SOS Supply

I'm Throwing a Sale!

2018-08-20T16:34:00.003+01:00

It's that time of year again, the time that all parents look forward to and all teachers dread... back to school!

TPT is hosting a massive sale for one day only on 21st August. Hop on over to grab up to 25% off your favourite resources - just click through the image below.

Happy shopping!

And Now For Something Completely Different... And a Special Introductory Offer

2018-08-03T23:35:00.000+01:00

For some time now I have had the idea of writing an online course. So last summer I got down to it. I bundled up the finished product and delivered it to the online platform that had agreed to market it.

One year later and I am still waiting for the online platform to deliver on their promises... Frustration city! So , having given up on the platform that shall remain nameless, i decided to take the matter into my own hands and publish it myself in my TPT store.

This is an entirely new departure for me. Although my expertise is in teaching children with English as an Additional Language (EAL), and delivering training is my bread and butter, it is still a little nerve wracking to publish one's work. I have been teaching for over 12 years in a range of settings, including Primary and Secondary schools and adult learning. My current role is EAL Teacher Adviser for the County Borough which involves not only assessing and teaching children with limited English, but also training teachers and support staff, advising on EAL matters, and ensuring that support is targeted, relevant and delivered where it is most needed. I hope that you will benefit from the teaching tips in the course, as well as gain a better appreciation of what it means to be an EAL/ESL learner.

If you have ever had to teach children with little or no English you will have experienced a range of challenges, from ensuring that the children can access your content to checking their understanding and developing their speaking and listening skills, and finally to assisting them to acquire the complex skills required to write successfully and at an academic level. Packed with teaching tips and strategies, this comprehensive course will significantly boost your confidence in teaching writing to children, especially those with English as an Additional Language. It can also be used in staff training sessions with teaching colleagues to inform their professional development.

This course is specifically suited for anyone who has contact with children with little or no English, whether in a school setting or for parents of EAL children. It is particularly valuable for anyone with responsibility for ensuring that EAL children are able to make progress in the mainstream setting, and preparing them for their academic journey. No longer worry about whether you are doing the best for EAL children in your care and feel confident with your planning, deliver and assessment.

The course is excellent value for money. It comprises an introduction, 5 full modules and a conclusion, as well as some handy quizzes to test your understanding as you work through the modules. I have had to break the course down into 5 separate resources for the purposes of meeting TPT's upload limit , but please read on for a special introductory offer. The full curriculum is outlined below.

Curriculum
• Introduction and Biography

• Module 1 – Setting the Scene
o Part 1 – ESL/EAL and Educational Achievement
o Part 2 – In Their Shoes
o Part 3 – Challenges
o Part 4 – The EAL Learner’s Task

• Module 2 – The Writing Process

• Module 3 – Planning for Writing with EAL Pupils
o Part 1 – Why Plan for EAL?
o Part 2 – The Cummins Model

• Module 4 – Interventions for EAL Pupils
o Part 1 – Differentiation
o Part 2 – Interventions and Accommodations

• Module 5 – Helping Your Child At Home

• And Finally..

Special introductory offer - for a limited period between 4th August and 18th August all modules can be purchased at a special price of just £5. In addition, buy Modules 1-4 and get module 5 free (just drop me a comment via my Facebook page sos-supply after checkout and I will send your freebie by email).

Remember - contact me via my Facebook page (sos-supply) to receive module 5 after you have checked out the first four modules. Offer valid between 4th August and 18th August only.

And do remember to leave me some feedback - I'd love to know what you think.

Back to School Sale

2018-07-31T11:36:00.001+01:00

Here in the UK we have only just broken for the summer, so it might seem a little premature to be thinking about going back to school when most teachers are still in the process of winding down with a pink gin and tonic on their sun loungers somewhere in the Med... But teachers in the US are hard at work preparing for their return to school in just a week or so.

To help with preparations i am joining in with TPT's Back to School sale. For just two days everything in my store has been reduced. Along with curriculum based resources, you will find a range of resources to help you prepare your classroom and to ease your new pupils into their new routine.

