Welcome to Dragonflies!
(Class Teacher’s email: dragonflies@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk)
Our class this year is made up of 21 Year 3 & 4 children.
Our class teacher is Mrs Heath and the class is supported on different days by Miss Greenan, Mrs Godfrey and Miss Roderick.
Our topic for the Spring term is Sensational Shropshire. Take a look at what we will be finding out this term below:
Useful Information
Please find further useful information below. If there is anything that you are not sure about, please do get in touch using the class e-mail address: dragonflies@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk
P.E.
The P.E. days for Year 3&4 during the Autumn term will usually be Mondays and Thursdays.
Brown Clee’s active uniform enables children to easily participate in daily runs and rescheduled PE sessions where applicable. Our class running challenge this term is to see how many times we can run the distance around the border of the county of Shropshire.
Coats
It is important for the children to bring a waterproof coat into school every day. They will go outside to play and get some fresh air every morning and lunchtime whatever the weather.
Base layers
Children are also able to wear base layers (long/short sleeved sports skins, vests, t-shirts etc) underneath their uniforms on cold days.
Bags
Children need to bring all their belongings in one bag, which will be stored in their cubbies in the class cloakroom. They will need to bring their water bottles and reading books (and glasses if they wear them) with them to have at their tables in the classroom at the beginning of each day.
Pencil Cases
Children in KS2 are allowed to bring their own pencil cases in from home. These need to be small enough to fit into their drawers in the classroom. If children prefer, they may use a school pencil box which can be provided. All contents will be provided for all children by the school, but children may choose to bring a few of their own items, such as one or two favourite pens or a pencil sharpener, if they wish. Felt tips are not required.
Water Bottles and Healthy Snacks
Please ensure that children have a plastic water bottle (with a non-spill top) with them every day. These should be filled with water only, unless the school have been notified otherwise. Children may also bring a healthy snack into school to eat at breaktime should they wish to.
Homework
Homework in Dragonflies is to read regularly – alongside practising spellings, times tables and number bonds. We currently use interactive online games – which are particularly effective for helping with these. Links to Times Tables Rockstars, Numbots and Spelling Shed can be found below.
Reading
Children should aim to read at home for at least 10-20 mins 5 times a week. They are encouraged to make a note of what they read on a Reading Ticket (which they can obtain from Mrs Heath) or in a Reading Record Book if they prefer. In return, they will earn the chance to win a new book in the school raffle each Thursday.
If they have finished reading their books from school, they could see what else they could find to read at home: their own books, comics, news papers etc.
Children will take their reading books home from school with them each day. Please encourage them to read at home and ensure that they bring their books into school with them every day.
Reading is an essential skill and, in addition to reading at home, children will undertake a range of activities to develop their reading skills throughout the week at school. These will include individual reading, independent reading, whole class reading and class reader sessions.
Spellings
Every Friday, children in Key Stage 2 will bring home a list of ten spellings to learn. They will be given a test on these words the following Friday and a new list will be shared. Children in Dragonflies and Bees will focus on recapping high-frequency words and Year 3&4 common exception words. Children in Scorpions will recap the above-mentioned words and in addition will also focus on Year 5 & 6 common exception words. These word lists will be made available each week for children to practise on Spelling Shed. The full 3&4 and 5&6 word lists are available on Spelling Shed should your child wish to do any further practise.
Times Tables
Children in Dragonflies and Bees will focus on a specific times table each week, their knowledge of which will be tested on a Friday. Children may practise using Times Tables Rockstars, but will also need to rehearse the specific times table that they are working on either verbally or with a pen or pencil in their Home Learning books. Scorpions will be tested on all times tables every Friday and should use Times Tables Rockstars.
Times Tables Rockstars
Numbots
Spelling Shed