The Gates Primary SchoolYear 3/4- Starlings: Blog items
Starlings Star of the Week 1.5.20
Date: 1st May 2020 @ 9:08am
It has been really tough choosing a Star of the wek, I could have given it to so many of you this week because of all the amazing activities you have been doing!
One person has stood out to me though, and that person is Elsie!
Elsie has not missed a single LBQ task, she always answers every question and she has been completing a range of activities on the afternoon topic web. One thing that sealed the Star of the Week award was the positivity Elsie has been bringing to each of these previous points, not once has she been told to carry on or complained, every task is completed with a smile.
Well done Elsie!
Starlings Home Learning - 1.5.20
Date: 1st May 2020 @ 8:45am
Good morning Starlings!
Once again you have made it through another week and have earned a nice relaxing weekend.
Before you pack away your school things though, you have a few last tasks.
Your LBQ code is: tqo
Please upload your spelling test, your writing task and your afternoon topic learning to the correct discussion pages. Do not upload these to your own blogs if possible.
If your work is already on your own blog or Purple Mash that is fine this week, I have seen them and you have massively impressed me already!
We are working so hard at the moment Starlings, I am really proud of you! I hope you've been enjoying learning lots of new skills lately, I am going to be celebrating some of your achievements throughout the morning!
Take care guys, stay safe and enjoy the rest of your day!
Mr Dean
Starlings Home Learning - 30.4.20
Date: 30th Apr 2020 @ 8:45am
Good morning class!
I hope you're enjoying you're week, you've all worked so hard, once again I am blown away!
A quick reminder your spelling test, afternoon project and writing task are all due tomorrow so please send them in!
Your LBQ code for the day is: jnn
You need to be going on TTRockstars to keep up some of the amazing work that you have been doing this year in learning your times tables.
Don't forget to take a minute today to wish a Happy Birthday to Honorary Colonel Tom Moore today as he turns 100! He has so far raised over £29 million pounds for the NHS, that's incredible!
That's all for this morning, stay safe Starlings!
Mr Dean
Starlings Home Learning 29.04.20
Date: 29th Apr 2020 @ 8:48am
Good moring Starlings!
We have been doing some amazing work this week, keep it up!
Your LBQ code today is: hoe
Don't forget to practice your spellings, to research and compare 2 volcanoes and finally to complete your writing project. Help for the writing can be found on the class discussion page.
Have a lovely day, stay safe!
Mr Dean
Starlings Home Learning 28.04.20
Date: 28th Apr 2020 @ 8:30am
Good morning!
Hopefully we get back some of that lovely weather later today, I already miss the sun! Once again most of you completed the LBQ learning yesterday, thank you if you did. Please make sure you finish each question you attempt, I am seeing too many reds.
Your code today is: qbw
Don't forget your afternoon task, spellings and writing project. Other than that, have a great day!
Take care Starlings,
Mr Dean
Starlings - A message to parents
Date: 27th Apr 2020 @ 1:26pm
Dear Parents,
I wanted to contact you today to say thank you for support and feedback with your child’s learning from home. When the I have been making phone calls to you, one aspect that keeps being discussed is motivating your children do lots of work. Please don’t worry about this. There is no competition and what you do with your children is what you do. There will be learning going on in your homes that can never be taught in school and this generation of children will be all the better for this. Don’t try and keep up with everyone around you. You know your children best and what is best for them.
I came across the following on Social Media written on behalf of all the teachers on the planet. I’ve tweaked it for our school but have kept the sentiment that same.
Don’t stress about schoolwork. In September, we will get your children back on track. – This might take some time, but it will happen. We are teachers and that is our superpower! What we can’t fix is social-emotional trauma that prevents the brain from learning. So right now, we just need you to share your calm, share your strength and share your laughter with your children. No children are ahead. No children are behind. Your children are exactly where they need to be - with you.
