Wow we have been a class full of Isabella Insects this week: listening to advice, celebrating the things we have achieved, looking forward to the things we want to develop next and most importantly not comparing ourselves to others. Such vital skills when we are teaching our children to be independent learners; giving them the confidence to take risks, try different skills and most importantly, be allowed to make those crucial mistakes and learn from them. We have had a week of feedback from our first practice SAT’s papers. This is a huge learning curve for the children, and a crucial one, as it allows them to celebrate their achievements but also, to see for themselves the areas they need to work on. The first paper is never a full reflection of what your children are capable of, but we must celebrate them whatever mark they got as it is the first hurdle of a journey together. They now fully understand this process, as we have talked at length about how our feelings/ emotions can take control, preventing us to see or read questions carefully, the silly mistakes we make when we feel like we are being timed, the way the questions are worded and decoding ‘what does it want me to do?’ and then the strategies they can use to allow them to become more accurate or efficient. These are just SOME of the barriers, or as we would say, ‘learning opportunities’, that the children need to learn or overcome, before they even then, apply all of their knowledge.
I am so proud of the way Year 6 have approached this feedback. They have faced these sessions with such resilience, determination and maturity. This is why it is so crucial to do these papers at this time, rather than any earlier, as they are now ready and have the skills to face these challenges. The children have laughed and celebrated at their silly errors, know exactly where they have gone wrong, know what they need to work on and are, dare I say it, even excited to do it again and ‘beat’ their score. These papers will go home with the children next week to share with you. Take the time to go through these papers, to celebrate their achievements, let them explain their mistakes and what they should have done and let them share their targets with you.
Make time to celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how big or small …
I hope you enjoyed our book look this week, the children couldn’t wait to show you their work and how much they have achieved this year so far …
What have we been learning this week?
English - Alongside feedback, we have also been recapping our knowledge of the possessive apostrophe, looking at where the apostrophe goes when it is a singular or plural noun.
Maths - We have continued to master our fraction work, finding fractions of amounts, solving problems, adding and subtracting fractions and of course consolidating our arithmetic.
Computing - This week we have been looking in to creating quizzes online for our reception partners and linking this to our Science work on animal adaptations
PE- This week we have applied our part-weight bearing balances to large equipment in groups in gymnastics and in outdoor PE have been applying tactics and decision making to 4 different games: rugby, basket ball, hockey and football.
Leading Learners
Well done to Jacob and Abi this week.
Jacob your enthusiasm, determination and positive attitude towards your learning is inspiring. You are super focused in class and now have the self-belief that you can do it and if you do come across an area you find challenging then you remain positive and go away and practise the skill until you master it. You have learnt that you are in control of your own learning, and that anything is possible when you have that positive growth mindset.
Abi, you never stop learning! There are times when you could sit back, relax and let the learning was over you, but you never do. You seize every learning opportunity and see every lesson or feedback as a chance to challenge yourself and take your learning to the next level. Sitting back is never an option for you, you engaged and ensure you are actively learning! Wow, your diary entry of the Journey last week, blew me away. Your rich vocabulary, your emotive language and all of your advanced punctuation that we have been learning in class, applied to a different piece of work!
Grateful and Generous butterflies
This half term we will be on the lookout for all the children that are grateful for their own gifts, the gifts of others and the blessings of each day. We will also be spotting children who are generous, who use their gifts to help others. These children are the role models of the school. This week we thank Grace and for always being generous with his own gifts to help others.
Helpers in the morning
This week we have the following children helping to take the younger children to their class:
Max James Stephanie Mason
Notices
Parents’ Evening - Don’t forget when your appointments are.
Water Parks meeting is on Thursday 16th March 4pm.
Date for diaries- Year 6 Resurrection Assembly- Thursday 6th April
On Thursday 16th March the NHS will be conducting the National Child Measurement Programme. All children in Reception and Year 6 will have their height and weight measured, unless you choose to opt out. Please read the letter below for more information. They will also be conducting the School Health Needs Assessment Programme. This allows us to assess the health and social care needs of children in Year 6. Please read all of the information below.
Have a lovely weekend.
I will see you on Monday.
Mrs Harrison, Mrs Nel, Mrs Barker and Miss Forster