Welcome back

Welcome back to another busy term at Hackleton. Happy New Year to you all and I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas break. I know the children were all ready for a rest, so hopefully they will be raring to go again.

This term is particularly busy and important because we aim to get the children working hard and prepared for the end of Key Stage assessments in May. As always, I will be trying my best to ensure the curriculum is balanced and varied, however we need to make sure the children are as ready as possible to show their full potential in the SATs.

Our topic is a geography based topic on Ethiopia. The children will find out where it is and what it is like to live there. We will look at differences and similarities between rural and urban life, natural resources, jobs and quality of life.

Our English work will be mostly linked to our class texts: ‘Room 13’ by Robert Swindells and ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar. We will be reading them as a class over the term and drawing on themes and ideas from the books to produce our own writing.

In science, we will looking at evolution of animals, inherited features and key scientists in this field. After half term the topic will change to the classification of living things including micro-organisms, plants and animals by observing their differences and similarities.

Spellings – Spelling tests are on a Thursday and the new set of spellings are given out directly after the test. For this reason it is important that the children have the yellow spelling book in school every Thursday. Lists are being lost and some children are not able to build up a bank of spellings.

Reading – I would like the children to always have a reading book with them in school. This can be selected from home or the school library. The library is open from 8.45 – 8.55am and every lunchtime for year 6 children. The children should be reading at least 5 times a week at home and must have their reading record signed and in school every Monday.

Homework – Homework is set every Thursday and should be returned by the following Wednesday. It consists of a piece of English work and a maths activity. This is in addition to regular reading, spelling practice and TT Rockstars.

PE/Games – Friday afternoons.

We have reminded the children that it is their responsibility to get PE kit, reading books/records, homework and other equipment organised in order to prepare for life in secondary school and to show some independence.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank–you for your continued support this year.