KESTRELS - Years 4 & 5

Welcome to the Kestrel's Class Page

Our Spring Term Topic is 'Bright Lights, Big City'

This term the children will be studying Liverpool, a city with a very interesting history.  We will be looking at The Beatles and the music which has emerged from Liverpool, as well as the impact of investment after winning the European Capital of Culture, on tourism, buildings, transport and jobs.

Multiplication Tables Check

Year 4 children will be taking a multiplications check at the end of the year.  We have already started practising for this in school, but it would be useful if children could also practise at home.  The website we have been using is https://www.timestables.co.uk.  

Nessy

Children can access the Nessy Reading and Spelling programme at home.  Using the website https://www.nessy.com/uk/ click on 'log in' in the top right hand corner.  The secret word is bossywrench then enter your child's first and last name and click GO.  

Mathletics

The children have received password to access Mathletics.  Tasks have been set for the children and it would be helpful if they could practise at home.  

Online SPAG and Read Theory Practise

The children have received passwords to access the SPAG and Read Theory practise questions at home.  If the children could complete SPAG and Read Theory practise regularly at home, this would really support their progress at school. The tests do not take very long and the programmes enable the tracking of their progress both at school and at home, so you can see how they are getting on.

Thank you,

Mrs Baggaley, Mrs Griffiths and Ms Meredith

Some useful information:

• A change for the Spring Term: P.E. kit will be needed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please ensure that children wear warm joggers and a pair of outdoor trainers as P.E will take place outside, as much as possible.
• Book change: Please encourage your child to bring in their reading books daily - books will be changed on a Thursday.
• Homelink books: To minimise the contact  of items between home and school, we will no longer be using the pink HomeLink books.  Messages for staff can be sent to Seesaw, via email to admin@meadows.shropshire.sch.uk, marked for the attention of a specific member of staff or alternatively messages can be phoned through to the School Office on 01691 656080.
• Spelling test: Thursday - A new practice book will be sent home so children can practice.
• Big maths: Friday - the CLIC and Learn It tests are completed in class and a booklet will be sent home on to practice.

Useful websites:

Below is a list of websites that may be useful when practicing times tables and place value.

When practicing times tables, as well as the websites above, you could play games, sing songs, make up rhymes, or use flash cards. Remember that children should be able to recall facts out of order without working up from 1 x something.

We are currently learning about place value in class. Below is a link to the place value game that children have been playing in class - it may be useful to play this game at home to increase your child's confidence with value and support their learning in class. 

There are a variety of ideas on the internet! You could try typing 'fun ways to learn multiplication tables' or 'fun ways to learn place value' into a search engine. The key to learning times table facts is regular practice in short bursts. For example, on the way home, in the car, or when going up to bed.