Our daily message (19 June 2020)
Our final message of the week is an important one for those of you who still have a child at home…
Before lockdown, what did ‘Zoom’ mean to you? A classic ice lolly from Lyons Maid? A timeless tune from the ’80s classic by Fat Larry’s Band? Now, of course, it’s synonymous with online video conferencing. (We know other video conferencing products exist, but here, we’ll refer to Zoom, which has taken off massively during lockdown.)
Before the end of the school year, teachers will host some Zoom meetings for children who remain at home.
Some background
The meetings will be with groups of children from the class. They’ll be a one-off chance for children to re-connect with the teacher, classmates and with learning. We think this is important for our friends still at home during lockdown, especially since we now know they won’t be returning until September, all being well.
One or two of you have been asking for teachers to deliver lessons by Zoom since the start of lockdown. We didn’t pursue this for two main reasons: safeguarding and effective teaching. (We have other reservations about Zoom to teach, too, but these are the main ones.)
We’re still not convinced Zoom (or any online video conferencing service) is an effective way to teach large groups of younger children online. It might work well for older children, but the important two-way dialogue that we have in school would be hard to re-create and sustain in a Zoom meeting.
There were some unpleasant stories at the start of lockdown that highlighted safeguarding concerns. However, Zoom has introduced improved security features. We’ve researched how best to secure the Zoom meetings; we’ve consulted colleagues who have begun to use it; and we’ve trialled it amongst ourselves. We’re now confident that Zoom can be used securely.
Next steps
The next steps are simple…
If your child is still learning at home, and you’d like your child to be part of a Zoom call with their teacher and some of their classmates, email your child’s teacher. By now, most of you will already have emailed – the teacher’s address is something like joebloggs@spherefederation.org (first name, last name and then @spherefederation).
When you email, you’ll need to provide the name that will appear in the Zoom call – the teacher won’t allow anyone into the meeting if they’re not expecting them. Ideally, the name would be the child’s first and last name, but it can be your name. (And please make sure the name is appropriate.)
The teacher will decide a date and time for this to happen – it’ll happen before the end of term. They’ll send an invitation with the log-in details back to you. We’re sorry – there can’t be much flexibility about the date and time.
How to prepare
For younger children, your child’s teacher will have a chat and read a story. For older children (Y3-Y6), the teacher will ask a couple of questions which will include questions related to home learning:
- What home learning have you felt most proud of?
- What learning have you made most progress with at home?
- What sort of learning routine are you in?
It would be great if your child has thought about these so they’re able to answer a question like that.
Some more details
- Meetings will be with groups of children from the class: no more than 10-12 children.
- The meetings are only for those who are home learning.
- Teachers will have a list of pupils and appropriate Zoom name in advance to allow people to enter.
- Two members of staff will be present throughout the Zoom.
- A parent / carer should be present at home, although you don’t need to be on screen throughout the meeting.
- Teachers will continue to make occasional phone calls home, too, but you might not get a call during the week teachers do their Zoom.
- The meeting will last about 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the group.
- Some Zoom features will be disabled: the chat function, the record function, and the ‘re-name’ function will all be disabled.
- Participants will all be ‘mute’ on entry; teachers will manage the Zoom meeting by ‘unmuting’ children one at a time.
- Our school rules will still apply (including We respect everyone).
- Your child can be part of the Zoom but choose not to talk – no pressure!
- Teachers are aware of actions to take if a child doesn’t follow ground rules, school rules, instructions: this could include disabling video of anyone who is not following rules, for example.
19 June 2020: Home Learning
Happy Friday boys and girls!
Well done for completing another week’s home learning. Thank you to everyone who has emailed their teachers so far this week – please continue to do so.
Here are our email addresses as a reminder:
carlgathercole@spherefederation.org
nicolawadsworth@spherefederation.org
emmamccormick@spherefederation.org
Here are your tasks for today:
Maths
Y3 and Y4- football maths: data handling
Reading
Topic
I know that so many of you have enjoyed the Spanish lessons so here is the next one from Oak Academy! Today, you will learn how to say your birthday in Spanish.
Story – read by Mr Gathercole
18 June 2020: Home Learning
Today’s Thursday message comes in the form of a friendly reminder: it’s Father’s Day on Sunday! (Dads, if you are reading this – pass the phone/tablet/laptop to someone else!)
I’m sure your dads would love it if you made them a Father’s Day card! I have attached some colouring templates that you can colour in if you have easy access to a printer, or if you love drawing (like I know a lot of you do!), you could design your own card – perhaps draw a picture of you and your family or make a list of all the things you love about your dad. If you would like to try something a bit more adventurous or have a bit more time to spare, why don’t you try making an origami card? This video explains the instructions step by step, and all you need is paper and colouring pens/pencils! Easy origami shirts I have tried the video and had to try a few different sizes of paper before I was happy – I found that A5 worked best (half the size of an A4 piece of paper).
Here is your learning for today:
Maths
Y3 Video Lesson and task
Y4 Video Lesson
Reading
Topic
I’ve seen some lovely ‘parts of a flower’ drawings and we are looking forward to seeing any more you send. Here is Alfie’s work:
Here is part three of our plants learning.
Science – parts and function of a flower
Story – read by Mrs McCormick
Esio Trot by Roald Dahl
Home Learning Heroes
Hello Year 3/4!
Thank you for sending your pictures and messages in – we love to hear from you!
Here are some of your fab pictures from this week:
Orric’s Creative Stories
Daniel’s shapes
Sam’s active pictures
Being Creative!
