Over the last few weeks, we have been working hard to settle into routines, complete assessment and get to know each other. Next week we hit the ground running...

Kia ora whānau,

We have been doing quite a bit of assessment so we can get to know where the children are for their learning. All of the assessments that we have done have been new for them so it has been important for us to ease them into it. We have had to teach them how to do the assessment and ensure that the process is as stress-free as possible.

The assessments we have done with an explanation are below.

Reading:

In  Year 4, we move from using Running Records to using Probe. This means there is a shift from looking predominantly at fluency to assessing students' comprehension/understanding of what they read. Due to this shift in assessment and focus, we often see children drop back a little bit but this is normal.

For home learning, it is important for our Year 4 children to be doing a combination of reading independently, reading to an adult and being read to. When they are reading with an adult, asking them questions about the story they are reading is going to encourage them to think about and make sense of what they have read.

Maths:

This year we are beginning to use Prime Maths in Years 4-8. We have administered a Prime Placement Test to see where your child will sit within this programme. In addition to this assessment, we have also used information from the end of last year to decide whether they start on Book 1, Book 2 or Book 3.

We have also assessed the children's maths knowledge with an IKAN. When these are done, they are a timed test (3-5 seconds per question). The focus is knowledge that they should be able to access quickly rather than problem solving. We slow the timing right down on our first IKAN so we could focus more on teaching them how to do the test.

Spelling:

To check their spelling knowledge, we used the Essential Spelling Lists. This gave us an overall picture of their sight words. We are also preparing to implement a full word study programme. It will introduce the knowledge and strategies required for effective spelling in a carefully structured sequence of activities. It will cover spelling patterns, rules, grammar and dictionary skills.

Here is a link about what children should be doing by the end of Year 4 in their Reading, Writing and Maths, and also what you can be doing at home to support them. It is also attached as a PDF.

Next Week:

We are hoping to get our programme fully up and running next week but the children will take some time to settle into it. 

In our first learning block, we will be doing our Literacy (Reading, Writing and Word Study). After morning tea, we will be doing Maths. When we come back from lunch we will be doing a range of learning across the week. These will include Library, Mandarin, Tikanga Māori, Physical Literacy, Digital Citizenship, Art, Music and our Big Idea.

Notices:

Beach Visit - Searching the Shoreline: A notice went home today (Friday) regarding our Whānau Groups going to the beach. We required those notices to be returned on Monday as it is a quick turn around. We will need 5 parent helpers per Whānau Group.

Miss Gallagher - Room 18 is visiting North New Brighton Beach on Monday, 27th February leaving Merrin at 9:00am and returning to school by 12pm.

Miss Hebberd - Room 19 is visiting North New Brighton Beach on Tuesday, 28th February leaving Merrin at 9:00am and returning to school by 12pm.

Responsible User Agreement for Digital Citizenship - If you have not returned your signed form to school, please discuss it with your child over the weekend, sign it (both parent and student) and return it to school on Monday. Children are not allowed on devices until this agreement is signed and returned to school.

PTA Contact Lists

If you do not want to be on the Class Contact list can you please email the PTA direct at pta@merrin.school.nz. These contact lists will be compiled and given out next week. Thank you...PTA

Have a great weekend

Nicky, Tania and Vanessa