SEPTEMBER 2007

To the parents/guardians of children in Year 3

Welcome to Year 3

The purpose of this letter is to let you know the kind of things your child will be doing this year and how you can help. We hope you find it useful.

Subjects taught
The children will be taught all subjects of the National Curriculum, plus Religious Education. Most time will be spent on English, Mathematics and Science. The rest of the time they will be taught Music, P.E., Art, Geography, History, Information and Communication Technology, Design and Technology, PSHE and French.

Here is an outline of the topics we intend to cover this year.

History - Egyptians, Romans, Victorians

Science - Materials, Magnets, Teeth, Plants, Rocks and Soil, Light and Shadow

Geography - The Local Area, India, World Climate, Mapwork

During the year we will be visiting the theatre in Tewksbury. We shall be having a visit from Professor McGinty as part of our history topic on the Romans. We plan to visit a Hindu Temple and an Art Gallery where the children will take part in workshops.

PE lessons are timetabled for Monday and Tuesday 3N and Wednesday and Friday 3S.

Swimming is on Tuesday afternoons during the Spring Term.

The children must have their kit in school.
They need a white T-shirt (which can be purchased from school), navy blue shorts, black plimsolls (elasticated if possible). During cold weather a track suit or sweatshirt and jogging bottoms may be worn in addition to the normal PE kit when working outdoors. All items must be clearly named.

Homework
The work we ask children to do at home is very closely related to the work they will be doing in school. If the work is carried out on a regular basis and supported by parents, it will help the children to make good progress

Spellings
Each week the children will be given spellings to learn ready for a test on the following week.

The best way for the children to learn how to spell the words is to :-
LOOK at the word and say it out loud
COVER the word
WRITE the word
CHECK the word.
The help of an adult to check they know the words is very useful.

We are trying to get the children to learn how to read and spell the most frequently used words in the English Language and other words related to work we are doing in class.

The children will need to spend between 5 and 10 minutes each evening learning their spellings, preferably with the help of an adult.

Mathematics

Targets- Year 3
* Read, write and order whole numbers to at least 1000; know what each digit represents
* Count on or back in tens or hundreds from any two or three digit number
* Recognise unit fractions such as 1/2 1/3 1/4 1/5 1/10, and use them to find fractions of shapes and numbers
* Know by heart the number facts for the 2, 5 and 10 multiplication tables
* Add and subtract mentally a 'near multiple of 10' to or from a two-digit number
* Understand division and recognise that division is the inverse of multiplication
* Use units of time and know the relationships between them (second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year)
* Understand and use £.p notation
* Choose and use appropriate operations (including multiplication and division) to solve word problems , explaining methods and reasoning
* Identify right angles
* Identify lines of symmetry in simple shapes and recognise shapes with no lines of symmetry
Solve a given problem by organising and interpreting numerical data in simple lists, tables and graphs

Reading
The children are expected to bring home their reading book each day and read with an adult. This should take about 10 minutes each evening. We ask parents to hear their child read, and comment on the reading record card. Your child will need a reading bag so that school books are not damaged. These can be purchased from the school Office price £3.00. They are very durable and are also useful for making sure that newsletters such as this get home safely!

With the introduction of the Literacy Hour, it will not be possible for teachers to listen to individual children read from their own reading book as frequently as we have done in the past. Progress through the scheme will. however, be monitored.

If your child is not already a member of Evesham Library please take them along to join. Encourage them to choose a wide range of books which interest them. Remember that children enjoy having stories read to them at bedtime.

Literacy
Big Writing

“Big Writing” by Ros Wilson is a new approach to the teaching of writing which we are using in our school from this September. It consists each day of lively teaching of the four basic principals for successful writing, vocabulary, connectives, openers and punctuation and culminates in “Big Writing” on a Friday. This is when the whole school writes for 45 minutes to 1 hour on a writing topic that has been introduced to them on Monday. It would help your child if you could discuss the topic for the week with them at home, helping them to think of some ideas for their writing.
Parental Consultations
During the year there will be the chance to discuss your child’s progress during a 10 minute consultation. These sessions take place just before the October half term and just before the February half term.
Towards the end of the summer term you will receive a comprehensive written report on your child’s progress.

Worries or Problems
We hope your child does not encounter any difficulties during the year. If any problems do arise please come and talk to us. Often if a problem is dealt with quickly it can save a lot of worry and upset for all concerned.

Want to help in School?
We’re keen to encourage parents to help in school. This might involve hearing children read, helping a small group to play a game, helping with art, sharpening pencil crayons, etc. we can find jobs to suit all tastes!!
If you would like to help, even for just an hour, please contact us.
All helpers need to complete a Disclosure form which has to be checked by the Criminal Records Bureau. Once we have received notification of clearance you will be able to help.


We hope your child will have an enjoyable and successful year in Year 3.