Welcome to Year 3
Teacher: Mrs Wakeman (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
Teacher: Mrs Foster (Thursday & Friday)
The School Day
8.45-8.55am Registration
8.55 -10.10 morning lessons
10.10 – 10.30am Assembly
10.30 – 10.50 Break
10.50 - 12.10 morning lessons
12.10 Lunch time
1.00pm Afternoon lessons
3.15pm Home time
If you are late please sign your child in at the office, or if absent please telephone the school office in the morning and follow up with a written letter or email.
Uniform
At Trinity St Stephen First School:
We are always smart.
We know that we tuck our shirts in.
Long hair must be tied up or clipped back using brown, black or school colour hair accessories.
Please label ALL clothing.
Ties are now available as an optional item for Years 3 and 4
School Uniform and PE kit
WINTER – from October half term
White shirt or school polo shirt
SUMMER- from Easter Uniform
Tie (optional) for Years 3 and 4 (Only to be worn with a white shirt and collar)
Grey trousers, pinafore or skirt
Grey, black or white socks
Red, grey or white plain tights
Red school sweatshirt or cardigan
Red school woolly hat
Black shoes (no boots or trainers)
Hair accessories to be plain and either black or red
White shirt or school polo shirt
Tie (optional) for Years 3 and 4 (Only to be worn with a white shirt and collar)
Grey trousers or shorts
Red and white checked dress
Grey, black or white socks
Red school sweatshirt or cardigan
Red school baseball cap
Black shoes (no boots or trainers)
Hair accessories to be plain and either black or red
Navy blue shorts
Plain white t-shirt or school polo shirt
Non-marking trainers or plimsolls
Optional navy or black tracksuit
Navy blue shorts
Plain white t-shirt or school polo shirt
Non-marking trainers or plimsolls
Please remember to name ALL belongings, including the equipment in your child’s pencil case.
Classroom Equipment
Pencil cases-
These should be plain and easy to clean and will be kept in school and taken home each half term to be re-stocked.
Please ensure that the cases are small in size and that all items are named. What your child needs:
• some HB writing pencils
• a long ruler
• several whiteboard pens
• A glue stick • safety scissors • a set of colouring pencils
A rubber and pencil sharpener may also be useful
Healthy Eating
Children in Year 3 are no longer eligible for the Government’s fruit and milk scheme at break and they start lunch a little later.
To avoid energy levels dropping, we recommend that a healthy snack, such as vegetables, fruit, or a dairy product (cheese yoghurt) is brought into school daily as a break time snack.
No products should contain nuts.
Please also ensure that your child has a named water bottle at school.
PE days up to Half term - Tuesdays and Fridays.
PE days after Halfterm – Mondays and Fridays
Children will need their correct kit to change into on those days.
Please ensure that your child’s PE kit is labelled and always in school in case of unexpected changes to the timetable. We will send it home at half term for washing.
WATERPROOFS:
A waterproof and warm coat is essential from now on. We try to get outside whenever possible and breaks are outside even if it is a light drizzle!
Year 3 Writing
When we are writing:
We always use a pencil
We always use a cursive script
We draw a dotted line below words when we are unsure of the spelling
Every sentence starts with a capital letter and finishes with a full stop
Every piece of work is dated
The title or ‘WALT’ (we are learning to…) is written underneath
We miss a line before starting a new piece of work
We put a single line through work we have done wrong
Year 3 Maths
When we are doing maths:
We always use a pencil
We write the date in the short, numeric way
We write the ‘WALT’ underneath the date
We miss a line before starting a new piece of work
We draw pictures and diagrams using a pencil
We use one square for each digit
We put a single line through work we have done wrong
Our Learning- Maths
We will be learning maths according to the National Curriculum. The weekly focuses will be provided in the Class News.
We will be working on improving accuracy and speed of key number facts (number bonds to 10, 20 and 100) and times tables (2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 8x, 10x).
There is a national times table test in Year 4 where speed, as well as accurate recall, is important.
We will be thinking about how maths can relate to the world around us.
We will work on problem solving strategies.
Our Learning- Maths
This term’s units in number work are place value in numbers up to 1000, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, length and perimeter including measuring in m, cm and mm.
The Calculation Methods that we use are available on the school website.
Help with Maths
There are several good websites with a multitude of free maths games e.g. hit the button.
We will be setting homework every week using Timestables rockstars, Numbots, White Rose Maths and other worksheets.
Please help your child practise their timetables using Ttrockstars and number bonds using Numbots. A few minutes a day is the much the best way to practise and commit facts to long term memory. It is preferable for children to use the keyboard to enter the answers – not the mouse as it is too slow and they will find it slower to progress through the levels.
We will provide additional suggestions for support via the Class News.
Our learning - writing
We have started a unit on instruction writing and will continue with other text types including myths and legends, dictionaries and poetry.