First day Jitters

A bumper pack of activities for those first days back at school. Based around the popular book "First Day Jitters" by Julie Danneberg, the pack contains everything you need to settle your kiddos in and chase away any "first day jitters". The pack includes pre-reading prediction activity, post-reading discussion activity,visualisation, sequencing. story map, letter to Sarah, "My Perfect Day at School" writing activity, what's in your lunchbox? activity, My First Day Jitters, two truths and a lie, word wall, student v teacher venn diagram, compound words, congratulations certificate.

Back To School Bobbleheads

Back to School Bobbleheads is a fun activity to get to know your class during the first days back to school. It also provides opportunities to assess how well children can understand and follow verbal instructions - great for children with English as an additional language!

The activity is in four parts: designing a head, designing a t-shirt, making a key and using their responses in the key to write about themselves. The answers your children give will create a design that is unique to them.

When the activity has been completed, cut out both parts, glue together and string on bunting for an unusual classroom display. Or simply pin to a wall or notice board.

The pack contains everything you need - just print and go!

Open House/ Meet The Teacher Slideshows

Classroom Organisation

Pop on over and check out my full range of products. Or if the design you want is not featured, drop me line and I will create a bespoke resource at no extra cost.

Happy shopping!

Join us on TPT

2018-06-16T17:54:00.001+01:00

Join us between June 16th and June 18th to find some fantastic deals on TPT. Just tap #celebratedeals into the search bar and watch the resources pop up. All deals are just $1 (that's around 75p).

Here are a few of my resources that you can find in the deal. Click on the images to take you straight there.

One day left #Memorial Sale

2018-05-28T23:26:00.000+01:00

Just for today get these resources for just $1.

This pack of activities aims to teach children about simple 2D shapes and colours. It is suitable for all children, including those learning English as a second language, as it includes all of the vocabulary they need to talk about 2D shapes and colours.The pack includes a variety of activities designed to engage and interest children.

This 36 page pack has been developed to help children in their school work. The activities provide everything you need to revise and assess knowledge of tenses and verbs at grades 3 and 4, and will build confidence and knowledge in essential Literacy skills.

#MemorialTPTSale

2018-05-27T20:44:00.000+01:00

It's a hashtag sale. Just pop #memorialtptsale into the search bar on TPT to find lots of great products at $1 (UK readers - that's around 75p)

Hurry, though - they're only available Sunday - Tuesday

Catalina and the King's Wall Blog Tour

2018-05-03T10:35:00.000+01:00

I love to bring you news of new books, and here is one of my favourites.It's by new author Patti Costello - check her out below. We wish her the very best of luck with her book.

Title: Catalina and the King's Wall

Author: : Patty Costello

Illustrator: Diane Cojocaru

Publisher: Eifrig Publishing

Publication date: May 5, 2018

Genre: Children's Book

Number of pages: 32

The blurb One day Catalina overhears the king planning to build a wall and fears her family will never be able to visit. Catalina tricks the king into building walls that droop, drip, swirl, and swoosh away. But now the king demands a wall that will outlast even a Twinkie. Luckily, Catalina has the perfect ingredients to bake up a family reunion!

Take peek inside the book...

Amazon ~ Eifrig Publishing

About the Author

Patty Costello lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, a crazy awesome toddler, a dog named Pippa, and a dog named Spencer. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of St Thomas and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Minnesota. She currently works in higher education. Catalina and the King’s Wall is her first book. At all hours of the day (and night) she can be found standing at her desk, helping her university run smoothly and working on her next story.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

Cathy Duffy Recommended Reads for Homeschoolers - Reading and Writing

2018-04-15T12:00:00.000+01:00

Today I tackled my cupboard under the stairs. It's a real treasure trove of stationery, craft supplies and educational books. At the last count it held 5 full sized bookcases (all crammed to bursting) and numerous heavy duty crates. Until today I had no idea what was in my catalogue but was aghast to find I had duplicates of many books, classroom packs of coloured pencils, glue sticks and sticky notes. And I haven't started on the reading books yet! Thinking back what I really needed was a spirit guide or at least less choice, or some recommendations as a starting point.