Take care and keep safe
Mr Dean
Starlings Home Learning - 27.4.20
Date: 27th Apr 2020 @ 9:00am
Good morning Starlings!
I hope you all had a fabulous weekend in the sun, staying safe! Last week was our best week so far for the amount of work we completed, but we are not quite perfect yet. Let's keep going and improving this week!
Your LBQ Code is: odk
Thank you for all your amazing writing last week, it was all great! Hopefully even more join in this week, remember this task isn't optional.
WRITING - This week I would like you to write a full letter to your future self. This letter will be about everything that is happening at the moment, how you are feeling and what you are most looking forward to doing once this lockdown is over. I will set up a class discussion for this task for you all to submit it there.
SPELLINGS -
|
Accidentally |
|
Actually |
|
Breathe |
|
Build |
|
Busy |
|
Business |
|
Calendar |
|
Caught |
|
Centre |
|
Century |
AFTERNOON TASK - Compare 2 volcanoes from around the world and record what you notice about where they are, when they last erupted, their size etc.
Have a lovely day,
Mr Dean
Starlings Home Learning 24.4.20
Date: 24th Apr 2020 @ 8:42am
Good morning Starlings!
You have made it through yet another week and have been really impressing myself and other teachers with the amount of work you have been doing!
Your LBQ code is: etq
Please do not forget that I can see all of your names when you are signing in. I am just reminding you to spell your name correctly first time so that it does not come up with multiple accounts for one person, as well as to only put you name and last initial if someone else shares your name. Thank you for your co-operation.
Please upload your spelling test score to the class discussion and hand in your writing task via your own blog or Purple Mash by the end of the day.
Have a fantastic day Starlings, enjoy your weekend as you have earned a break!
All the best,
Mr Dean
Date: 23rd Apr 2020 @ 11:48am
Oxford Owl, the company that we use for our home reader books have made a number of books available online whilst schools are closed. These would be a brilliant way to support your child with their reading as they could virtually change their reading book like they would in school and enjoy a whole range of exciting, new books.
Please follow the link below.
www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/find-a-book/library-page/
You can search for the books using the 'age' or the 'level' tab.
Happy reading!
Date: 23rd Apr 2020 @ 11:27am
With the amount of time we are spending online at the moment, it is important to remember how we can stay safe online. I have attached a poster below of the 10 top tips for Online Safety. Make sure you have a read.
Starlings Home Learning 23.4.20
Date: 23rd Apr 2020 @ 12:47am
Good Morning Starlings!!
Your LBQ code for the day is: fyp
Thank you to all of you who continue to work hard it will pay off when we return!
Don't forget about your writing project and the spellings which were both set on Monday.
We also set the active alphabet and IXL if you want an extra challenge.
A massive well done and thank you to all of you who have completed the afternoon task already, I'll post a separate blog later to celebrate some of this fantastic work!
Have a great day Starlings, missing you more each day!
Mr Dean
Starlings Home Learning 22.4.20
Date: 22nd Apr 2020 @ 8:04am
Good Morning Starlings!!
Here is your learning for today:
Weekly Spellings
Please find this weeks spellings on the discussion blog.
Weekly Writing Task
To create a fact file about Volcanoes using the research from last week. Save it on Purple Mash (2Do list) or complete it on paper and upload it on to the blog.
Here are today’s tasks Starlings:
LBQ – cbd (all lowercase)
There are 3 tasks, please complete all 3 tasks. If you get stuck, read the feedback given.
Reading
Complete the reading task on LBQ.
Weekly Afternoon Task
Build a volcano. Perhaps you could build it out of paper and card, lego, modelling clay or you could even bake a cake in the shape of a volcano.
Starlings Home Learning 21.4.20
Date: 21st Apr 2020 @ 3:03am
Good morning guys!
It was yet again another lovely day yesterday and it was made even better by seeing how many of you had joined in the online learning! A special shout out to Amelia, who not only completed all of her LBQ work, but also managed to answer the most IXL questions - answering nearly 1000 already! Let’s see if she is still in the lead by the end of today...
