Primary Teacher UK

Skills Continuum for ICT

We are have been compiling a Skills based continuum across the whole curriculum and as such, ICT features very heavily. QCA can become a bit unwieldy, particularly when you have to teach yourself how to use Excel the night before teaching it to the Year 6 class, so we have looked at all the skills which are necessary, and divided them up into year groups and terms. By doing this, hopefully, the teaching of ICT becomes fully integrated and not just a bolt-on initiative. This was praised when we were awarded our NAACE Mark and the new Becta ICT Mark!

You can download the skills continuum for ICT as a Word file.

More involvement by fathers needed

Alan Johnson, the education secretary, announced today in a speech on 'Strong Families, Strong Society', that fathers-only parent evenings at schools and other special events are to form a big part of a new parenting strategy.  His plans are based on research that shows disengagement of fathers is a crucial source of the relative failure of boys in schools.

He believes there is merit in fathers-only parent evenings, at which they would hear reports from teachers about the progress of their children.  The research suggests that, especially in cases where parents are separated, the father either does not attend or ends up arguing with his former partner.

Mr Johnson also believes that some errant fathers need to be persuaded to re-engage with the value of school. He argues that many unsupportive fathers have had a negative experience of school themselves.  He believes that one solution is to ask disengaged fathers to attend courses designed to help them in their role as a father, understand the value of school or to offer practical educational advice.

KS2 Spelling Lists

I've updated the list of spelling words that have been used in the KS2 SATS since they started.  They are all sorted into into various spelling patterns and sounds!  I'm no literacy expert, and certainly not a spelling bee, but to me it makes sense.  The list is two sides of A4 so ideal to give the children or parents so they can see the type of words they will be tested at a glance.  Last years spellings are not included incase you wish to use them for a practice test.

It's interesting to note which are the most popular type of words.  I'm going to be asking my children to find more words that fit in with the most popular spelling patterns. You can download the SATS spellings list as an Excel file.

You can also download a copy of some spelling practice sheets that Caroline Carr has kindly sent to me.  These would be great for spelling tests leading upto the SATS.  There are 18 in all, with the particular spelling pattern in bold for each set of words.

Topicbox

Thanks to all those who gave me advice about my computer - got it up and running at last!  While I was offline Graham emailed me a link to Topicbox, a site similar to Coxhoe. He says:

"I use this website alot - (www.topicbox.net) it's for KS1, KS2 and Foundation Stage teachers. The weblinks are all organised into topics. It might be something other teachers will find useful and should save them planning time."

A quick look though the site finds some interesting links.  What's good is that you can rate the link which will eventually lead to easy identification of good quality resources.

Link: http://www.topicbox.net

Computer dies!

Computer today decided that it was going to die on me. Hopefully should be up and running tomorrow when a reinstall on Windows Vista works! Here's hoping I haven't lost all my work - I always meant to do that backup!

Weblinks

While searching the internet for links to add to our weekly planning, I came across a few great sites, which have all the links organised into subject areas.

http://www.coxhoe.durham.sch.uk/Curriculum/Curriculum.htm Coxhoe Primary School have some fantastic links to hundreds of external sites, from Foundation Stage to Year 6.

http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/index.htm Snaith Primary School have some great resources available, particularly for History topics.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/ This is a great site and one which I use regularly with my Year 6's for revision.

CGP Books

I'm sure a that you've seen these books before in shops, but have you ever thought about buying a class set?  CGP produce revision, question and resource books for children in KS1 and KS2.   We've recently purchased class sets of the maths and science study and question books and the literacy handwriting, spelling and punctuation books for my Year 6.  For the Year 2's we've bought the English and Maths SATs Practice Papers.  For a class set (30) of all of those book together it costs just over £300!

What's great about the CGP books is their price (make sure you order via school - it's much cheaper).  None of the books above cost more than £4.50 with the literacy books only costing £1.15 each which makes buying class sets extremely cheap.  The children enjoy working in the books, the study books are bright and full of humour and it makes an easy way to set homework leading upto the SATs.  Have a look at, and print out, some of the sample pages on the site - they may be useful even if you don't purchase any of the books.

Link: http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/

Work your proper hours day!

Today's Work Your Proper Hours Day which hopefully, being Friday, for once we should all be doing.  However according to a survey teachers and lecturers typically work more than 11 hours of unpaid overtime every week - more than any other professional group. According to the TUC if we were paid for our regular overtime wewould be taking home almost an extra £10,000 a year

We work over an hour a week more than the second busiest group - senior officers in the police, fire and armed services!

Bring back the cane!

School discipline has deteriorated because teachers are no longer allowed to cane unruly pupils, according to parents in a recent poll.  According to Mori who organised eight 90-minute discussion groups in London and Manchester, on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills, behaviour is the 'key education issue'.

Mori's report said many participants were of the opinion that it had declined over the past few years - with more reports of attacks on teachers and other pupils. Teachers were also believed to have fewer rights to enforce order.

Generally parents were satisfied with their children's schools and thought standards had risen.  There was also great support for head teachers and teachers "both of whom are held in the highest regard", the report said.

I'm pleased to see the parents being so supportive of teachers.
 

Bikeability

Today I managed to sign our school up to a free trial of Bikeability.  Bikeability is a brand new national cycling award scheme for Years 5 and 6 which before long will have thousands of children whizzing about on their bikes and pedalling their way to success.

Bikeability is 'Cycling Proficiency' for the 21st century designed to give children the skills and confidence to cycle safely in and around today's modern roads and environment.  But it's not just about teaching kids to ride a bike. Bikeability has been introduced to help make cycling an everyday activity, an alternative mode of transport, a way to keep healthy and above all lots of fun!

12 children will have 8 hours of cycling proficiency, 2 hours in the playground followed by 6 hours on the road.  Each child will also learn how to check that their bike is safe and receive a helmet from Warrington authority.

It's currently only being trialled in a few areas, but is going to be rolled out across England soon.  You can signup for the latest news and information, including details of when it is available in your area, from the website.

Link: http://www.bikeability.org.uk/