Homework and Class News
IXL Gold Awards
Week 5 - Thursday 23rd May
Evie, Ella, Josh, Dylan, Sophia
Logan
Week 4 - Thursday 16th May
Evie 179, Dylan 97, Ella 96, Sophie 94, Alfie 80, Scarlett 59, Josh 47, Sophia 42
Archie 177, Violet 98, Quinn 77, Martha 68, Grace 62
Week 3 - Thursday 9th May
Ella 128, Sophie 117, Scarlett 91, Flora 53, Evie 51, Alfie 46, Josh 43, Zack 41
Carter 129, Arabella 72, Martha 71, Paisley 68
MTC - Multiplication Tables Check - Year 4s
Week beginning Monday 10th June
The Year 4s will take a short test during this week, while Mr Oliver-Dean is with the class. This is the MTC or 'Multiplication Tables Check'. It is done nationally and is a way of checking how primary school pupils are doing with recalling times tables facts.
The test itself will be done on a tablet and lasts less than five minutes. Children have been practising with a similar format test for a couple of months now. This format can be found on the 'Multiplication Tables Check' page on the class website.
When doing the test, the children will not see their score, and they should not worry about the test. Doing the test itself does not help with learning tables, it just checks where they currently are. The main way we practise our recall of multiplication table facts is through the use of flash cards in the class.
After the MTC, we will focus support and use of flash cards for learning more on the children who find it harder to remember these facts. This is practice that will continue after the tests as it has before.
If anyone wants to practise at home in a similar way to at school, flash cards can be borrowed. There is an effective way to use these which I am happy to explain. Thank you.
Homework Expectations for Maths - Mr Oliver-Dean
Please note that Mrs Horsley sets spelling and reading work independently of this. This refers only to maths expectations, starting from Thursday 18th April.
IXL Maths - Link to Login Pages
Each week, children should work on IXL outside of lesson time. This will help address areas that children would benefit from practising (recommendations) and/or class work (either as 'pre-learning' or reviewing and practising current or recent work).
What work should I do?
Unless told otherwise, please work on your 'recommendations'. Sometimes, to get recommendations, you will need to step into the 'diagnostic arena'. Sometimes I might ask you to do other work than recommendations. I will make this clear. You can also suggest to me work that might be useful to you. Please DO NOT have any help when you are working in the 'diagnostic arena'. This is so that IXL can find work that is useful for you. If you have help in the arena, IXL will set you work that is too difficult at the moment.
Year 3 - 20 minutes per week
This is equivalent to about 3 minutes per day. It is measured from one Thursday to the next Thursday.
Year 4 - 30 minutes per week
This is equivalent to less than 5 minutes per day. It is measured from one Thursday to the next Thursday.
What if I don't do this amount of work?
You will be expected to catch up any missed time at school. I can help you with this.
What if I do more than this amount of work?
If you do more work, it might help you with your maths, but please don't feel pressure to do this. We have kept a leaderboard in class for the last four weeks. If you do double the expected time in a week, you will reach the 'Champion' section and this is automatic 'Gold'. However, doing the expected time is plenty, will be useful to you and will also be rewarded. If you are a competitive person, you might use this to help push yourself but don't let it cause you stress.
IXL Maths Homework - Thursday 25th April
Gold – Weekly Champions
Congratulations to the following children for being Champions this week, by doubling the expectation for their year group. These children have received Gold!
Year 4:
Martha 105 minutes
Arabella 94 minutes
Grace 74 minutes
Year 3:
Evie 106 minutes
Josh 86 minutes
Dylan 66 minutes
Alfie 52 minutes
Ella 49 minutes
Zack 48 minutes
Four other Year 4 students reached the expected work for the week, with two reaching 56 minutes, only 4 minutes away from Gold. Well done.
There is no expectation that ‘Gold’ is reached during the week, but the extra effort is rewarded.
All Time Champions
Congratulations to the following children for being champions on the all time leader-board (averaging twice the weekly expectation over the five weeks we have been using IXL).
Year 4:
Martha 87 minutes per week
Year 3:
Ella 85 minutes per week
Evie 47 minutes per week
There is no expectation that a ‘Gold’ standard is averaged. This is much harder to do than to reach gold in a single week so there should be no pressure to maintain it.
Time Owed
Six Year 3s and nine Year 4s didn’t work on IXL as part of their homework this week. Five of those children had absences and their expectations will therefore be adjusted. Because we only discussed this in class on Monday (halfway through the homework week), the time owed has been halved. Children in Year 4 who didn’t do any homework therefore owe an additional 15 minutes this week (a total of 45 minutes). Children in Year 3 who didn’t do any homework therefore owe an additional 10 minutes this week (a total of 30 minutes). Please stay on top of your homework so that this time doesn’t mount up. You may complete the time at home or at break/lunch time at school with me.