Topic Web - Volcano
I have been attempting to make the model of the volcano myself, and although it was very tasty, the first attempt did not turn out well! I think I need to have another attempt today before sharing my final attempt. Thanks to Jake and Izzy for your excellent home learning - I'll include your pictures on my next blog.
Morning Lessons
Your LBQ code for the day is: xfg
Alongside this, you need to be completing your writing project about Volcanoes alongside learning your spellings, both due in on Friday. For the best possible results, I recommend doing a bit each day and editing and redrafting as we would in class. I will soon be adding a Wagoll to a class discussion page to assist you. As always, if you need any help please leave a comment below and I will reply as soon as possible!
On a lighter note:
It is really important you are staying fit, it can be very easy at the moment to forget about your physical fitness but now is the perfect time to try something new! I have taken up skipping a little bit more each day alongside daily walks or running. Please let me know what you have been getting up to and if you have any recommendations for what I could try next! Don't forget what was blogged yesterday, using the alphabet to stay active!
You may have noticed that when logging in to comment you are asked for a verification code, it is: 956789
That's all from me for now, I hope you're all staying safe and enjoying yourselves as much as you can.
Take care,
Mr. Dean
Lower Key Stage 2 Weekly Recommendation
Date: 20th Apr 2020 @ 8:54am
Our Weekly Recommendation
Every week we will share with you one of our favourite recommendations to support you at home.
This week is about daily fitness alongside our spellings. We have set you 10 spellings this week to practise. As you practise, why don’t you give this fitness key a try. For every letter from the word, there is an action to do.
Lower Key Stage 2 Weekly Writing Task 20.4020
Date: 20th Apr 2020 @ 8:47am
Every week we will ask you to complete a writing task at home. We will blog it on the Monday and we would like you to complete it by the Friday of the same week.
This week we would like you write an information text about volcanoes.
You can complete this on paper or on your computer using either Purple Mash (log in and go to your 2do list to find the task then save it) or you could use a word document.
Starlings Home learning 20.4.20
Date: 20th Apr 2020 @ 12:33am
Good Morning Starlings!
I hope that you all had a lovely weekend. I spent my weekend catching up with all my friends online and spending plenty of time catching up on some gardening!
Weekly Spellings
Every week I will post 10 spellings for you to learn. On Friday, I would like you to ask a parent to test you and then let me know your score as part of the discussion thread.
Weekly Writing Task
Also on your Purple Mash 2do list is a Volcano writing task. I would like you to complete this by Friday and save it on Purple Mash or if you prefer, you can complete it on paper and upload it onto our blog.
Our Weekly Recommendation
Every week we will share with you one of our favourite recommendations to support you at home.
This week is about daily fitness alongside our spellings. We have set you 10 spellings this week to practise. As you practise, why don’t you give this fitness key a try. For every letter from the word, there is an action to do.
Here are today’s tasks Woodpeckers:
LBQ – Code enx (all lowercase)
There are 3 tasks, please complete all 3 tasks. If you get stuck, read the information given. Also, going on to IXL to practise similar questions may also help.
If you struggle with anything, please comment on this post what it is and I will try my best to get a video up asap to help you out!
Afternoon task
This term we are learning about volcanoes. This week, I would like you build me a Volcano. Perhaps you could build it out of paper and card, lego, modelling clay or you could even bake a cake in the shape of a volcano. I’m going to try the baking and up load this later in the week.
Other ideas:
IXL – Visit this site every week to practise some of the learning in the Year 4 Maths and English sections (passwords are your child’s full name in lowercase letters followed by 460 (mrdean460). Password is qwerty).
Read Theory – Complete a reading comprehension every day if you can as part of your reading challenge
Times Tables Rock Stars – visit this at least 3 times a week to practise your times tables.
