Room 16 | Te Rapa Primary School

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to Term 1, 2021.

Below is an outline of Guidelines for the Yr 5/6 Syndicate and this Term's programmes.

INDEPENDENT LEARNING

A major goal for the children in the Year 5 and 6 Syndicate is to work towards becoming an‘Independent Learner.’

We want to encourage our children to take control of their own readiness to learn and to help them to monitor their own learning. This is to ensure that they will be prepared for future years of learning.

An Independent Learner would do these things:

Ask these questions frequently, ‘Do I know what I am supposed to be doing?’ ‘Am I doing it?’ The independent learner would answer, ‘Yes’ to both questions.
Plan time on a task carefully so that it is finished on time.
Look after all personal learning resources. If I misplace something it is my own learning that suffers.
Is ready to start at the beginning of the day, with a clear and organised desk as well as a clear and organised frame of mind.
Know the best way to learn is to ask questions of others when unsure.
Work quickly and quietly on set tasks to maximise my own learning but is also conscious of the learning needs of others.
Set realistic goals and work hard to achieve them as it is clear that education plays a very important part in my future.

Team Behaviour Process

This is the procedure we will follow as a team for unacceptable behaviour. They rarely apply to most students but it is important to recognise the procedure we follow. With each of these steps, students can redeem the negative behaviour with positive changes.

Minor Incidences

First Warning Reminder

Second Warning Name on board

Third Warning 1 written beside name

Fourth Warning 2 written beside name

Fifth Warning 3 written beside name and sent to Mrs Ritete

Major Incidences

Sent to Team Leader or Mrs Franklin/Mrs Brinsden

PRIME Mathematics Programme

This year our team will continue to use the PRIME Mathematics Programme during cross-grouping. The PRIME Mathematics Programme is sequential, revisiting concepts and building on these so your child is confident to move to the next step. The programme builds a solid foundation in Mathematics, developing a conceptual understanding with a strong focus on problem solving.

The programme is aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum and will support your child to meet the expected curriculum level.

Homework

This year, in the Year 5/6 Syndicate, we will have ‘Home Learning Activities’ which will be done over a fortnight and will begin in Week 2. This will consist of activities which are the priority activities to be completed. The other activities on the list will be optional. Within these activities will be Reading at home. Your child is encouraged to read regularly at home, record this on the Home Learning Activities Sheet and have it signed by a parent or caregiver after each time. Reading regularly is about encouraging reading mileage and helping your child to develop vocabulary and comprehension knowledge. Reading a variety of materials such as newspapers, comics, magazines, novels and recipes helps to develop a broader understanding of texts. Part of the activities will be having your child read aloud to someone to practise this skill. It is important that this is encouraged to support their learning at school. Reading aloud can be included as a part of reading activities. Learning Basic Facts will also be an important part of the activities. The number of times per fortnight your child practises these will depend on their ability to recall basic facts in all four operations with speed and accuracy. Some suggestions of ways to learn these are: Using dice or counters Apps that can be downloaded onto your child’s device Flashcards (can be purchased from $2 shops or printed off the internet) Time tables poster Rock/Paper/Scissors activity Practising with an adult, saying the answer or question out loud Along with these two focus areas there will be other optional activities on the Home Learning Sheet. In some fortnights there will be a little competition within the activities for an optional task. Those children who complete the required tasks, with signatures and evidence if required at the end of each fortnight will be rewarded.

Within these activities will be Reading at home. Your child is encouraged to read regularly at home, record this on the Home Learning Activities Sheet and have it signed by a parent or caregiver after each time.

Reading regularly is about encouraging reading mileage and helping your child to develop vocabulary and comprehension knowledge. Reading a variety of materials such as newspapers, comics, magazines, novels and recipes helps to develop a broader understanding of texts. Part of the activities will be having your child read aloud to someone to practise this skill. It is important that this is encouraged to support their learning at school.

Reading aloud can be included as a part of reading activities.

Learning Basic Facts will also be an important part of the activities. The number of times per fortnight your child practises these will depend on their ability to recall basic facts in all four operations with speed and accuracy. Some suggestions of ways to learn these are:

Using dice or counters
Apps that can be downloaded onto your child’s device
Flashcards (can be purchased from $2 shops or printed off the internet)
Time tables poster
Rock/Paper/Scissors activity
Practising with an adult, saying the answer or question out loud

Along with these two focus areas there will be other optional activities on the Home Learning Sheet. In some fortnights there will be a little competition within the activities for an optional task.

Those children who complete the required tasks, with signatures and evidence if required at the end of each fortnight will be rewarded.

Stationery

Please ensure that your child has the appropriate stationery for school.

Term 1 Learning Activities

Written Language – Recount and Instructional Writing, consolidating basic skills to improve writing

Reading – Guided Silent Reading and questioning and Shared Reading Maths – Maths knowledge (basic facts, place value, fractions), PRIME Mathematics Programme

Inquiry/Big Idea – Becoming a powerful learner - How can I be a powerful learner? We can learn how to learn

Maori – Mihi, Greetings and Classroom Objects

Arts – Identity Art and visual art related to camp

Health & PE – Swimming and Fitness Circuits

H.E.A.R.T.– Learning Logs – Reflection on learning

Assessment – Running Records, Journal Reading Assessment, Writing Samples, PAT’s, Basic Facts, IKAN

Up and Coming Events for Term 1

Orientation Evening: Thursday 18th February

Yr 5/6 Papamoa Camp: Tuesday 2nd -Friday 5th March

Class Photos: Wednesday 10th March

Year 5/6 Swimming Sports: Friday 19th March

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences: Wednesday 14th April and Thursday 15th April