This is where Cathy Duffy comes in. Cathy is the know-all when it comes to homeschool curriculum. She has reviewed hundreds of homeschool resources to help educators like me and you make an informed decision when shopping for homeschool curriculum. So as soon as I see a product has been approved by Cathy Duffy, I am more likely to trust it.

In my last post I brought you a selection of Cathy-approved maths and science picks available at Educents.com. Today's selection is related to reading and writing. I hope these double-recommended educational resources will relieve you from endless hours of shopping around for the best (and most cost-effective) homeschool curriculum.Elementary Reading & Writing

Grammaropolis

I can't say enough about story-based learning. It's one of the oldest ways we've learned from each other - starting with fables that teach us to be good to one another. Grammaropolis is a great tool for K-3rd grade learners on their quest for perfect English grammar, which isn't always straight forward! This set comes with animated shorts, music videos, books, and quizzes, so you've got a lot of learning styles covered.

A Reason for Handwriting

A Reason For Handwriting provides your students with a truly meaningful way to develop their handwriting! Lessons are each built upon a Bible verse which is chosen for encouragement as well as letter combinations. It's been proven that when kids enjoy a subject, they retain more and learn more effectively. A Reason for Handwriting brings enjoyment to the task of learning to write well.

Spelling Workout

Want to build your child's foundation in spelling? Spelling Workout will help create a solid building block of phonics principles. But don't worry, these lessons are not dull! There are puzzles, riddles, and activities that will keep your student's interest. Each bundle includes a Teacher Edition, Student Edition, and Parent Guide.

Cathy Duffy Recommended Reads for Homeschoolers - Maths and Science

2018-04-13T12:00:00.000+01:00

Sometimes having too many choices isn't actually the most helpful. I remember a time when I was at Thornton's chocolate shop looking for a gift. There was so much to choose from! I just couldn't make up my mind whether to go for milk, dark or white, lemon meringue, blackberry parfait, chocolate mousse or strawberry delight... What's a girl to do? I just bought the shop! That was a time when I wished I'd had less choice, or at least some recommendations as a starting point.

The same approach applies to educational resources. I have so many books, schemes of work, work plans, assessment packs etc that I could easily open my own library! I wished I'd had someone to guide me.

Here’s a handful of Cathy-approved educational picks available at Educents.com. I hope these double-recommended educational resources will relieve you from endless hours of shopping around for the best (and most cost-effective) homeschool curriculum.

Elementary Math & Science

Life of Fred Elementary Math

If you haven't heard of Life of Fred, you're in for a real treat. Dr. Stanley F Schmitt is a maths teacher who developed this story-based maths learning series that has taken homeschooling by storm! Forget rote learning that doesn't resonate; learners follow Fred and his pals through life and learn maths concepts along the way. Kids sometimes don't even know they're learning maths until they're told! Each book has a topic, like Apples, Butterflies, and Cats. I recommend supplementing maths learning with science or social studies on the same topic!

Math Lessons for a Living Education

Math Lessons for a Living Education is based on the premise that "content, story, and the ability to show maths in real life" is what makes a great maths curriculum! In everyday life, there aren’t barriers between “subjects.” For example, when cooking or baking, we use the skills of reading, logical thinking, and measuring. This "living" maths series is committed to teaching maths in the same organic way!

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series

This homeschooling favourite series constitutes a full elementary mathematics curriculum for grades 1-7! Homeschool parents love Math Mammoth because kids can learn on their own with the comprehensive student books, it focuses on conceptual learning, it is visually engaging, and chapters are organised by topics and themes. But don't just take our word for it! Here's what one very happy homeschool parent had to say: "We have tried three different maths curriculum programs but this one seems the best for the teacher and student."

A+ Interactive Math (by A+ TutorSoft, Inc.)

