20 January 2017
Times Tables
Year 5 are generally pretty good at recalling their times tables up to 12 x 12. Starting this week, we will focus on one times table each week. This week we will focus on the 3 times table. However, children will not be tested on questions like “What is 3 x 5?”. Instead, we will focus solely on related facts. Here are some examples of the kind of questions children may be asked:
- What is 2100 ÷ 3?
- What is 15 x 0.3?
- What is the product of 0.3 x 0.8?
These questions can be tricky so we’ll focus on manipulating numbers using facts we already know in class. Please ensure your child is applying this knowledge when they are practising at home.
20 January 2017
This week we have two pieces of homework. Both are due on Thursday 26 January 2016.
The first piece is Creative:
I can present my family history.
This week, we started our Time Travel topic. Although we’re focusing on entertainment, the main driver for the topic is history. This homework gives children the opportunity to do a little research of their own. We’ve discussed some ways to respond to this homework creatively in class:
- create a family tree
- write a short report based on your family
- celebrate your family’s cultural roots through a poster, song or video
- create a presentation board about your family’s history
- research one family member’s life in detail and write about this person
The second piece of homework is Practice Makes Perfect:
I can make inferences.
Have a go at the comprehension activity at home before we go through in class on Thursday.
Remember to read the text thoroughly and try to back up your answers using evidence from the text when necessary. Also, check your own understanding by seeing if you can explain your answer to somebody else in your family. To make sure this impacts on your learning, notice what you’re confident with and what you might need to practise so that we can discuss this in class and you know yourself what to work on.
13 January 2017
This week’s Practice Makes Perfect homework focuses on our SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) skills.
Have a go at the mini test at home before we go through it together in class on Thursday 19 January.
Check your own understanding by seeing if you can explain your answer to somebody else in your family, letting them know the tricks you’ve got for remembering what’s what. To make sure this impacts on your learning, notice what you’re confident with and what you might need to practise so that we can discuss this in class and you know yourself what to work on.
13 January 2017
This week’s homework is Talk Time and will be discussed on Thursday 19 January.
I recognise my own and other people’s talents.
Around the dinner table, in the car, walking to the shops, discuss what talents you and your family have. Don’t forget to write some notes so that you can share your talents with us in class.
06 January 2017
This week, as normal, we have two pieces of homework. Both are due in on Thursday 12 January 2017.
The first piece is Creative:
I can see science all around me.
Science is everywhere. We see loads of examples of science in action without even realising; we take it for granted when we drop something and it falls to the floor.
Our Creative homeworks are always great and I know that the children will have some great ideas. However, if they are struggling for inspiration, here’s a few ideas:
- take pictures of everyday things and explain the science behind them. For example, why does a ball roll down a hill?
- create a video diary of all the examples of science you can see in your home.
- conduct a scientific investigation about a common event.
- prepare a practical demonstration of ‘everyday’ science.
We also discussed others in class.
The second piece of homework this week is Practice Makes Perfect:
I can proof-read for spelling mistakes.
Children have been given a passage of text with numerous spelling mistakes. Children should read the text and correct any spelling mistakes they can find (many of which are common in our writing).
As usual, if there any problems, please do not hesitate to contact me. Early in the week is best as it allows us time to find a solution that is best for your child.
09 December 2016
This week we have two homeworks as normal (our final homework of 2016).
The first is Creative:
I can prove I use the 8Rs outside of school.
This homework will help children to see that the 8Rs are useful for life in general and not just learning. They could respond in numerous ways:
- make a collage of images showing them using each R for learning
- make a short documentary in which they demonstrate how they use the 8Rs outside school
- make a poster that promotes the application of the 8Rs to everyday life
These are just a few, simple suggestions. I’m sure you, and your children, will have a wonderful array of creative responses to this statement.
The second is ‘Mathletics‘:
Children should complete these two tasks.
- Bar model (x and ÷) – this is using the bar model to help children solve word problems.
- Money problems: 4 operations with £ – these are all problems involving money.
Again, if you have any problems, do not hesitate to contact me. I will endeavour to resolve them. However, some problems such as technical issues may be beyond my control.
Zipit
It’s easy to think your child is safe once they’re indoors. And it’s easy to think your child will always be responsible and safe online.
However, most older children and young people can be on-line, meaning they’re not quite so protected as you might think. And it’s easier than you think for a child to make a choice that they wouldn’t do in person.
Increasingly, we’re being told of problems on social networking sites. These include grooming.
The ‘zipit’ app is a download from Childline for iOS and Android. The app aims to help young people safely respond to requests for inappropriate images by sending back a ‘joke’ image. Using it might help your child maintain some credibility as well as staying safe.
02 December 2016
This week, as usual, we have two homeworks. Both pieces are due on Thursday 08 December 2016.
The first is Talk Time:
I can reflect on my start to the year.
This links to our current SEAL theme: The 8 Rs for learning. It is an opportunity for children to think about their own learning and their attitude towards it. In class, we reflect a lot on our learning and Y5 are very good at this. They are honest and are not afraid to admit to making mistakes: this will undoubtedly make them better learners in the future. I’d like them to be as honest in this reflection as possible. Is their attitude consistent across the day/week? Is it consistent across subjects? And most importantly, I’d like them to make suggestions for how they could improve. No matter what is said, this conversation should be positive as it should lead to improvements.
The second is Practice Makes Perfect.
I can show I understand word classes.
We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about word classes so far this year (nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, articles) and this is a chance for children to show that they have remembered this learning.
Children have been given a sheet to help them show their understanding.
25 November 2016
The homework this week is a whole school creative homework. Because of the open afternoon next week, the homework is due in on Wednesday not Thursday.
I can show what I have learned in STEM week.
This week, all our learning has been STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths) focussed.
For this homework, we’d like children to reflect on their learning across the week and show off what they have learned. Your child could:
- give an overview of the STEM subjects
- do their own mini STEM project
- be a scientist and conduct a science investigation
- continue some of their favourite STEM week learning at home
25 November 2016
As usual, children will have two homeworks this week. One of these is Mathletics.
Score 100 points on Mathletics.
Children can choose to score these points on ‘Live Mathletics’ or by completing activities (top tip: it’s quicker to score points on activities). I have asked children what they think is a reasonable amount of points to get and we all agreed that 1000 points was realistic, would improve learning and wouldn’t take too long.
Children should have completed their Mathletics activities by Thursday 01 December.
