Mr Renshaw
2015-16
Our Expectations
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Now that the pupils are in Primary 5/4,
there will be an expectation all children
respect the environment in which they are
learning and respect others belongings.
We expect good behaviour and good
manners at all times.
We ask the children to try their best at all
times, working neatly and productively.
How you can help?
Please support your children in preparing for
school each day, your child should bring:
a sharp pencil and ruler
 a rubber
 a pritt stick
 highlighter pens
 library book
 reading record
 a healthy, nut free snack
 a P.E kit- black shorts and white t-shirt
(including jogging bottoms and outdoor P.E
shoes)
 water bottle
Please ensure that your child’s name is on all of
their belongings
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How you can help- supporting at home
Reading
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Ask questions to check understanding
Ask the child to summarise what they have just
read in their own words
Make flash cards of any words the child is
struggling to read and practise those daily
Maths
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Regular practise of number bonds, times
tables, quick fire mental maths sums in real life
contexts
How you can help- supporting at home
Spelling
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Practise their spelling words daily
Test them on the words
Make sure the child understands the meaning
Encourage the use of a dictionary and thesaurus
Make flash cards
Homework
We would appreciate all homework to be signed.
 Spelling – Spelling homework is set on a
Monday by your child’s group teacher and
should be handed in by Friday. Pupils are
tested on Friday. Words are taken from the
Single Word Spelling Test scheme.
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Look, say, cover, write, check.
Weekly spelling should also be completed with
the appropriate spelling activities (100 Point
Activities) noted in homework jotters.
Reading
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Homework will be given on a Monday and is due
on a Friday. This will usually consist of pages to
read and a follow up activity.
Maths
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Maths homework will be set on Monday by your
child’s group teacher and should be returned on
Friday. This may include a challenge on Sumdog
for P5 children.
Other Curricular Areas
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This term, the children have been set a rainforest
challenge to complete at least 3 rainforest themed
activities by Friday 16th October.
Specialist Teachers
We will also have lessons throughout the
year from:
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Miss Kerr- Music
Mrs Mitchell – P.E.
Support for Learning
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Mrs Kellner, Miss Kerr and Mrs Combe will
provide extra support.
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Building our class community and getting to
know each other
Mini topic on our school value- Respectful
Community Contract– Class Expectations
Begun our Rainforest IDL context
Established grouping
The Rainforest- Literacy, Social Studies and Expressive
Arts focus. Also links to technologies, ICT and
Science.
Maths- place value, addition and subtraction and data
handling (class maths).
Literacy- reading non-fiction texts, writing linked to
the Rainforest (describing a scene, fact files,
instructions, advertisement), spelling and grammar
RME- the role of water in Christianity and Islam
P.E- tennis
Music- call and response
French- general revision of key greetings
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The Rainforest- animal factfiles, description
of the Rainforest, comparison of Mid
Calder/Scotland to the Rainforest, Rainforest
in a bottle, sustainability, deforestation, how
we can help, Rainforest art, tree study,
classification of animals etc…
Money week- We will be presenting a
Rainforest Café at an open afternoon. The
children will be involved in the planning,
making and serving of the food and handling
the money.
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Linked to our IDL context
5th October
£7.50
Looking at Biodiversity
Tour of the Zoo
Tickets to see the pandas
Positive Ethos Policy
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Dojo Points
Top Scorers
Living the Values
Star Writer
Star Pupil
Free Time Friday
School Blog
iAchieve
Achievement Assembly
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Warning given
5 minutes loss of Free Time FridayReflection sheet to be signed and returned
Move to another seat in the class
Move to another class
Senior management
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Quick start and registration.
IDL Topic - researching a rainforest animal on
netbooks and using non-fiction books.
Maths groups – place value.
Break time.
Reading - skimming and scanning for information.
Mental Maths games.
Lunch time.
Writing – creating a fact file.
PE – team ball games for fitness and coordination.
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If there is anything you would like to discuss
further, please feel free to make an
appointment
Use homework jotters to communicate
anything that I need to be aware of.