Form Four sees even more development and change in your child.  The curriculum develops further from the work previously started.  The children are encouraged to become more independent within their work and their self management. The children are encouraged to work with their peers, and to learn how to interact in a socially acceptable manner.

Below are a few details which you might find useful as your child begins this very important school year.

DAILY ROUTINE

Homework

This is given nightly, except in exceptional circumstances such as Speech Night or a Form Trip.  Homework should be completed on the night it is given and returned the next day, the obvious exceptions being weekends and holidays.  Children will receive approximately 30 minutes of homework, plus reading.  It is important to support and encourage your child with their homework, but please do not do the work for them.  If your child is struggling then please contact the Form Teacher, so that any issues can be addressed.

Maths & English

Maths and English are taught daily in Form Four.  Lessons will follow the summarised list enclosed and will be mechanical, problem based and mental.

Reading

All children will be encouraged to read for pleasure, and therefore will have a free reading book. Over the academic year the children will read and study three books as class readers  Where appropriate, children will be issued with a scheme reading book which needs to be heard by parents/guardians at home, and by teachers in school.  All children, irrespective of ability, should be heard reading aloud, ideally every evening, but certainly 3 or 4 times a week, for approximately ten minutes at a time.

Reasoning

Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are taught regularly throughout the year.

Swimming

Swimming will begin in February for approximately 9 weeks.  The children will have an hour long lesson at Worsley Pool.  Further details will be given closer to the starting date.

If your child is not swimming then a note needs to be brought to school and given to the Form Teacher.  Your child will then remain at school, supervised within another Form.

P.E.

Form Four have Lacrosse on a Thursday and P.E. on Fridays. The children come in their P.E. kits on Thursdays and Fridays and stay in it all day – there is no need to bring their uniform.

If there is a reason why your child will not be taking part in a P.E. lesson then a note needs to be sent in to the Form Teacher on the day of the lesson.

Equipment

It would be very useful for your child to have access to the following:

Pencils

Rubbers

Rulers

Sharpeners

Blue ink biros or handwriting pens (Berol or Friction is a good brand)

Fountain pens for when the children achieve their fountain pen licence

Notebook (for those ‘free’ moments!)

Felt tips and coloured pencils

I am available to speak with you either before or after school most days.  However, should you wish for a more detailed appointment please contact the secretarial staff to arrange a convenient time.

Many thanks

Mr Sullivan

SUMMARY OF LEARNING AREAS

Maths

• Revision of basics addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
• Short and long multiplication and division – up to 4 digits
• Tables (at speed) to 12 x 12
• Money, including bills, change
• Time, 12 and 24 hour , plus simple timetables/calendars
• Length, weight and capacity
• Fractions –       equivalent

cancelling

improper and proper

mixed numbers

addition and subtraction of

• Decimals –       add, sub, x and ¸ of : x ¸ by 10, 100, 1000
• Area and perimeter of simple four sided shapes and more complex shapes
• Problems relating to all the above
• Mental maths

English

• Twice/three times weekly individual reading
• Grammar, including basics of punctuation, gender, conjunctions, homophones, singular and plural, opposites, pronouns, apostrophes, collective nouns
• Comprehension
• Free writing, factual and imaginary, poetry, writing in paragraphs, sentences, book reviews
• Spellings, a weekly list plus sentences
• Handwriting, developing cursive writing

Foundation subjects including History, Science, Geography

• Invaders and Settlers
• Romans
• Vikings
• Habitats and Living Things
• Continents of the world
• North and Central America
• South America
• Europe – countries and capital cities, including personal project
• Oceans

Art and Craft

• Works of famous artists e.g. Picasso, Kandinsky
• Variety of craft activities e.g. sunflowers, Mother’s Day albums, spooky houses
• Co-ordinate pictures, Starburst, Diamonds

Religious Education

• Religious Festivals
• Places of Worship
• Judaism
• Islam

I.T.

• Form 4 have an IT lesson on Friday with an specialist It teacher

Science

• Electricity