Within these genres, we will be covering ‘SPaG’ objectives; spelling, punctuation and grammar.
We will be focusing on sentence construction, extending vocabulary choices and accurate punctuation and grammar.
We will be working regularly on cursive handwriting (including pencil grip) and presentation.
We will apply our writing skills in other subjects.
Our learning - Science
This term we will start with Animals, including humans which identifies the different food groups we need to stay healthy and how it is important to have a balanced diet. Later in the term we will we will explore how our bodies work with the skeleton and muscles.
During the year we will also study; Plants, Forces and Magnets, Rocks and soils and light and shadows. We will also look at sun safety.
We will be working on our ‘working scientifically’ skills and the children will be asking and investigating their own questions as we develop these skills through the year.
Our Learning - Reading
We read in Guided groups. The focus is on understanding and interpreting the text as well as decoding using phonic sounds.
Individual reading books can be changed whenever the children need to change them.
Reading record books have now been sent home for your child to record their reading sessions. Please help them to record the session and sign it. Golden Points will be given to children reading every day. This will be checked weekly.
Children have also chosen a school library book. They will be given the opportunity to change this periodically.
Library books will remain in school. School reading books and diaries should be in school everyday and go home every night.
Our Learning – topics
RE – Sikhism, The meaning of Christmas for Christians
PSHE – Being me in my world (Rules and responsibilities) and Celebrating Difference (families, feelings and difficult situations in the playground)
History- Who were the Ancient Egyptians?
Geography – Rainforests
Science – Animals, including humans.
Music – We will be having instrument lessons this year starting in the next few weeks. The children will learn as a class and will be able to take their instrument home. There is a small charge for this .
P.E. – Throwing and Catching skills, Benchball, Tag Rugby, Netball and Gymnastics
Art and Design Technology – In Art, we are learning about pencil sketches, painting and prints. In DT, we will be making a moving rainforest animal with a pneumatic system.
Assessment
The government removed levels and put in place a new primary curriculum in 2014.
We introduced the Key Objectives to assess children’s progress.
There is a copy of the key objectives on the school website so that you can see what the Year 3 expectations are.
Homework
A spelling list will be sent home weekly on a Wednesday and tested the following Wednesday.
Times tables and number bonds are also part of homework every week. Children should be practising for at least 30 minutes a week. TTRockstars and Numbots are useful for this. There will be a number bonds or times tables test every week to monitor children’s progress.
A maths worksheet will sometimes be provided and will consolidate recent learning or revisit areas which need further practice.
Reading is essential; please read every day and try to read a variety of genres including non-fiction, magazines or newspapers etc.
A grammar or handwriting activity will be provided. Homework will be handed out on Friday and should be returned by the following Wednesday.
Helping at home
Handwriting – a cursive flowing script with the correct pencil grip and posture is essential.
Encourage independence – this is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child! They can pack their own book bags (provide them with a check list to help them get started) and even make their own lunches. They will know about homework and what they achieved in the spelling test so do ask if they don’t mention it!
It is important that children complete their homework. In maths only support using the methods they have been taught in school. These can be found in the Calculation Policy on the school website. Do not try to teach them your own method as this will confuse them.
Helping at home
Listen to your child read and ask them questions about what they have read. Try to read some different genres e.g. newspapers.
We will send home reading help sheets when children move up a level. If you can find opportunities to use measures including money at home this will progress your child’s learning. Telling the time is another important area that is better covered gradually. Practice and regular questioning at home will help tremendously with this.
oxfordowl.co.uk is a useful website for suggestions on how you can support your child’s development of their skills in English.
Handwriting and spelling
Tips and strategies to help with learning spellings can be found at https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/ supporting-spelling-at-home/
Handwriting videos and practice sheets can be found at teachhandwriting.co.uk
Using the correct pencil grip is very important.
The Class News
Please check the class news page on the school website. It is published on Monday morning. http://www.tssfirst.co.uk. Find it under Children/Year 3/Class news
You will find out what we are learning each week and how to help. There may also be messages about trips, essentials to bring in etc.
Communication with school
There may be occasions when you need to talk to the class teacher. Please understand that this is not always possible before school, unless by prior arrangement.
Messages may be emailed to the office
Teachers can be more flexible at the end of the school day.
TSSSA (Trinity St Stephen School Association)
The school has a thriving association and each year group has two reps. Ours are Emma (Arthur’s mum) – plus a vacancy!
The purpose of the TSSSA is to fundraise for the school to provide additional activities and resources to enhance the children’s experience. We do this through events and activities for everyone to participate in – helping build our school community
In the last 12 months we have been able to contribute £30,000 to the school to fund: - laptops
- 32 new iPads that will arrive this term - a variety of resources, learning activities and playground equipment.
This year our focus is on improving the cabins and school playground, trips & experiences. Come along to the AGM on Wed 9th October, 7-8pm at school to find out more – new ideas and volunteers are ALWAYS welcome!