Hello everyone,
It was so lovely to see those of you who were able to attend our Chuseok celebrations on Wednesday. The children had a great time and I hope you did, too.
Here is what we have been up to this week:
Maths
Year 5
| Aut.2 – Addition and subtraction | Aut.2.3 – Subtract whole numbers with more than four digits |
| Aut.2 – Addition and subtraction | Aut.2.4 – Round to check answers |
| Aut.2 – Addition and subtraction | Aut.2.5 – Inverse operations (addition and subtraction) |
| Aut.2 – Addition and subtraction | Aut.2.6 – Multi-step addition and subtraction problems |
| Aut.2 – Addition and subtraction | Aut.2.6 – Multi-step addition and subtraction problems |
Year 6
| Aut.1 – Place value | Aut.2.10 – Division using factors |
| Aut.2 – Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division | Aut.2.11 – Introduction to long division |
| Aut.2 – Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division | Aut.2.12 – Long division with remainders |
| Aut.2 – Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division | Aut.2.13 – Solve problems with division |
| Aut.2 – Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division | Aut.2.14 – Solve multi-problems |
Both Year 5 and Year 6 will have end of unit assessments next week, so everyone has a little more Maths homework than usual. I would highly recommend that they do a couple of pages each day, so it’s not too overwhelming. Year 5 will have their assessment on Wednesday and Year 6 will have theirs on Thursday.
Literacy
In Literacy this week, the children wrote thoughtful letters from Helen to Lydia, imagining what Helen might have said after realising Lydia’s apartment was empty. The letters included heartfelt apologies, updates on what was happening in her life, and wishes that Lydia was safe. This task encouraged the children to step into the characters’ shoes, developing empathy while also practising how to organise and express their ideas clearly in letter form.
Following this, our focus shifted to grammar, where we explored the difference between active and passive voice. The children learned how the subject and object in a sentence can be switched around, and how the passive voice is often used in formal writing, such as newspaper reports. They practised converting sentences together on the board and then worked independently. This new skill will be put to use next week when they begin writing newspaper reports about Jewish people being rounded up and taken away, linking directly to the historical context of our class text.
We also finished reading Star of Fear, Star of Hope. Although the ending was sad and thought-provoking, it really helped the children to reflect on the importance of kindness and empathy. We discussed how there is no such thing as “luck” in war; it is caused by unkind decisions made by people. Spreading love and kindness is one of the most important ways to create a better world. The class have shown such respect and sensitivity when asking questions about this story, and it has been wonderful to see how engaged they have been with the book from start to finish.
IPC
In IPC this week, the children have been exploring different ways to recognise and respond to emotions. We began with role play performances where each group acted out a scenario showing either comfortable or uncomfortable feelings. Every group worked so well together, and it was wonderful to see the creativity, teamwork, and confidence they brought to their performances.
Following this, the children took on the role of “Agony Aunts,” writing advice for people who were experiencing uncomfortable emotions. This activity encouraged them to think carefully about empathy, kindness, and problem-solving, as well as how their words can make a positive difference to someone else.
We then moved on to a very important discussion about bullying and why it is so important to speak up if you see it happening. The children created thoughtful and eye-catching posters to teach others in the school what to do if they witness bullying. These posters are now proudly displayed outside our classroom so that they can help spread the message of standing up for others and keeping our school community safe and kind.
To finish the week, we explored our “digital backpacks,” a tool that helps us regulate our emotions by reminding us of strategies we can use when we’re experiencing strong feelings. Next week, the children will be making a presentation to show other schools how to use the digital backpacks and explain why they are such a useful resource. Keep an eye on my teaching Instagram page, where I’ll be sharing their presentations soon!
Important Information
- I’d like to remind you about the Google Form I sent a few weeks ago regarding my teaching Instagram page. The form asks for your permission to share photos or short videos of your child taking part in classroom activities. This is, of course, completely optional, and I will only ever post content where the children look positive, engaged, and proud of their work. I’ll include the link again in this update in case you haven’t had the chance to complete it yet. Thank you so much for your continued support. (I have had 11 replies to this so far. Thank you so much! If you have not yet responded please do let me know at your convenience.) Here is the form and here is my teaching page.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone! 😀