Make your homeschool maths journey EASY! This interactive maths curriculum does it all for you--teaching, grading, and tracking! A+ allows you to personalise the lesson plans to target exactly what your student needs. And you have the option to choose whichever format works the best for you: online, on CD, or eBooks.

Mathematical Reasoning Level A

Do your kids dread maths lessons and drill sheets? This fun and colourful book engages kids with easy-to-follow explanations, examples, and charts. Your kindergartner will learn foundational concepts through these delightful lessons.

enVision Math

This visually rich curriculum centres on a topic at a time, allowing your child to master a concept before moving on to the next. Build a strong maths foundation using fun worksheets and activities! Each enVision Math Homeschool Bundle includes a Student Edition Worktext and a Teacher Edition CD-ROM.

Middle School Math

Life of Fred Intro to Algebra

I really can't say enough about the Life of Fred series! Kids learning algebra and beyond will enjoy the stories and learn the concepts through holistic learning. If your learner is new to Fred but at a more advanced level, it has been recommended that they start from the beginning. That said, re-learning a few known concepts in the Life of Fred framework will help them get up to speed with story and succeed with the series.

Life of Fred Financial Choices

As your kiddos get older you may also want to instil strong financial decision-making. The Life of Fred Financial Choices book is a great intro. And if we're being honest, there's never a bad time for parents to brush up on this either!

Science for the Family

Magic School Bus Nature Bundle

Summer is a great time to get the whole family involved with experiments to foster learning and family bonding! This set comes with four science kits and covers topics like:

Weather - learn about rainbows, tornadoes, the greenhouse effect, and more.
Going Green - learn about recycling, compost, and making new paper out of old!
Solar Energy - watch solar energy inflate balloons and spin a top.
Wonders of Nature - build an ant hill, dissolve an egg shell, do an animal tracks exercise.

A Reason for Science

"A Reason For Science® is designed to teach basic Life, Earth, and Physical Science concepts through fun, hands-on activities. Its focus is to make learning both fun and meaningful." This interactive science series can involve the entire family as students and parents engage in group discussions and problem-solving. Students can talk through higher-level cognitive questions with this inquiry-based series that gets both minds and hands involved!

Science Detective A1

Help your kids be science detectives while engaging them in mind-building exercises! Science Detective will prepare your students for more advanced science courses and give them opportunities to stretch their reading comprehension and reasoning skills.

Magic School Bus Science Club Kits

2018-04-11T12:53:00.003+01:00

SPECIAL OFFER: Save 50% on a year’s subscription through Educents. This deal is amazing!

If you have children (ages 5-12) who enjoy the Magic School Bus books or videos–and if you like doing science experiments with them–then you'll LOVE The Magic School Bus Science Club! Developed by a team of Harvard graduates, scientists, and educators, the award-winning Magic School Bus Science Kits are delivered monthly right to your doorstep. Children will explore science through experiments that will spark an interest and curiosity in science. Each kit includes a colourful manual based on The Magic School Bus characters, as well as everything you need to complete at least seven experiments related to that month’s theme.

What's in the Magic School Bus Science Club?

1 year subscription includes 12 Magic School Bus kits! Each kit includes:

Detailed 12-page colourful manual that is full of experiments and topic information, based on the popular Magic School Bus books and TV series
An adult section so that those with no science background will find the kits easy to use
Materials and information necessary for a range of interactive experiments
Online Clubhouse for further exploration on each kit topic
Certificate of Completion

Kit Topics:

Here's what one parent had to say about the kits:

"These are just plain awesome for a child! These kits stimulate the mind in a fun way, They are well put together, and if you like helping with the kit you will have a ball. Anyone with a child who loves the stars or anything else, this is for you. Go ahead take a ride on the Magic School Bus... well worth it. Thanks!"

If you know your family would have great fun with this, now’s a great time to sign up!

Through the end of the week, you can receive 50% OFF a year’s subscription through Educents! This is an incredible deal! You can even create and print off your own gift cards to let your children know about the surprise. Enjoy your exploration alongside Ms. Frizzle!

