What a great start to the term. The children are doing well and having fun in their quiz of the week which test their retrieval memory of past learning.  One of my favourite highlights this week is the classes confidence to times a number such as 64,321 by ten and most of them can explain fully what happens to the number when we multiply by ten.

I have challenged the children to improve their knowledge of graphs during outdoor classroom where we have begun exploring pictographs and pie charts.

The children have loved getting their new reading books and settling into their new reading groups.  This term they have been mixed up  to give different challenge and to develop the children’s comprehension further.

The highlights this week for the children have been Tuesday’s outdoor classroom, number talks, story writing and this week’s question challenge.

On Tuesday in the rain the children worked in groups and found a way to make a picture / diagram to illustrate the water cycle.  They had to answer the question as to how the water gets in the cloud and gets out, and what happens in between.  All groups were successful in piecing their knowledge together to find the answer, working collaboratively to discuss, plan and find the resources they needed to make the picture.  There were a few extra additions to their pictures for artistic effect such as speed boats in the river, however they did an amazing job and were able to effectively explain their learning.

We had a great number talks session on Wednesday, and the children went on to extend their knowledge of multiplication strategies.  they particularly liked the x10 and the challenge of ten times a 2, 3, or 4 digit number.

For a number of weeks we have been exploring legends and this week the class finished their planning and began to write their own legend stories. They are very excited and worked well.  Later we will edit and proofread before we publish them.

This week the class were challenged to answer the question Is Livingston Village a town or a village?  It was an interesting debate and the class found it hard to come to a conclusion.

Finally, I would like to share a picture of our learning about the colour wheel which is now on display.  The children really enjoyed the challenge and exploring the different mediums. They really did some amazing work. 

As I was whisked away to camp Mon – Wed and Miss Marnie stepped in, much of what the children enjoyed this week were the lessons they had with Miss Marnie ( a big thank you for your hard work Miss Marnie).  Top of their highlights list was the session helping them to access Didbook with the P6’s help, for the first time.   They are really looking forward to recording their learning each week.

Next was the maths problem solving questions, which they worked on as a class, but finding answers in groups.  Next up was the opportunity to complete a Christmas card design. This may have just been because it was a relaxing task, but the results are fantastic. I hope you will agree when you see them.

The children and Miss Marnie enjoyed this weeks reading buddies session with the P1’s.  The relationships they are building between the classes is great to see.

Almost all said they have loved Mrs Fraser’s science and technology lessons, others have enjoyed the PE and many liked the poems Miss Marnie read on Monday, for national poetry day, from Allan Ahlberg.

The highlights this week have been the the first session of reading buddies (see our last post below), and undoubtedly the cakes at the McMillan coffee morning!

The children also want to say how much they are enjoying the music lessons with Karen from the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS).

Most of the children did really well in their first quiz of the week based on their learning and shared home learning this week. Well done.

Highlights this week have been:

• Challenging the children to listen for sentences while a paragraph is read to them.
• Challenging the children to uplevel sentences using powerful words.
• Using the school library  to research facts about the world.
• Revisiting their knowledge of 3D shapes.
• enjoying the first in a series of lessons on the colour wheel.

Top of the list this week has been the Sumdog competition. The class are chuffed to get 343rd out 5658 classes taking part nationally and coming 2nd in the school.

The next highlight was the maths challenges they did this week on word problems involving timetable knowledge (featured on twitter), they particularly enjoyed having a choice of challenge mild, spicy, or hot, with a few trying a harder level than usual. Well done.

They have also enjoyed technology with Mrs Fraser, looking at packaging for bananas.

Mrs Smith’s highlight this week has been the buzz of engagement in the classroom as the children are focussed and enjoying their learning.  They have also been challenged and have delivered Legendary Line-Ups this week, moving through the school as if they were not there.  Super well done.

Powerpoint from evening – click below:

Meet the Teacher P4 2018