Redwood Class

Welcome to Redwood Class

Classteacher:  Mr. C. Fulcher

Friday 7th July 2023

Hello all,

The children have looked at the end of the Indus Valley civilisation in History and have come up with some great theories as to why they ended. We have started looking at an extract from 'The Hobbit' in English (maybe you could watch it as a family over the weekend!) and the children thoroughly enjoyed text mapping it.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr. Fulcher.

The film adaptation of our extract can be found here:

Smaug the Dragon

Friday 30th June 2023

Hello all,

It has been a very different week this week for us all in Redwood. As it's been class swap week, we haven't spent much time together but the time we have spent together has been very productive!

We have finished designing, making and evaluating our dragon heads in D.T and they are looking great! I have attached some pictures below. We have also started looking at the historical side of the Indus Valley after studying it in Geography last half-term. 

To my new Redwood class, I hope you had a fun week and any questions or worries you may have had have been addressed. I'm really looking forward to teaching you.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 23rd June 

Hello everyone,

The children have started looking at pneumatics in DT this week and they will be creating a moving dragon head with a burger box and a pneumatic system. To help the children create these devices, please could you bring in objects that would pump air into a balloon? Old washing up liquid bottles, shampoo/shower gel bottles or a pump (hand, foot, balloon) would all be great donations for the project.

I have attached some photos of the children exploring pneumatic systems, as well as photos from our invertebrate hunt on Monday.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 16th June 2023

Hello all,

It's been a very hot and busy day today! The children will sleep easily tonight, I'm sure. We had our Sports Day practice today and the children behaved wonderfully and enjoyed the different activities. On Monday, please ensure all the children have their own water bottle, a hat and sun cream applied before school. 

We have also looked at time in Maths and the children have really enjoyed the topic. We have also done lots of Science, looking at classification and habitats. 

Well done this week Redwood,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 9th June 2023

Hello everyone,

The children have settled beautifully back into school this week for our last half-term together. It has been a strange week as I have been out receiving training and we have had the lovely Mrs. Horne and Mrs. Skinner covering me. The children, by all accounts, were wonderfully behaved and worked hard for them - well done guys.

The Multiplication Check was this week and the children have been resilient, determined and, above all else, proud of their achievements, as am I.

You have all worked very hard, have a lovely weekend,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 26th May 2023

Hello everyone,

Well done to everyone this half-term. It has been a busy time in Redwood and you have all really pushed yourselves. Well done.

Have a safe and restful half-term. Please continue practising your times tables on Times Table Rock Stars as the Multiplication Check will take place when you come back to school. Try your best to beat Oak in our Battle of the Bands tournament!

See you in June,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 19th May 2023

Hello everyone,

We have had an incredibly busy week this week in Redwood. Somehow we have managed to do all of our assessments AND went to London and back. 

The trip to the Science Museum was a lovely experience for the children. Thank you to all the members of staff who came and helped, thank you to the parents for waking up extra early and a special thank you to the children who behaved incredibly well on the coach and in the museum.

As the Multiplication Check is just around the corner, please may I remind you that the children should be practising their times tables daily. The check will take place in June after the half-term. Please focus on the 6s, 7s, 9s and 12s. Times Table Rock Stars has been updated so you can all focus on these.

Keep up the good work,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 12th May 2023

Hello everyone,

I hope you're all as excited for next week's trip to the Science Museum as I am! Please remember we are leaving at 7:30am, children should be in school no later than 7:15am to ensure we can do a headcount and pop to the toilet before departure. We are expected back at school around 4:45pm, depending on traffic. Please remember to bring a packed lunch and come in full school uniform (no trainers). 

You have all worked so very hard over the last few weeks. We've had interruptions from lots of bank holidays and industrial action, however, you have each given your all into your learning - well done! I am very excited to read the stories involving dialogue that you're writing today, you've had some brilliant ideas. 

Please continue to work on your times tables. 

See you next week, have a lovely weekend,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 5th May 2023

Hello all,

Redwood have been busy at work looking at fractions and they have done incredibly well! I am so proud of all of them, well done. You are all working hard using dialogue in your stories and have produced some beautiful posters about rivers.

Please continue logging into TTRS and practising your times tables.

