Upper Junior Learning Team

This year our team consists of four classrooms with approximately 26 to 28 Year 3 and 4 students in each room. We welcome Mrs Doney to our syndicate this year. Our Learning Team looks like this:

View the Upper Junior Learning Team Wiki

Learning Team Goals

Our focus remains firmly on literacy and numeracy; building on the solid foundation laid down by our Junior Teachers for the children in their earlier school years.  This year we are continuing to work on writing standards, in line with our whole school focus.  The inquiry learning process will be used in different curriculum areas.  Our main study theme for the year is about New Zealand in the past, at the present and looking towards the future.

Homework

It is very important to remember that children at this stage still need to be supported with their homework as they were in the early years, particularly with their reading; spelling lists and the learning of basic facts.  All four classes have a co-ordinated policy about homework - spelling, reading and basic facts to be done each night.  The learning of correct spelling is only part of our word study programme.  All lists will initially come from the essential lists as set down by the Ministry of Education.  Until students consistently use correctly spelt words in their own written work we do not consider these words have been committee to memory.

The other parts of our word study programme, include the teaching of correct grammar, parts of speech, crosswords and other language activities that help to increase your child's knowledge and understanding of spoken and written vocabulary.

Learning Team Assemblies

Our Learning Team Assembly is held fortnightly.  It will be held alternate Wednesdays beginning at 9.00am i.e. Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.

Parent contact and Classroom Help

We welcome parent help in the classroom and are grateful to those people who have already made this commitment.  As classroom teachers we are also happy to discuss any needs your child may have throughout the year; but please take the time to make an appointment that suits us both.  That way the focus remains on the subject in hand and interruptions are kept to a minimum.