Guided Reading in Year 3
Hello!
Guided reading is a bit different this year so I thought I’d write a post explaining how it all works:
The children are split into five different guided reading groups. Each group has about six children in it and each group reads with me once a week on a designated day of the week. For example, Monday Group read with me on Monday, Tuesday Group on Tuesday, etc.
All the children in the group read the same book. After they read with me, I set a “target page”. They have to reach this “target page” by the next time they read with me. It’s really important that the children reach but do not exceed the target page so that they are all at the same place in the book. If you find that your child has reached the target page quickly, they can read another book at home or I can arrange for them to take another school book home.
I hope that makes sense! Please come to see me if you have any questions.
The Water Cycle
Our first mini-topic of the year is water. As part of the topic, we’ve been learning about the water cycle. In this topic lesson, children annotated a picture on the iPads to show the different parts of the water cycle.
Welcome to Year 3
Hello and welcome to Year 3!
I hope you all had a lovely summer. I’ve been really impressed with how the class seem to be settling into Year 3 over the first week and a bit and have enjoyed listening to all the fun things that they have done over the holidays.
In this post I’ll go over some of the key things that you will need to know for this year:
Ok, here goes…
• PE is on Wednesdays and Fridays. Children will need a PE kit suitable for both indoors and outdoors. This should include a pair of trainers or pumps. I usually ask parents to bring in the kit at the start of the term and take it home at the end of each half-term to wash. This way, the children always have a kit. Also, please put the children’s name on the kit!
• We have a spellings and tables test each Friday morning. The new spellings and tables are written in the red learning lists books. These books are for the children to take home each day to practise. However, they should bring the books back in to school each day in case we do some practice in school as well. The children will be given ten spellings and ten times table facts to learn each week but they will only be tested on eight out of the ten. The times tables we learn in Year 3 are the 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 times tables. The spellings we will be learning are a mixture of important spelling rules which may be revisited more than once during the year and specific vocabulary which will tie in with the learning in the literacy lessons.
• Homework is the same in Year 3 as it was in Year 2. There will be a mixture of creative and talk time homework with a few practice makes perfect as well. New homework is given out on Friday and is to be handed in by the following Wednesday.
• Some of the children have asked me what they are allowed to bring in for a playtime snack. They can bring in any type of fruit but not cereal bars, yoghurt, fruit bars etc.
• Tuck shop is starting next Tuesday and will be weekly on this day. Children can bring 20p to buy some fruit at morning break.
I’m sure I won’t have covered all your questions in this post so please pop into the classroom to see me or grab me in the playground if you have any queries – or even just to say hello!
Finally, I’d like to welcome Lennox to our class. He’s been made welcome by all the class and is already proving to be a great addition to Year 3!
Fruit tuckshop returns!
Our fruit tuckshop, to be run by the Year 5 class this year, returns next week on a new day – Tuesday.
The tuckshop is open to all Key Stage 2 children during playtime. Reception and Key Stage 1 children receive free fruit at playtime.
Each item costs 20p and the fruit can be a snack for playtime or used to top up their packed lunch box – all contributing to their 5 a day!
As stated in our Food Policy, fruit is the only snack allowed at playtimes for Key Stage 2.
SEAL statement 07 September
This week we begin our new SEAL theme, New Beginnings, and the weekly statement is ‘I can make someone feel welcome.‘
Over this half term, as the children are experiencing new beginnings, each class will be looking at how they can all contribute to establishing a welcoming and safe environment for learning.
Goodbye, Year 3!
Well, time flies when you’re having fun!
I’ve had a fantastic time teaching Year 3 this year and will definitely miss you all next year (even though you’ll only be next door!). Your enthusiasm for learning and boundless energy has made teaching you an absolute pleasure. There have been so many highlights from the past year. Here are a few of my favourites:
- Madison’s marvellous performance in the Lion King. She had learned all her lines in one weekend: a true professional!
- Umar and Harvey’s excellent progress in all subjects but especially in maths.
- Zakir’s absolute enthusiasm for learning and the great progress he has made this year.
- Some incredible writing by Ruqayyah which wowed the school when read out at Friday’s celebration assembly.
- Holly covered in stick insects – but staying calm – when the Animal Intuition lady came into school.
- All the children’s amazing reactions when the chicks started hatching and their faces when they held them for the first time.
- Sarina’s election as school councillor and her articulate feedback to the class after meetings. She always uses adding connectives after each point!
- Josh’s performance during football club – taking on children three years older than him.
- The brilliant teamwork showed by all the groups in the recent treasure hunt at Roundhay Park.
- Last but not least, Finn’s blood-curdling “Arrrrrrgghh!”
Thank you to Mrs Sherriff and Mrs Edwards for all their hard work. They have been fantastic and will be missed next year as well. Finally, thank you parents, for your continued support over the year.
Roundhay Park Treasure Hunt
Here are a few pictures from our recent treasure hunt at Roundhay Park. Sorry there aren’t many; it was a very busy day!
Pirate War Dance
In PE lessons, we’ve been learning some traditional dances and then creating our own versions. This video is our take on a traditional Maori Haka. We’ve rebranded it as a pirate war dance and this group has added a few new moves…
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNgaLGpqMJU&feature=youtu.be
Health questionnaire
There will be no further homework this term. However, please support your child to complete the health questionnaire sent home today in order to find out their views on some of our key health issues at school.
Emotional health and obesity are the two targets we are working on in school to further our healthy schools status and the questions, devised last year by the school council, are linked to these areas. These include:
- Are you happy at school?
- What do you enjoy most about playtimes and lunchtimes?
Completed questionnaires to be returned by Monday 16 July.
Dance Showcase
Well done to the children who took part in the Dance Showcase at Allerton Grange. Thank you to Tracey for choreographing a fantastic routine which involved lifts and the children making use of the whole stage.
