Wednesday 17 May 2017

From The @TES Blog: Why Every Primary School Needs To Embrace Non-Fiction

Everyone has their favourite children’s book. And it is almost always a work of fiction. While children do read a lot of non-fiction, it is not venerated in the same way as the novels and picturebooks beloved to us all.

Unfortunately, this can make non-fiction seem somehow less important and some can even question its place in the primary classroom.

We need to fight this denigration of the genre: non-fiction books are essential tools in the primary classroom. Here is why:

Click here to read on over on the TES blog: https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/six-reasons-why-every-primary-school-needs-embrace-non-fiction

Tuesday 16 May 2017

How To Stay Sane Now The KS2 SATs Are Over


The fourth and final post in my series of blog posts for Third Space Learning focusing on teacher and pupil wellbeing during the key stage 2 SATs testing period:

An almost audible collective sigh of relief rises from Year 6 teachers and KS2 pupils across the realm. Suddenly, the prospect of life beyond SATs becomes tantalisingly real and, at least for now, it is there to be enjoyed.

Feelings during the next few weeks will (though I hate to have to remind you) morph from the relief that the end of the SATs week brings into the impatient wait for results day on July 4th.

Click here to read my five tips for staying sane now that the key stage 2 test are over: https://www.thirdspacelearning.com/blog/2017/sayonara-sats2017-5-golden-rules-for-year-6-teachers-to-make-the-most-of-lessons-after-sats

Sunday 7 May 2017

Twas The Night Before SATs by @parky_teaches


Twas the night before SATs, and all through the land
Not a teacher was stirring, the curriculum banned.
Past papers pored over, practised just so,
Fingers are crossed that thresholds are low.

The children were fretful, nervous in their beds
While visions of ticking clocks danced in their heads.
Heads in their offices give keyboards a tap
Writing excuses for that OFSTED chap.

When out in the playground arose such a chatter
Of parents and media to see what was the matter.
They could not believe just what they had heard, 
And started to panic about things like adverbs.

Would the Reading test reduce children to tears?
This was just the first of their fears.
Revision packs bought, tutors booked up
Parents stressed out, leaving nothing to luck.

A courier arrives, so lively and quick,
The papers are locked in the safe with a click.
Staff arrive early, their visages bleak,
Year 6 teachers wishing for just a quick peek.

"Now, Kirsty! now, Donna! now, Seb and Mina!
On, Holly! On, Dev! On Connor and Tina!
To your new seating plan! Right next to the  wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As children that before the biggest challenge try
When they're met with a SAT they let out a cry
"Not more past progressive, not more long division
We can take no more of the government's indecision!"

And then, in a twinkling flash of inspiration,
Memories flicker across the nation.
The teacher sits, fidget spinner in hand,
Hoping beyond hope things go just as planned.

They were just about dressed, from their head to their feet, 
And their eyelids droopy from the lack of sleep
A bundle of assessments, flung on their back, 
In case a standardised score is starting to slack.

His pupils - how they twinkled! (Well they did in year 5)!
Now they were dull, barely alive
Drilled into submission, all out of fear
That somebody's job might be gone next year.

The stumps of pencils found gnawed by teeth, 
And clumps of hair torn out in disbelief 
Looking over shoulders, "Is that a four or a nine?"
Mentally of course, we don't want a fine.

Once the first one is over, it's onto the next
They're really relentless, they are, these tests.
We jump hoops through SPaG, through every last trick,
Then it's onto the maths, the ol 'rithmetic!

They spoke not a word (they weren't allowed),
But when the time was up, they cheered and they howled, 
And laying aside their pencils and pens, 
They breathed a sigh of relief, along with their friends.

Teachers sprang to their desks, to their teams gave a whistle,
And outside they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard them exclaim, ‘ere they drove out of sight,
"Oh wait, it's writing moderation next, bugger..."

Thursday 4 May 2017

Collection of PowerPoints to Introduce the 2019 KS2 SATs Tests (with Emojis!)

I have put together some light-hearted, potentially humorous, but hopefully informative PowerPoints to use with year 6 children either during the run-up to SATs or on the mornings before the tests.

They use questions from the 2016 KS2 test to remind children of test techniques and tips that will help them to do their best on the day.

Reasoning: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/powerpoint-to-introduce-the-2017-ks2-sats-mathematics-reasoning-test-papers-2-and-3-with-emojis-11595567

Arithmetic: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/powerpoint-to-introduce-the-2017-ks2-sats-arithmetic-test-paper-1-with-emojis-11594343

Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/powerpoint-to-introduce-the-2017-ks2-sats-spelling-punctuation-and-grammar-test-with-emojis-11593369

Reading: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/powerpoint-to-introduce-the-2017-ks2-sats-reading-test-with-emojis-11589341

Some reviews:

"All the things I say over and over again but with the added bonus of emojis. Maybe this will embed the message just that little more! Fingers crossed. Thanks for sharing."

"Excellent overview of the new SATS - thank you!"

"Thank you its just what I need for the final push."

"Good fun: will make my class smile and remember some of those important things they might forget when exam nerves set in. Thank you for sharing!"

"A wonderfully lighthearted PowerPoint to alleviate the concerns of any Y6 pupils anticipating the reading paper. Straight-to-the-point and precise, with smiley faces to boot. Cheers for pulling it together - may the force be with them."

"Have downloaded all these! Made me chuckle but gets the point across. It's also reassuring to know that all the little niggles I had with these tests, children are doing all over the country! TICK ONE BOX!!!!!!! AARGGH!"

Year 6 Teachers, You've Got This! Your 5-Step Game Plan for SATs Week 2017


The latest in my series of blog posts for Third Space Learning focuses on SATs week itself. The focus is on teacher and pupil wellbeing and provides 5 steps to take to ensure year 6 teachers and pupils aren't too frazzled by the end of it.

So, the time has come. SATs week 2017 is upon us. On Monday morning, after months (hopefully years) of preparation, the nation's Year 6 children will sit down to the first of 2017's Key Stage 2 National Assessments.

Year 6 teachers across the land will be pacing halls and classrooms, catching glimpses of questions and hoping beyond hope that the primary school children in their classes will do their very best.

And I assume you're probably one of those teachers, or a supportive Head or SLT member.

You'll be feeling a heady mix of excitement and nervousness while anticipating the children’s chance to show off all they've learned. You might also be wondering what on earth the test-writers have come up with this time.

Click here to read on over at the Third Space Learning blog: http://thirdspacelearning.com/blog/2017/year-6-teachers-you-ve-got-this-your-5-step-game-plan-for-2017-ks2-sats

From the TES Blog: The Pre-SATs Checklist: An Eight-Point Guide To Ensure You're Ready

Here's one I wrote for the TES blog all about those little things that might be forgotten in the run up to SATs but that, if sorted, will make the week run much more smoothly.

By now, as a Year 6 teacher, you're probably fairly fed up of Sats-related advice, but bear with me. You see, there's always the chance that some minor detail has been missed. Sure, your scripts are all locked away in the safe, you know which test is happening on which day and you can bet that the children are as ready as they can be, but is there anything else you need to sort out in these last few days before the Key Stage 2 Sats tests kick off?

Here's my personal last-minute checklist, which I will be running through in the next few days.

Click here to read for free on the TES blog: https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/pre-sats-checklist-eight-point-guide-ensure-youre-ready