Book Giveaway Linky

2018-04-11T11:29:00.001+01:00

In an effort to help spread the word about all the wonderful book related giveaways going on in cyberspace,, Beach Bound Books created the Book Giveaway Linky. The giveaway Linky list is for two things:

To enter giveaways for books, kindles, amazon gift cards,cash (so you can buy more books!)
If you are hosting a giveaway for a book, kindle, gift card, or cash (or anything related to LITERATURE) either on your website, on someone else’s website, on Goodreads, on Amazon, or elsewhere, grab the DIRECT LINK to the giveaway and add it to the Book Giveaway Linky List.

Check out more by clicking here.

Current linkies include:

.

Book Giveaway Linky List

You may enter as many links as you like, but please NO DUPLICATES.

1. Startoucher by C. J. Odle	2. Nocturne Nightmusic Trilogy Book 2 by Heather McKenzie	3. One for the Price of Two $25 PayPal Giveaway April 30 (WW)	4. Chloe Pink Series by Sharna Fulton Giveaway Ends 3/23 (US)
5. I Lost My Sock! Book Giveaway (US) Ends 12/19/17	6. Meet Happy Bear Book Giveaway (US) Ends 12/26/17	7. Maddys Phoenix eBook Giveaway (WW) Ends 12/28/17	8. Stack the Cats Book Giveaway (US) Ends 11/29/17

You are next... Click here to enter
This list will close in 264 days, 21 hrs, 57 min (12/31/2018 11:59 PM North America - Pacific Standard Time)

Linky Tools | Linky Blog 2013

Handwriting, Pen Grip and Spelling Strategies

2018-03-02T19:42:00.000+00:00

As well as teaching full time I also take on private students who are falling behind in their studies or just not making as much progress as expected. many of my current students also have learning differences around fine and gross motor skills which means that holding a pencil correctly is difficult. This in turn has an impact on handwriting and even spelling.

I have tried lots of strategies with my students to help them overcome their difficulties. I have found that steering away from pen and paper altogether is the most effective, instead focusing on developing language through technology. There is a huge choice of software on the market that is designed to do exactly this, but I have found that it doesn't go far enough to develop creative writing. My fall back resource is a website called Communication4all. Created by Bev Evans, it delivers excellent quality resources that are fully inclusive and are all free! My favourites are the traditional tales and Storymaker powerpoints. In the traditional tales section children can read an interactive book and retell their own version using drag and drop.

Or they can write their own story from start to finish using one of the high quality interactive powerpoints.

Sadly, Bev is no longer with us, but you can make a donation in her memory to help with the upkeep and hosting of the site.

Technology is great, but there are times when children need to work with traditional writing implements. Channie's Quick and Easy Writing Pad will help children to develop motor skills and form letters in preparation for cursive handwriting.

The pad has angled guidelines for proper slant and consistent letter size, and green shade to assist in lower case positioning. Adapted for quick and easy learning, the pad has 80 pages of strong blank practice worksheets and full instructions inside the front cover. Channie's visual Cursive pad make cursive writing fun and easy with vertical lines and angle blocks for consistent slant and letter sizes! You can get hold of yours for just $11.21 by clicking the image.

Grotto Grips are great for teaching pencil control. Finger guards and special angles place and hold the hand in a mature tripod grasp. They facilitate an open web space between the thumb and index finger, targeting, training and activating the proper muscles for writing. The guards maintain arches in the palm of the hand for dynamic finger movements for increased pencil control. They discourage hypermobility at the joints of the index finger and thumb, decreasing hand fatigue and pencil pressure. The guards can be used by both right and left handed writers, are non-toxic and latex free, and come in a range of neon colours and sleek designs to invite children to use the grip. $12.99 for a pack of 5.

Finally, I just love this Fun-Schooling Spelling Journal for children aged 5 and up.

and up. This spelling method is best for 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, but with help it can be used for children as young as five years old. The activity book can be used for Dyslexic children and children with ADD, ADHD or Autism. Struggling learners thrive with this method!

