Class Teachers: Mrs. Billins (Mon-Wed), Mr Handy (Thurs-Fri)
Support Staff: Miss Ivancic, Mrs. Newman, Miss Crew, Mr. Doward
Autumn Term 2023
Welcome to Key Stage 2! The children are growing up fast, and Year 3 will present them will a new set of opportunities and challenges; we are sure they will have fun making a success of the year.
Although the children are in the same classroom, they will notice some big differences. Firstly, the room itself is looking very smart and bright having been given a new coat of paint. The tables and chairs are bigger and the children will have their own trays fitted under the desks. As the children are growing up, they will be expected to keep these trays clean and organised!
What to bring to the classroom
The children can bring (if they wish):
The school will provide:
We do ask that children replace equipment they have lost or broken (lost pencils, snapped rulers, glue sticks without tops, etc.) as we want to encourage them to look after their equipment and respect school property.
Numeracy
This term will be focusing on Place Value, Addition and Subtraction and Multiplication and Division. We will be looking at numbers with 3 digits and learning how to partition these numbers into hundreds, tens and ones. We will be learning how to use the place value system to carry out arithmetic skills. The children will also be developing their reasoning and problem solving skills.
How can you help at home? The White Rose app is great for children to practise their maths skills. This can be downloaded onto your phone or tablet. The children are confident now in counting in 2s, 5s and 10s so please practise these times tables with your child to promote recall e.g. what is 4x5? what is 7x10? Finding opportunities to practise everyday maths in the real world will also help support your child e.g. counting coins to find the correct amount, working out the correct change, weighing ingredients using scales and reading the time on an analogue clock.
Literacy
The year will start with reading and writing traditional and modern fairy stories. In writing, there will be an emphasis of widening the children's vocabulary and composing well-structured sentences.
How can you help at home? Please ensure that your child reads aloud at least 4 times a week. This is absolutely vital if the children are to shine to their best ability; it is the biggest factor in how well your child progresses. The children should bring in their reading record books every day, signed by an adult when they have read. Remember to colour in the stars on their bookmarks each time they have read, so the children can be presented with their reading certificates.
Science
Skeletons! We will be learning about the purpose of skeletons, different types of skeletons, and how skeletons vary in different creatures.
R.E.
The children will be thinking hard in RE this term, considering questions such as "What does light symbolise in different religions?" and "How do people show they are Christians?"
P.E.
PE will be taught on Mondays and Wednesdays; the children should come to school in their PE kit. In Autumn term the children will be doing Gymnastics, Golf, Football and Handball.
Homework
Alternating Maths and English homework will be sent home every Wednesday, and should be handed in by the following Monday. All children will be expected to complete their homework by this deadline.
We recommend that children complete their homework earlier in the week, as this gives them time to ask their teachers for help, if it is needed.
Of course, you are welcome to help your child complete their homework, but if they need a lot of help, please let us know, so we can give them further support.
Please remind your child to bring in their homework every Monday (or earlier, if it is completed early) so that homework can be marked and new homework can be issued.
As always, if you require any further information, please come and chat to the class teacher after school or send an email via the school office secretary@st-michaels-school.org
Useful websites
BBC Skillswise - advice for parents who want to help with homework