A little bit about the adults in Crocodile class…
Mr Filer
Hello Crocodiles! This will be my third year teaching at Barley Close, but my first year teaching Year 3 (as I take the leap forward to Key Stage 2), having previously taught in Year 2 at Barley Close and Year 1 at another school in Bristol - so we are all going to be on this learning journey together! I am very excited to be teaching Crocodile class next year and would have either taught you last year (in Year 2), which was sadly cut short, or have heard so many wonderful things about my new pupils, from your previous teachers.
I am very passionate about my job, and will work extremely hard with you and your parents, enabling you to progress and flourish throughout the year, both academically and socially.
Outside of school I like to travel and visit new places, spend time with my friends and family, and, of course, to fulfil my love for Disney, spending as much time as possible at the Disney Resorts.
If you have any questions, queries or concerns throughout the school year please do not hesitate to email me at: mitchell.filer1@barleyclose.org.uk or message me via ClassDojo (I will send out information regarding the setting up of ClassDojo accounts at the start of the school year, if not previously already set up), and I will endeavour to reply to you as soon as possible.
Mrs Collins
Mrs Collins will be the teaching assistant in Crocodile class and will be working with us every Monday – Thursday morning. Mrs Collins has been at Barley Close for many years and has a wealth of experience. Some of you would have had Mrs Collins as your teaching assistant this past year or may remember Mrs Collins from Reception. Mrs Collins will be a great asset to our class.
Mrs Lockwood
Mrs Lockwood will be the reading assistant in Crocodile class and will be working with us every afternoon. Mrs Lockwood reads with many children during the year and supports the children with their reading skills.
Important Information
Belongings
Beginning in September, and for the foreseeable future, all belongings will be kept in the classroom at your child's table. Therefore, we are asking that any items brought into school from home is kept to an absolute minimum. Essential items include: coats, water bottles and lunchboxes. Book bags will not be needed as books will not be sent home - please see below for further information about this.
Furthermore, please label all of these belongings, as well as your child's school uniform/ PE kits clearly with a permanent marker. Thank you in advance.
ClassDojo
ClassDojo is an app that you can download on to your device that will help build a strong classroom community. There are many functions to the ClassDojo app to include:
I will send your child home with details of how to join the ClassDojo app during the first week of term.
French
On Wednesday afternoons, Crocodile class will have French with Mrs G, whilst the Year 3 team plan and prepare lessons for the following week.
PE
Due to the current situation, PE lessons will look a bit different to previous years. The decision has been made that we will not be swimming, neither will we be having an indoor PE lesson for the foreseeable future. Therefore, from September, Crocodile class will have two outdoor PE lessons. These lessons will take place on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. On Tuesdays and Fridays, children will need to come into school in their PE kits. The school's PE kit consists of the following:
Reading at home
At the start of the year, all children will be heard reading by either myself, Mrs Collins or Mrs Lockwood and will be placed on to either the Key Stage 1 or new Key Stage 2 reading scheme. For the time being, these books, as well as your child's reading record will stay in school and we will endeavour to hear your child read in school at least once per week.
To support your child with their reading at home (during this time), we would like you to use the Reading Eggs/Eggspress online learning platform, in addition to reading any reading material (books, magazines, newspapers etc) that you already have at home. We are asking that your child accesses this learning platform at home at least 4 times per week. As per our tracking of home reading, this will be monitored by Mrs Daniel.
When we can return to sending reading books and reading records home, these will be changed every Friday.
Rewards for Home Reading
Children who read at home at least 4 or more times per week will earn an extra dojo point each week. We will also be rewarding a 'Reading Eggs/Eggspress Star of the Week'. A certificate will be awarded each week to a child in the class who has excelled on Reading Eggs/Eggspress.
Also, alongside our 'Pupil of the Term' award we will also have a 'Reading Ambassador' of the term. This will be rewarded to a child who has tried really hard with their reading throughout that term. They will receive a certificate and badge.
Spellings
Spellings will be set during our first week back with the first weekly spelling test taking place the following Friday. As with reading records, spelling books will not be sent home. Therefore, as per last year's set up, weekly spellings will be displayed on the parents' noticeboard (on the classroom windows), as well as on the class web page under that term's page. All children will bring home an exercise book at the beginning of the year to practise spellings in at home. These exercise books will need to remain at home and will have all of your child's login details for the online learning platforms (see below).
Reading Eggs/Eggspress, Times Table Rock Stars and MyMaths
Online learning platforms, such as: Reading Eggs/Eggspress, Time Table Rock Stars and MyMaths will be reactivated at the beginning of September. Your child will bring home their account details during the first week of term so they can access these at home. If any get mislaid, please do not hesitate to email me at: mitchell.filer1@barleyclose.org.uk or message me via ClassDojo.