Purple mash is great for research
Starlings Column Subtraction Walk-through
Date: 17th Apr 2020 @ 10:11am
Hi guys, whilst some of you have been off you've been getting a little muddled up with some of our methods. I've uploaded a video for column subtraction as this seems to be a common struggle. If this is useful and you think a similar video would help you with something you're struggling with please comment below and I'll happily do an example to help you out.
All the best,
Mr. Dean
Starlings Home Learning 17.4.20
Date: 17th Apr 2020 @ 9:55am
Hello hello hello!
I’m definitely not going to get tired of walking to school when the mornings are as amazing as this one!
I want to thank the majority of you for getting back into the swing of things by carrying on your with work after your Easter break. It is normally a hard task to do when you’re in school so I’m really proud so many of you have been able to do this whilst at home!
Your LBQ code for the day is: odj
Please complete all three tasks, challenge me on TTRockstars and finish off your topic project of locating as many ACTIVE volcanoes as you can around the world!
I hope you’re all staying safe, I got to speak to even more of you yesterday which was amazing, it’s great to hear what you have been up to!
Have a lovely day and stay safe over the weekend,
Mr.Dean
Starlings Home Learning 16.4.20
Date: 16th Apr 2020 @ 9:29am
Good morning!!
The sun is out and it is yet another beautiful day! I hope you all get out on a walk or in the garden today if you can, I can’t wait to see all your great sun tans!
I’m still working round getting in touch with you all but it has been really nice to hear some of your voices and hear about what you have been getting up to!
Today’s work on LBQ is: mhe
Please complete it all, there will be a slight change to the work from next week so make sure you check the blogs everyday so you don’t miss out!
I’m setting an additional topic task, to locate as many ACTIVE volcanoes as you can on a world map!
Make sure you add a picture to your blog so I can see your amazing work!
Quick Update!
Your IXL usernames will be expiring today, so we have got a new set to send out for you.
Your username will be your first and last name followed by 460, e.g. firstlast460 / mrdean460
Your passwords are staying the same as last time, which was: qwerty
Let’s have a little competition to see who can answer the most questions at the right level! Last time
Eva had the crown, can anyone steal it from her? I will be doing weekly checks and posting how
many hours you have all done as a class so you can see all the hard work you and your friends are
still doing!
Take care Starlings, miss you all!
Stay safe,
Mr. Dean
Starlings Home Learning 15/04/20
Date: 15th Apr 2020 @ 5:06pm
Hello again Starlings!
One thing is for sure and that is I am missing you all greatly! I’m back in school this week and still can’t get used to you all not being here! I hope you’re all staying safe and trying to have some fun, especially with this gorgeous weather!
On my walks each day I have seen so many amazing signs and pictures on in the windows and on the streets, you’re all doing an amazing job at keeping everyone’s spirits up!
Thank you to those of you that have set up your own blogs on the websites, I’ve tried to comment on as many of them as possible they’re all fantastic!
I’ve been proving to my family that I can cook over these last few weeks (very well too!), have any of you found any hidden talents?
Now for the fun stuff! Your work today is on LBQ, the code is:
akc
Please keep up practising on TTRockstars because your scores are really impressing me! Remember I can see everyone who hasn’t been doing the work...
However the vast majority of you are working really hard and I’m so proud, keep up the hard work!
Take care guys, hopefully I’ll have chance to speak to you all soon!
All the best,
Mr. Dean
Starlings Day 5 - We miss you!
Date: 27th Mar 2020 @ 9:15am
Good morning!! 
On what would be the final day of the normal term, I'd probably be telling you how amazing you have worked since Christmas, and since entering Starlings so now seems like a good time to look back!
Whilst you have been off I have been looking through the writing on the working wall you have produced and it is amazing to see so many of you writing at a level now that is unrecogniseable to that piece you did for me last summer!
This last week especially you have all been so resilient with your learning, you have without a doubt earned a short break!
Only one person managed to get the answer right yesterday, the name of the 4th child was Bob!
