Year Three/ Four
Communicating with the Year Three/Four Team
We look forward to partnering with you in 2022, and welcome your input:
Melinda Rowe (Class 34A) Melinda.Rowe@education.vic.gov.au
Rebecca Tilley (Class 34B) Rebecca.Tilley@education.vic.gov.au
Michelle Wright (Class 34C) Michelle.Wright@education.vic.gov.au
ENGLISH THIS TERM
Spelling overview
This term our students are learning different spelling strategies and rules using the Multi Lit program. Students have four spelling lessons per week with follow up activities to consolidate their knowledge. This program incorporates tricky/useful words. These are words that are commonly used and generally don't follow spelling patterns and rules.
Reading overview
This term we are reading the book ‘Matilda’ by Roald Dahl. ‘Matilda’, by Roald Dahl is a great book and all of the students are enjoying reading it. The students have been working hard to use reading strategies such as maintaining fluency, summarising the text and using spelling strategies to sound out words. The students have also been working in differentiated reading groups and are investigating how we can use comprehension strategies to discuss and understand a text. The students are working with their teacher to develop their reading skills. We have really enjoyed listening to the students read and it has been amazing to see all of the students bring their diaries back each morning to see which books they have been reading before bed. We look forward to finishing ‘Matilda’ and finding out what happens at the end of the book! We are then looking forward to watching the film version of the text in order to compare and contrast between the two versions.
‘Matilda’
Matilda is a little girl who is far too good to be true. At age five-and-a-half she's knocking off double-digit multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens. Even more remarkably, her classmates love her even though she's a super-nerd and the teacher's pet. But everything is not perfect in Matilda's world. For starters she has two of the most self-centered parents who ever lived. Then there's the large, busty nightmare of a school principal, Miss Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who flings children at will and is approximately as sympathetic as a bulldozer. Fortunately for Matilda, she has the inner resources to deal with such annoyances: astonishing intelligence, saintly patience, and an innate predilection for revenge.
Our extensive class libraries
Our Favourite Books
Writing overview
In Writing, the Year Three/Four students have begun the year exploring narratives. Students have discussed what a narrative is, narratives they enjoy reading and what makes a good narrative. The students looked in detail at describing a setting using the five senses, and describing a character using adjectives. The students then explored the use of quotation marks and understanding the difference between character voice and narration. This week, the students have completed a narrative plan, and will begin writing a narrative using a narrative writing checklist to assist them to include all important aspects. Upon completion of their narrative, the students will learn editing strategies to improve their spelling, grammar and word choice, and will use a ‘Bump It Up’ display wall to identify areas of improvement. The students will then plan and write a second narrative following the same procedure, and will publish one of these narratives using the iPads.
Later this Term, the students will begin to explore persuasive texts. As a class, they will unpack what a persuasive text is, why they are used and will read a variety of persuasive texts. The students will then begin planning and writing a persuasive piece to be completed and published by the end of the term.
REMINDERS and IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- Diaries - Your child should be bringing home their school diary each night. We would like to encourage your child (or parent) to write down the title and author of the book that is read, along with the page numbers that have been read. Students should be bringing in their diary to school daily.
- Face masks - Thanks so much for providing face masks for your children to wear during class time. It would be great to have a spare or two packed in your child's bag inside a re-sealable bag.
- Art Smocks - All students require an art smock to wear during art lessons at school. This can be an old shirt or a specific art smock. These will remain at school for the duration of the year.
- Tissues - Thank you to those families that have sent along a box of tissues to be used in your child's classroom. We would love for you to consider sending one in if you are yet to do so.
- Year 3/4 Common Room. The students in Year 3/4 all keep their bags in classroom 7. We would love to be able to set this up as a common room with some coffee tables and couches. If you happen to have a spare couch, floor rug or coffee table that is in good condition that you are rehoming, we would love for you to consider donating it to the school for students to use. Please contact Mel Rowe if you have something suitable.
- Messages - If you need to have a message passed on to your child during the day, can you please send this via the office as we cannot guarantee that emails will be read during the day.
- Times tables - Your child will be bringing home some ninja belt times tables next week attached to their bag. Please assist your your child to practice these times tables so that they can respond automatically and in any order. When your child feels confident to be tested, they should let their teacher know. They will then be tested over the next few days. If they successfully pass the set of times tables, they will receive their next ninja belt (set of tables) to learn.
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