Escape Room Clues
Thank you to Lilia and Charlie for sending in their Esacpe Room Clues. Can you solve the clues to Lilia’s questions?
05 June 2020: Home Learning
Hello children!
We hope that you are all feeling happy and healthy today.
Thank you to everyone who has emailed their teacher so far this week. If you have any questions or problems to ask your teacher, then please let us know – we are here to help you! It might just be a quick email to say hello, or a photo of your learning.
The weather has cooled down a bit since the weekend and we’ve had some rain. Here are some spider-man inspired yoga (13 mins) exercises you can do inside your house.
If you like Ant and Dec, and David Walliams then you can watch them today on the NSPCC website at 9:30am (or on NSPCC facebook page). 
Here are your tasks for today:
Maths
Y3 – RIC : fractions
Times tables: At the beginning of the week, we asked you to focus on your 3x tables. Even if it’s just 5 minutes a day, the regular practice really helps you to remember your multiplication facts. How have you been getting on? Here are 40 questions. Challenge your speed – 3x tables 5 min challenge
Y4 – Strengthen your problem solving skills with these 2 ‘square’ problems:
Times tables: At the beginning of the week, we asked you to focus on your 12x tables. Even if it’s just 5 minutes a day, the regular practice really helps you to remember your multiplication facts. How have you been getting on? Here are 40 questions. Challenge your speed – 12x tables 5 min challenge
Reading
Reading Book Club:
In class, we’d usually have a Love of Reading session each week where we read something that we love. Adults use the time to read with children.
Today, I’d like you to…
Get really comfy: wear some thick socks, a dressing gown or wooly jumper. Sit somewhere soft and relaxing.
Turn all electronic devices off: TVs, radios, computers, phones, tablets etc.
Spend some quality time reading with each other. Read aloud, take it in turns, put on voices for characters, re-read things to improve how you’re reading them. Talk about what you’re reading. Which are the best bits? Why? Does it remind you of other things you’ve read or watched? Do you know anything about parts of it from other knowledge that you have? What do you think of the characters? What will happen next? Why do you think that?
Topic DT – Design a room
Could you design and make a model room? What a fun activity!
Watch the clip of the designer making a mini version of a room. You could use an old box or cut up a cereal packet to make the shape of your room. It doesn’t have to be same measurements as the designer on the screen. Use what you have. You could decorate the model room using old paper, wall paper, magazines, paint or crayons – use what you have. You could make the furniture from items ready for recycling or even Lego bricks. Be creative!
Have fun and send a photo of your model to your teacher.
Story – read by Mrs McCormick
2 June 2020: Home Learning
Phonics
Maths
1.Listen and sing along to the video about the teen numbers.
2.Tomorrow we will be looking at the number 13. 13 is an odd number. An odd number is a number that can’t be split into 2 equal groups. Using Lego, counters or any other objects you have at home can you find any other odd numbers between 0 and 13?
3.Take a picture of your odd number findings and email them to scholesf2@spherefederation.org.
Literacy
Book of the week: The Rainbow Fish
1.Listen to the story of the week.
2.Something special
01 June 2020: Home Learning
Good morning everyone!
We hope you all had a good half term and managed to enjoy this glorious weather we’ve been having. We hope you are all feeling happy and healthy today.
Remember to keep in touch with your class teachers. Send us a quick email to let us know how you’re getting on. Here are our email in case you need them:
marklindsay@spherefederation.org
sarahhogarth@spherefederation.org
olliecatherall@spherefederation.org
benfreeman@spherefederation.org
Here is your learning…
Year 5 Maths
Click on the link above to practice your multiplication skills with Mrs H.
Your learning today is about volume. This will involve reading scales to measure volume. As usual there is a short quiz first and then the video lesson. Remember you can pause the video whenever you like, or skip it back in case you need something repeating.
Click on the following link for this lesson.
Year 6 Maths
Oh no! Mr Lindsay and Miss Greaves are stuck in the school. They can’t remember the passcode to the door. Watch their video and help them escape.
Email Mr Lindsay with your answers.
Year 5/6 Reading
This week, we are going to focus on jobs and money. For today’s task, complete the jobs worksheet – this will help you develop ideas that you can use later on in the week. Here are some questions to help you.
Although this task will significantly help you later in the week, it is not particularly a reading task! On top of this, I would like you to research and read about your dream job. Create a list of requirements you would need for this job, along with some reasons as to why you think people might want to do it as a career choice.
Year 5/6 Topic
In this lesson you will learn what goes into making a good computer game and try making your own simple game.
Complete this BBC Bitesize lesson.
22 May 2020: Home Learning
Hi children,
Today is the last week of this half term! You’ve done it!
Well done for all of your hard work, effort and for keeping going during this ‘temporary strange’.
Enjoy half term – there will be some optional learning challenges that you can take part in. Why not create a Jar of Happiness?
Make sure that you take the time to rest and enjoy this time with your families.
Take care and stay safe,
Team 3,4
Reading
Love of reading
We know that you love this reading session at school so your task today is to grab a book, find a comfortable spot and read! Have fun and enjoy reading. Share your book with a sibling or an adult, if you’d like to.
Science
Maths
Y3 Video Lesson
Y4- To consolidate your learning on triangles, follow the BBC bitesize link . There is a short video and a quiz for today.
Story – read by Mr Gathercole
Fantastic Mr Fox part 5 and final part
Professor Myers challenges you!
Paper aeroplanes – video
Please email your predictions and findings.
scholesf2@spherefederation.org