Innstead of a question today, I'd love to see what sort of adventures you will get up to in your homes or on your one walk a day, will you go camping in your garden? Make a den in your room? Maybe now is a great time to try and grow your own vegetables?
I know I am in the middle of sorting my garden out so I can start growing food, any suggestions on what I should try? I'll post any updates on what is growing if I get some good suggestions! (I already have peas and onions in)
Have a lovley day Starlings, please try and get in touch soon!
Stay safe, stay happy!
Mr. D
Starlings Home Learning - 27.3.20
Date: 27th Mar 2020 @ 8:44am
Today’s tasks will be as follows:
Reading Solutions Comprehensions x1
LBQ: hja
This will only be live until 3.15 so do not leave it too late. At this time the link will close even if you are in the middle of your work!
Also.
Make sure to access the following link to support you in your home workouts, supporting your physical and mental health – 9am start (although you can rewatch it later if not)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqLNxJe4L2I
Afternoon Work
Complete an activity from the topic homework web and upload this to your own blog on the website for us all to see! Thank you to those who have already done this!
For further learning opportunities, please also complete activities on:
TTRockstars
IXL -
Maths – Y9, Y10
English – Year 3 – Topic – Word Analysis: V16, V17
Date: 26th Mar 2020 @ 2:51pm
Good Afternoon Starlings!
I have just been checking LBQ and I'm quite pleased - however there are still 8 of you who haven't done the work from today, and 4 who have not done anything all week...
We all appreciate this is a very strange time at the moment but as teachers we have made it clear that we would like you to help us to help you by taking part in the work we set. Tomorrow is the last chance to have complete work I set before Easter, lets try and finish this strange term on a high! I will be posting the new code again in the morning, please try and do the work early on, as the later you leave it the less likely you are to do it!
Remember, each day there is an LBQ code alongside TTRockstars, Read Theory and IXL. Keep pushing yourselevs guys, you are really clever, now is the time to show it to your parents! If you are still having problems please comment on the daily blogs to let me know and I will fix it asap, as some of you know already!
For those who have done some amazing work, thank you so much it has put a massive smile on my face! Keep your work coming in via the pupil blogs, we don't have many from Starlings at the moment and I would love to show thoe rest of the school what you have been getting up to!
Take care,
Mr. Dean
Date: 26th Mar 2020 @ 9:46am
Good morning guys!
Definetly fair to say I am mssing you all lots, it isn't the same without having to tell half of you to sit back down and put your hands up!! I hope you're all staying safe and getting up to lots of fun after you have done all your learning 
Over the 3 classes in LKS2 we have answered over 20,000 questions on IXL which is amaxing, however one young lady stands out for answering 1367 questions all by herself! Congratulations Eva, keep up the hard work! It was really pleasing to see many of you accept my challenge to try and catch her up, some of you got very close!
There is a positive to all that is going on, that being the might Bolotn Wanderers have now gone 30 days unbeaten! Well done to those of you who got them as being the last team to knock out Athletico Madrid!
Hopefully you will all be getting your own pupil logins soon so you will be able to reply and ask questions to be with a bit more ease!
If you do answer this question: Bob's mum has 4 children, North, East and West. What is the name of the 4th child?
Last point: Please can we all still be using TTRockstars, some people haven't been online since the 4th March, yes I can see how long you have been on and when that last was, well done Oliver L for the wealth you have achieved so far!
Take care Starlings, all the best,
Mr. D
Starlings Home Learning - 26.3.20
Date: 26th Mar 2020 @ 9:04am
Today’s tasks will be as follows:
LBQ: n75
IXL:
Maths – Y1, Y2, Y3
English – Year 3 – Topic – Word Analysis: V2, V4, V5
Please also complete activities on:
Read Theory - This is a fantastic resource for reading comps, please start using this more!
Times Tables Rockstars
Purple Mash
Thanks for all the hard work guys!