Have a lovely bank holiday weekend,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 28th April 2023

Hello all, 

Thank you all very much for participating in our Shared Learning session on Monday. It was lovely to see how confident the children were and it has hopefully given you a taste of how hard they all work! Pictures are below.

Please can the children log in to TTRS this week, there is an extra special activity for them to take part in before they can resume their regular games and activities. 

Remember to come to school on Friday the 5th in your finery - as if you were about to meet the King!

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr. Fulcher. 

Friday 21st April 2023

Hello Redwood,

Thank you all for coming back from the holidays ready to learn. You have blown me away with your fantastic behaviour and attitudes to learning, keep it up. As the multiplication check is approaching, please can you all log in to Times Table Rockstars and complete a 'Soundcheck'. I recommend revising the 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s and 12s when at home as you are all confident with the rest! 

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 31st March 2023

Hello all,

When I say this week has been a busy week, I mean it has been a busy week in Redwood. A HUGE WELL DONE to all of Year 3/4 for their effort in the production over the entire term but especially this week. A dress rehearsal and two evening performances is no mean feat and you all put 100% of your effort into each performance whilst also working hard in lesson time (we even found time to make jam sandwiches). You are a credit to the school, well done guys.

Now rest up and have a lovely Easter break - you truly deserve it. I have put a tournament on Times Table Rockstars for you to take part in throughout the break. I shall announce the winner when we return on Tuesday April 18th. 

See you all then,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 24th March 2023

Hello all,

It has been a very busy week this week! First of all, thank you to the children you represented us at the Roman Cup - you have been amazing representatives for the school. Thank you to the parents who accompanied the children.

This week we have finished and evaluated our Roman Chariots (images below), as well as complete lots of assessments. You have earned the weekend! Have a wonderful weekend, rest your voices and get plenty of rest...Next week, it's showtime!

Costumes must be in by Monday.

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 17th March 2023

Hello all,

Redwood looked great in their red outfits for Comic Relief - well done for raising money for such a fantastic cause! This week we have studied Scandinavian imports, continued working on our Roman chariots and have planned our non-chronological reports on newly discovered creatures.

Well done this week Redwood, keep working hard,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 10th March 2023

Hello all,

We have had a productive week this week in Redwood! The children have worked hard continuing to design and create their Roman chariots - they look fantastic! I look forward to sharing them with you when they are completed. 

Many thanks to the children that represented us at Squash this week and a HUGE thank you to the parents who came and provided lifts for the children.

Please practise your 11 times tables this weekend on TTRS.

The children have been provided slips with details of their outfits for the production - please can these come to school in a bag with their name on.

Thank you, have a great weekend,

Mr. Fulcher. 

Friday 3rd March 2023

Hello all,

It's been a great week in Redwood. We have mastered perimeter, completed some lovely History work and have started planning a non-chronological report all about adults - we were nice, promise!

We celebrated World Book Day this week and I was inspired by some of the words the children dressed up as - well done Redwood. We spent some time in the library reading The Wild Robot Escapes, the sequel to last half-term's class text.

Please continue revising the 3, 4 and 5 times tables on Times Table Rockstars.

Can parents ensure all children have suitable outdoor PE clothing (jumpers, jogging bottoms, socks etc.) as some children are currently missing some required pieces of kit. 

Many thanks and have a great weekend,

Mr. Fulcher. 

Friday 24th February 2023

Hello all,

The children have worked incredibly hard this week, studying non-chronological reports, starting our new class text The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse and have been using their knowledge of money to solve problems. 

Please can all the children practise their 11 times tables over the week - I have put a new challenge on Times Table Rock Stars for them!

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr. Fulcher.

Friday 10th February 2023

Hello all, 

It was lovely to speak with you this week during our Parent/Teacher consultations. It was great to update you on how your children are getting on and also to hear that the children are happy and enjoying their time in Redwood. 

The children have had a busy week this week. We've had Break The Rules Day, Parents Evenings, a day of singing and Squash (pictures below!), all throughout Mental Health Week.

Have a joyous, restful half-term Redwood.

Well done on all your progress this half-term.

Mr Fulcher.

