~ Welcome to Year 4 ~ 

Your Teachers are Mr Boulden (4C, Year Group Leader), Miss Nixon (4N) and Miss Newton (4JN).

We are supported by Mrs Cook (HLTA) 

mr.boulden@stthomasofcanterbury.thurrock.sch.uk

miss.nixon@stthomasofcanterbury.thurrock.sch.uk

miss.newton@stthomasofcanterbury.thurrock.sch.uk

Home Learning

Your child must read for at least 10 minutes each day, 5 times per week, this is expected as part of your child's homework. It is important to support your child with daily reading as this has a huge impact on their understanding, imagination, creativity and learning across all subjects. In Year 4, it is important to complete a mixture of independent reading, reading with an adult and for your child to independently record their opinions about the book in their Reading Record. Children have Bug Club accounts that they can use to read books and answer questions to demonstrate their comprehension. Reading records will be checked in school every Monday. 

Children in Year 4 are expected to know all of their times tables and related division facts. Each week, we will focus on different times tables. It is part of your child's homework that they learn these at home. TT Rockstars can be used to practise, all children have accounts. They should be completing 10 minutes of TT Rockstars times table practice every day, 5 days a week. Teachers can see how often each child has used this resource and will set relevant work according to fluency. Times tables will be tested in school each Friday. 

Spelling and Maths homework is set on Google Classroom. The children have words to learn, they should know the meaning of the words too. Children should write each spelling word in a sentence and submit this on Google Classroom. Spellings will be tested in school each Monday. 

If there are any problems with accessing or completing the online homework, please speak to your child's teacher as soon as possible. 

Thank you for your continued support!

The Year 4 Team

~ Our Weekly Learning Focus ~

Week beginning: 13.3.23

English: This week, we are continuing our work of working towards writing our own ending for Varjak Paw. We will be doing two grammar lessons this week, focusing on 'Expanded noun phrase' and 'Using inverted commas to mark direct speech'. 

Supportive links:

Expanded noun phrases - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zwwp8mn/articles/z3nfw6f

Inverted commas for direct speech - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zvwwxnb/articles/ztcp97h

Reading: We will be focusing on applying our reading skills of retrieval, inference, vocabulary and summarising to answer questions given, whereby the text is linked to our British Science Week theme of 'Connections'. 

Maths: This week, we are continuing to work on fractions with our focus being on:

- LO: I can recognise equivalent fractions on a number line

- LO: I can recognise equivalent fraction families

Times Tables - 7s and 10s - use TT Rockstars daily to help you. 

RE: We will be continuing our theme of 'Self-Discipline' this week focusing on exploring how we can reflect and represent 'living in God's way'. Also, each class will be led in their Collective Worship session, focusing on 'Peace'. These sessions are planned and prepared by the children, whereby they choose the scriptures, stories, hymns and responding activities. 

Science: This week, we are excited to be taking part in British Science Week, whereby the theme is on Connections. We will be enjoying a Fizz Pop whole assembly, researching our chosen scientist of Marie Curie and then continuing with some exciting science-investigations around the theme. 

History: This week, we continue our learning journey to do with the French Revolution. The children will be looking at 'challenging, exploring, analysing and using' a variety of sources to develop their understanding of this period of history.

PE: This week, we are continuing our basketball unit, whereby the children will be looking to develop their ability 'to throw, catch and dribble in small game situations'.

Easter Production: We will be continuing to rehearse for our performances at the end of the month, with the actors, singers, muscians and all of the children working extremely hard. You can find the songs and lyrics below.

Have a wonderful week!

Easter Production Rehearsals

French Revolution Homework

Times Tables and the Multiplication Check

This week we are practicing the 7 and 10 times table. Each week you will have a certain number of Garage games and Soundcheck games that need to be completed before you can play anything else. We do still expect you to log on 5 days a week for at least 10 minutes. Any games you play will also go towards the weekly Battle of The Bands. The more questions you get right, the more points you earn for your class!

The Multiplication Check will be administered during a 2 week period, starting Monday 5th June 2023. This isn't a test, so there isn't a minimum pass mark, it is just a check to determine if the children can recall their times tables fluently. They need to be able to answer any times table question in under 6 seconds. The Soundcheck mode on TTRockstars is most similar to how the test is set out, and how it will perform when we conduct the check.