquiry and Skills. Two examples of areas to be covered are ‘The location of neighbouring countries and their diverse characteristics’ and ‘The representation of Australia as states and territories, and Australia’s major natural and human features.’
Health and Physical Education
Within this area of the curriculum the children investigate topics under the broad heading of:-
Physical Activity and Participation
Personal and Social Development
Health of Individuals and Communities
Protective Behaviours
As a class we will strive to be physically active through regular fitness activities and improve skills such as throwing, hitting, catching, skipping, dancing and with swimming which is in Term 3. Kim Boothey is taking Physical Education for one hour a week each Monday and your child will be encouraged to wear appropriate running shoes. If your child cannot participate in physical education or in class fitness activities due to sickness or an injury a note needs to be provided in the first instance. If the injury is of a continuing nature an email can be sent.
I will set up orienteering courses in the school this year for my class and for any interested teachers and classes. I will not be actively be promoting this sport throughout the school as has been done in previous years however I am happy to assist families that are interested.
The Arts
Within the classroom children are able to participate in Drama, Art and Craft lessons. The children are also encouraged to develop their Art appreciation skills. An old shirt needs be sent to school to protect your child’s school uniform from staining from acrylic paints. Mr Pluck will be taking Visual Arts each week for one term this year.
HOTS – Higher Order Thinking Skills
These methodologies are used extensively in the classroom. They encourage children to think laterally and challenge them to think on a higher level. Edward De Bonos 6 Thinking Hats are used to solve problems and encourage broad thinking. The Question Matrix is used to brainstorm research questions and Concept Maps and Mind Maps to organise their ideas, make connections and record thinking. Many of the skills developed assist children in becoming independent active inquirers.
Science
The Science curriculum covers a broad variety of topics which are found in the areas of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Space. This term we will be doing Physics and Space looking at the topic area ‘Spinning in Space’.
Differentiation
Differentiation in the curriculum is a strong focus whether it be extending children with their learning or with providing extra support in areas that they struggle in.
OTHER BUSINESS
Healthy Snack Break
Research has shown that exercise, eating healthy food and remaining rehydrated helps our brains work better. Around 9:50 am each day children will have some nibbles and a drink to make sure that our brains are in peak condition for the hard work done in class. Nibbles can be things like carrot sticks, snow peas, apples, banana, dried fruit etc. In fact anything that is healthy (fruit and vegetables only) and that is not too crumbly or juicy!
Tissues
It would be appreciated each family could donate a box of tissues to be used in the classroom. Great for sneezes and sniffles! Some families have already done this.
Diary
Children have been given a diary to record homework, reminders and test results in. Please sign this ready for checking on Monday.
Absence
If your child is away or late please show the courtesy of doing one of the following : ringing the school on the day, sending an email or writing a note in your child’s diary. Many, many hours are spent each year by class room teachers chasing up the absence or lateness of students with no explanation given on their return. Please let the school know in advance if your child will be absent for a longer period of time. An exemption form may need to be filled out.
Homework
Set homework is mainly in the form of reading at home which is to be recorded and signed. A Mental/Number facts is provided to practice mental and number facts.
Learning their spelling words and having this tested at home is encouraged. Homework time is to be kept to a minimum as your child has been at school for most of the day and deserves a mental break. Having physical exercise, being involved in extra curricula activities and helping out at home is very important. Please note that if your child has a large amount of work to do at home it might be catching up on work they didn’t complete at school rather than set homework. I will endeavour to email you if this becomes a regular pattern. Homework can also be done in the morning before they go to school. I will attempt to give homework in advance so that they can plan when to do this.
Covering Books/Labelling of Stationery
The majority of the books have labels and a protective A4 plastic cover. Any books not of an A4 size such as their diary and handwriting book would benefit from having a cover such as contact put on at home. Children’s coloured pencils, sharpener, ruler, glue stick, eraser and scissors all need to be labelled so that they are easily identified and given back.Property without a name is put into a lost property tray. Any child that loses stationery which is not labelled is encouraged to get replacements.
School Camp
A school camp has been booked for the first three days of Term 4 Week 1 at Mylor. We will be going with Ms Reschke’s 3/4 class. Parents who have a certified DCSI Screening Clearance are able to volunteer to come along.
Enterprise Day
This will be held in the last week of Term 1. If you have any good ideas for this please let me know.
Parent Helpers
Parents are welcome to help with excursions, testing of matrix spelling words, reading, Enterprise Day and with classroom organisation. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.