Friday 3rd February 2023

Hello all! I hope you have all had a lovely week. This week the children have written up their spooky suspense stories and have looked at angles and turns in Maths. Our focus is still on the 9 times table, so please practise these over the weekend (I've started a new tournament!)

I look forward to seeing you all next week, make sure to have a look at the children's fantastic art on display.

Have a great weekend,

Mr Fulcher.

January 27th 2023

Hello all! 

We've had a great week in Redwood. The children have planned and began to write their chilling suspense stories (which I must say are particularly frightening!) and we have looked at division with remainders in Maths. In History we learned all about the Roman buildings and ruins that remain in Colchester, including the Roman Theatre, Balkerne Gate and the Roman Circus.

Please continue to practise your times tables. Our focus is on the nines for the next few weeks. Try and beat my score on Times Table Rock Stars!

Have a great weekend,

Mr Fulcher. 

Friday January 20th 2023

We have had another busy week in Redwood! I'm very pleased to see most of the children are hard at work on Times Table Rock Stars in preparation for the Multiplication Check at the end of Year 4. Please have a look at the challenge I have set you all - you've got to try and beat my score!

Just a reminder - our PE days are Tuesdays and Thursdays so earrings must be out and children must change into their PE kits first thing on these days. 

Well done for a fun and productive week,

Mr Fulcher. 

January 13th 2023

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone, I hope 2023 brings everything you hope for and more. The children have settled incredibly well into Redwood so far and have done a great job in welcoming a new pupil to the class as well. I'm very proud of them all.

This week we've continued looking at multiplication methods and the 12 times table and have started looking at how to build suspense in our writing. In Science, we've learnt about the dangers of electricity and in PSHE we were taught how to be First Aiders, and what we must know just in case an accident were to happen. This included knowing how to access the emergency menu on our parents' phones and our full address including our postcode to let the operator knew where we lived.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, thank you all very much for the cards and gifts - I'm one very lucky (and spoilt) teacher.

Have a great weekend,

Mr Fulcher.

Thursday 15th December 2022

Hello all,

Nearly there! Redwood have worked incredibly hard this week, performing their Christmas presentation to the entire school as well as to parents and we couldn't be more pleased with the final result - well done Year 3 and 4. I was very impressed with your persuasive letters based on our text 'The Butterfly Lion' and also your History POP tasks - you can all impress your families with your Mayan knowledge this Christmas!

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr Fulcher.

Friday 9th December 2022

Hello all,

We have had a very busy week in Redwood as we prepare for our Christmas performances next week! The children have continued to use persuasive features in their writing and have been mastering the 12 times table.

Please keep practising your songs and your times tables.

Have a good weekend, Mr Fulcher.

Friday 25th November 2022

Hello all,

It's been a very interesting week in Redwood. In Maths, we have begun exchanging when we subtract 4-digit numbers which has been a little bit tricky but we got there! In English, we had a go at writing our very own stories focused on setting and I must say they are quite impressive! All of you used some lovely personification and a great variety of openers.

Please can all children practise their 6 times tables this weekend.

Have a good one,

Mr Fulcher.

Friday 18th November 2022

Happy Children In Need everyone! It's been lovely seeing all the children in their spotty outfits today - they all look amazing. This week we've been looking at adding 4-digit numbers whilst exchanging and have started planning and writing our stories, focusing on the setting of the African savannah. 

Please can all the children begin to practise the 6 times table and I would also suggest they recap the 3s as there are lots of links between them! This can take as little or as long as they like - every little helps! These are very important in Year 4 so they must practise times tables every day at home like we do in school.

Thank you and have a lovely weekend,

Mr Fulcher.

Friday 11th November

Hello all,

It's been a busy week in Redwood. In English, we have been looking at our model text 'Little Vixen Street' and finding some great powerful verbs and some very effective adjectives to use in our own writing. In Maths, we have been looking at adding and subtracting accurately using place value columns. 

In our foundation subjects, we have been continuing our printing which we started last week and have created some lovely artwork! Meanwhile, in D.T. we have been chopping vegetables and making casseroles like Gracie and Dan from 'Why The Whales Came'.

Please can all children practise their 3 times tables, and can I ask that if your child wears tights that they bring in spare socks for P.E?

