Hi all,

Well, we are officially in Christmas territory with the children learning lots of Christmas songs and creating some Christmas crafts which will be placed on the Christmas tree at St Peter’s Church.

Maths

In maths, the Year 4 children continue to focus on learning their times tables. We cannot stress the importance of children being able to recall their times tables rapidly. The Year 5 children are now focusing on short multiplication and because they are proficient in their times tables, they are absolutely flying through the content!

Celebrating Differences

We continue to focus on the importance of children learning about other cultures and religions. We welcomed a representative from the Jewish community who talked to the children about their unique traditions and customs.

Homework 

A reminder that homework will be sent home on a Friday and must be returned by the following Wednesday. Please can you also ensure the children are reading regularly and completing TT Rock Stars.

Many thanks,

Housman Teaching Team

Hi all,

Parent Consultations

It’s been a busy week in Housman Class with lots going on. It was great to meet with lots of parents to discuss the progress of the children. If you weren’t able to make an appointment this week then please do get in touch to arrange another suitable time.

Following feedback from parents, we have hopefully extended the time that the children can access Times Table Rock Stars. They can now play until 8.30pm.

Curriculum Update

Welcome back to the new half-term. We hope you had a lovely break.

Times Table Rockstars

We are very excited to be able to launch Times Table Rockstars for all the children in Housman Class. We know that the Year 5 pupils are already familiar with this resource and have been a big help in supporting the Year 4 pupils to get started. Your child will be coming home with their username and password today.

https://ttrockstars.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TTRS-Parent-Guide.pdf

Why is multiplication important?

Much like building a house, you need a strong foundation to build math skills that will withstand the test of time. Along with addition and subtraction, basic multiplication and division is one of those foundational skill sets that need to be secure before moving on to more complex math lessons. Developing math skills from a young age is crucial, as it supports logical thinking and problem-solving abilities. It’s not uncommon for children who are missing this strong foundational knowledge to begin struggling right around the time they are learning long division.

Teaching multiplication effectively and emphasising the concept and its value prepares students for more complex math tasks in the future. This is particularly important in primary school, where mastering basic multiplication lays the groundwork for understanding more complicated equations and concepts. Recognising the importance of this foundational skill can significantly boost a child’s confidence in their education and overall mathematical ability.

Multiplication Tables Check

The multiplication tables check (MTC) is statutory for all year 4 pupils.
The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently, which is essential for future success in mathematics. This assessment takes place in June each year. It will really support your child if they can practise their times tables as much as possible- just 10 minutes a night can make all the difference.

We are confident that we will have a class of times tables whizz kids!

Any issues, please don’t hesitate to speak with a member of staff.

Housman Teaching Team

We have finally reached the end of what feels like a very long half-term! We are so incredibly proud of all the children in the class and the brilliant work produced.

Below are some links to some fun and engaging activities which will support the learning the children have been completing over the term:

Click here to access rounding games

Click here to access colour theory activities

We hope you have a really wonderful and restful half-term.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Housman Teaching Team

A super week in Housman Class with the children working hard in all curriculum areas.

A highlight of the week was some of our class members taking part in the annual Cross Country competition which took place at the Grove School. The children showed real determination and excellent sportsmanship as they took part.

We are really delighted to be able to let you know that Mrs McLean will be gradually returning to her teaching commitments over the coming month. Mrs McLean will be in the class on Monday and Tuesday morning next week. We are all so excited to see her!

Have a lovely weekend.

Housman Teaching Team

Hello all,

We have had a great week in Housman Class.

In maths, the Year 4 children have been adding and subtracting multiples of 100. The Year 5 children have been using their knowledge of column addition when adding decimal numbers.

We have also been focusing on the different units of measurement. We love a song in Housman class and the children have enjoyed learning the lyrics to the song below.

Click here to play the ‘Measurement’ song

We continue to focus on the children becoming more proficient in the rapid recall of their times tables. Below is a link to a website which we use frequently. We would encourage children to spend time focusing on the times tables they are unsure of ( particularly 3X, 6X, 4 X and 8X).

Click here to access the Multiplication Tables Check

Have a really wonderful weekend everyone!

The Housman Teaching Team