Quick up date on the last couple of weeks for you. English work has been focussed on skills – grammar, reading and spelling most notably. The intention is to develop their ability to analyse and make links rather than just learn facts by wrote. In maths we have waded into the trickier territory … Read more
Apologies for the missed blog last week. I had to take the day off unexpectedly. Maths It’s been a good couple of weeks. We are still sticking with the four functions but the focus is always one of efficiency and accuracy. We are constantly trying new techniques, testing them, applying them and re-evaluating them. … Read more
In maths we have taken some fairly basic concepts to a much deeper level. The emphasis continues to be on process, as different methods are examined, tested and refined. The efficiency of each is slowly becoming clearer, as they are applied to different problems and compared against each other. As a result, arithmetic skills are … Read more
Maths This week we have been taking a deeper look at subtraction techniques. Whilst the class are fairly proficient at using column techniques, my focus is on the ‘numberiness’ of the process, being more versatile with the calculations, enabling faster mental work. This shouldn’t take too long to establish and as a principle and we … Read more
Maths We are spending some time at the moment deepening some basic skills. With tables looking more thorough and rapid we have moved into and through some higher multiplication skills that allow us to rapidly multiply double digit numbers by single digits, laying the important groundwork for efficient formal methods later in the term. In … Read more
The SAT’s prep is going very well in deed, and even if we sat the exams today, the class would be more than okay. Stress levels seem negligible but all the children seem increasingly confident in their abilities. Perfect with another week still to go. The wider curriculum has continued well with no perceivable narrowing … Read more
Okay so we have now started out SAT’s run up. For the next three weeks we will be rehearsing papers and then breaking them down to develop some test technique and confidence under pressure. It’s worth noting that we have actually been doing a lot of preparation over the last five months. The maths … Read more
English The descriptive work is well under way with some lovely results starting to emerge. It has been tough, which is good because it means we are firmly in the learning zone. It’s interesting talking to the children because one of the hardest things they are finding is writing to a more prescriptive task rather … Read more
English We are well underway with our research into metaphors and similes as we build up towards our next composition. In class, we are analysing different texts including poems to establish what impact this level of description has and what strategies there are for creating them. By exploring them on a deep level we have … Read more
First off, I’d like to say thanks to everyone who managed to get in this week for Parent Evening. I hope you found it useful. It’s actually something I quite enjoy because it’s a chance to catch up with you and say how well your children are getting on. We’ve had a few different things … Read more