Many thanks and have a lovely weekend,

Charlie.

Friday 4th November 2022

Hello all,

What a great first week back after half-term! The children have been coming in so happily and their behaviour this week has made me one very happy teacher. Their wonderful Mayan mask designs have blown me away and their work on settings in our Writing lessons has been superb. Well done Redwood.

Can I ask all parents to please ensure they are reading to and by their children regularly and this is being recorded in the children's reading diaries? Also, please may I ask the children to practise a times table of their choice as well as the fives, which were our focus this week.

Final note - the children now have their lyrics for their Christmas songs and their words if they have been selected to be a Narrator! Please may they practise these at home - the songs are available on YouTube if you would like the music. 

Have a great weekend Redwood - it's been a great week,

Mr Fulcher.

Friday 21st October 2022

Hello everyone,

What a wonderful half-term it's been in Redwood. It was great to meet most of you during our Parents' Evenings this week and I was so pleased to share the excellent progress the children have made in the last seven weeks.

I would like to reiterate just some of the key points I made to most parents this week:

Encourage the children to continue practising all their times tables (all the way up to the 12s) so the children can harness their skills and speed up. When reading, encourage the children to explain what has happened on that page/chapter in their own words.

When we come back our focus will be on the five times table. Please could you encourage the children to practise these and at least two other times tables they feel they need to practise. 

Have a lovely, safe, and peaceful half-term,

Mr. Fulcher

Friday 7th October 2022

Hello everyone,

We have had a fantastic week in Redwood!

We have started looking at diary entries in Writing and the children have written some lovely entries inspired by an old Sainsbury's Christmas advert (is it too early to mention it?!). In Maths, we have been looking at rounding numbers to the nearest 10 and 100, which the children have enjoyed and excelled at.

Likewise, the children experimented with magnets on Monday to discover what classroom items were magnetic and non-magnetic. Remember - all magnetic items are metal but not all metals are magnetic!

Please can all the children wear appropriate winter uniform (no shorts!) and bring in a coat - the children are getting very chilly out on the playground. Finally, congratulations to our new School Council members! 

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr Fulcher. 

Friday 30th September

The week has flown by in Redwood! 

We have completed our wonderful sculptures inspired by Barbara Hepworth and 'Why The Whales Came' and they are now on display! Parents can pop in after school on Wednesdays to have a look at them, as well as the rest of the children's lovely work.

We have planned and completed spectacular, character-focused stories also inspired by 'Why The Whales Came'. The children's focus, alongside character, was to include fronted adverbials and a sentence of three to move the action on. All the children wrote wonderful stories.

We've also learnt about bartering in PSHE and the children were able to practice trading different resources using exchange rates. 

Can I ask all children must have the following in school from Monday please:

Coats and school jumpers.

Full PE kit - including jogging bottoms and jumpers for outdoor PE.

Glasses if they require them.

Trousers - a lot of children are still wearing shorts and as you're aware it's getting very chilly.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr Fulcher.

Friday 23rd September 2022

It has been another busy week in Redwood Class. In Maths, the children have been exploring counting on and back in 1000s, 100s, 50s and 25s. They have also worked on securing their understanding of the fact that there are 10 lots of 100 in 100, 10 lots of 10 in 100, 2 lots of 50 in 100 and 4 lots of 25 in 100. This has been a little tricky, so you may wish to help your child at home. We have continued to work on recalling facts for the 4x table and this will be our focus for next week.

In English, the children have been creating character descriptions based on our model text.

Throughout the week, the children have been creating their sculptures based on the work of Barbara Hepworth. Our sculptures have been inspired by those of wading birds from our text 'Why The Whales Came.' We can't wait to share our finished models with you. 

Have a lovely weekend,

The children have settled in wonderfully into Redwood. Over the first two weeks we have looked at Forces in Science, compared the Isles of Scilly and the United Kingdom in Geography, studied the Mayans in History, produced text maps in English and looked at place value in Maths, as well as times tables. Please may all the children practise their times tables at home.

Note: PE is on Tuesdays and Fridays. Please may the children have all their kit in school and earrings removed. 

Have a lovely weekend, 

Mr Fulcher.