24 June 2016
School Library
We’re always trying to promote a love of reading in school – especially in Year 6!
Today, we all went to the library to change our books. We scoured the shelves (which look great), chose a new book, sat down, chilled out and, most importantly, read!
We now all have a library book to be enjoying at home – including me!
You can help at home by:
- Encouraging your child to read their library book (and other books) at home
- Discussing your child’s book with them
- Talking about reading in general
- Reading with them and ask questions.
Do plants need sun?
Earlier in the term, we talked about what things plants needed to survive.
This video shows how much the plants need the energy from sunlight to keep them alive.
24 June 2016
This week’s spellings all follow the double up for a short vowel sound rule and are from the Year 3/4 spelling curriculum.
accidentally
actually
business
disappear
different
difficult
occasionally
thousand
opposite
possession
Some of these spellings may seem familiar but it is essential that we keep revisiting the double up for a short vowel sound rule. Within this list, there are examples where the double up rule isn’t always followed. Can you child spot these? There is also a red herring within this list. Can you spot it?
double up for a short vowel sound
In English spelling, we come across two types of vowel sounds – short vowel sounds like ‘a’ in apple and ‘e’ in berry and long vowel sounds like ‘a’ in change. Usually (but not always), the consonants after a short vowel sound are doubled. For example, opposite has a short ‘o’ at the start and is followed by a pair of ‘p’s.
24 June 2016
This week’s homework is Talk Time and is due 29 June 2016.
I can change my behaviour for the better.
This week in class, we have been discussing how we can make positive behaviour choices and the effect it has on ourselves and the people around us. You may wish to use the following questions to prompt a discussion with your child.
How can you change your behaviour?
Why should you change your behaviour?
What is the difference between a good and a bad behaviour choices?
Are you happy with your behaviour?
What is behaviour?
Remember
- Don’t talk on behalf of your child – they need to be ready to respond, even if it’s a quiet murmur to begin with.
- Encourage them to expand on what they say – can they explain, give examples and add some extra information so their conversation is interesting, convincing or lively?
- Be a good role-model – show your child you’re listening by asking questions, adding your comments and reflecting on what they’ve said.
Many benefits
We are aware that physical activity supports health and emotional well-being. It can also impact on achievement.
Research shows different activities have quite specific mental effects. Find out how moving your body could sharpen your children’s ideas.
24 June 2016
This week’s spellings highlight some words which require a hyphen along with some other simple words which have tricky spellings which we often forget.
- to co-operate
- co-operated
- co-operating
- to co-ordinate
- co-ordinated
- co-ordinating
- to co-own
- to re-enter
- re-entering
- re-entered
- queue
- rhythm
- rhyme
- shoulder
These spellings will be tested on Friday 01 July. Spelling should be practised at least four times a week for about ten minutes each time and we’ve created lots of different ways to practise spelling while in class which children can use at home.
24 June 2016
This week’s Talk Time homework is due on Wednesday 29 June.
I can cope with an unexpected change.
This is our SEAL statement next week as part of our Changes SEAL theme. Discuss – perhaps over dinner – what unexpected changes might happen to people and suggest ways we can deal with these changes calmly and confidently.
We’ll be discussing this in our circle time next week so don’t forget to write a few notes to focus your discussion in class.
Hotshots total
Thanks to your generous sponsorship, we have raised £635.20 from our Hotshots event during the Money Matters themed week. The money will be split between our current school charities, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Leeds Mind.
Money from our other fundraising event from the themed week, our penny trail, is still being counted!
EU referendum
Whilst the real referendum takes place across the country today, we held our own mini-referendum in Year 6 yesterday. Combining learning from the previous day with learning from last week’s homework, the children took part in a debate against each other.
There were three debates in total, all focusing on five key areas of the debate: immigration; the economy; pay and taxes; the cost of being in the EU; and terrorism and security.
All of the debates were of a high quality; we definitely have some budding politicians in our class. It was great to see how children could articulate their responses whilst remaining respectful to the opposite side.
Here are some action shots:
Afterwards, we voted. The results were:
Remain – 22
Leave – 7
So, according to Year 6, Britain should remain a member of the European Union.