There are 180 activity pages so you can use one page per day during the school year. The method used is a unique approach for teaching visual learners who are artistic and intelligent, but may not be doing well with phonics and memorisation. It has been said that if children can not learn the way we teach, we must teach the way they learn. That is why this book is so different from other spelling books.

You can get your copy for just $27.50 by clicking the button below.

World Book Day

2018-03-01T19:14:00.000+00:00

Today was World Book Day! It was also St David's Day - patron saint of Wales. The Beast from the East and Storm Emma put paid to any thoughts of celebrations. There have been threats of snow for a few days but today they raised the weather alert to red - "take action". It all sounds apocalyptic with shades of Armageddon. So we've battened down the hatches, brought in the animals and have prepared for blizzard conditions. Snow days are great, aren't they...?

We Brits like to draw on bulldog spirit during times like this, and, never defeated, many schools will pick up the baton when they reopen and celebrate in style. Not to be outdone, I have extended the closing date for my little gift card promotion. It's easy to sign up and the winner will be able to treat their class to some fabulous new resources to make up for today's disappointment.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Another chance to enter!

2018-03-01T17:54:00.000+00:00

The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper by Fiona Ingram

2018-02-26T15:15:00.000+00:00

Have you checked out Fiona Ingram's series of adventure books yet? "The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper" is the third in the series and is a great read, appealing to boys and girls alike.

Title: The Temple of the Crystal Timekeepers (The Chronicles of the Stone, Book 3)
Author: : Fiona Ingram
Publisher: Bublish, Ing
Publication Date: November 17, 2017
Genre: Children's Adventure
Number of Pages: 318

Continuing the adventure that ended in Britain just a short while ago, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair, with their friend Kim Maleka, are now hunting for the third Stone of Power, one of seven mysterious stones lost centuries ago. The third stone might be located in an ancient city, hidden in the depths of the Mexican jungle.When their small plane crashes in the jungle, Adam, Justin, Kim, and James are rescued by an uncontacted tribe. James, who is wounded, must stay behind as the kids, with only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the city. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task.

Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on in search of the lost city of stone gods. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?

About the Author

Fiona Ingram is a children’s author, but up until a few years ago was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked her new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with her mother and two young nephews. They had a great time and Fiona thought that she'd write them a short story as a different kind of souvenir…. Well, one book and a planned book series later, she had changed careers. She has now published Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper) in her MG adventure series Chronicles of the Stone, with many awards for the first book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and a few for Book 2, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, and one already for Book 3! Fiona also teaches online novel writing for aspiring authors which she finds very satisfying. Relaxation time finds Fiona enjoying something creative or artistic, music, books, theatre or ballet. She loves doing research for her book series. Fiona loves animals and has written two animal rescue stories. She has two adorable (naughty) little dogs called Chloe and Pumpkin, and a beautiful black cat called Bertie.

Facebook ~ Book Website ~ Twitter ~ Author Website ~ Blog
Google+ ~ Amazon ~Goodreads

1st March is World Book Day!

2018-02-24T17:52:00.000+00:00

World Book Day is a celebration! It’s a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of reading. In fact, it’s the biggest celebration of its kind, designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world.

Keep reading for details of how to win a TPT gift card to spend on goodies for World Book Day.

This is the 21st year there’s been a World Book Day, and on 1st March 2018, children of all ages will come together to appreciate reading. Very loudly and very happily. Here in the UK and Ireland the main aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. That’s why schools (including those nurseries and secondary schools that have specially registered to participate) will be receiving packs of Book Tokens and age-ranged World Book Day Resource Packs (age-ranged into Nursery/Pre-School, Primary and Secondary) full of ideas and activities, display material and more information about how to get involved in World Book Day.

Keep reading for details of how to win a TPT gift card to spend on goodies for World Book Day.

WHAT HAPPENS?

Thanks to the generosity of National Book Tokens Ltd, publishers and booksellers, the people at World Book Day send millions of book tokens to children and young people (some 15 million, in fact: that’s one for nearly every child aged under eighteen in the country).

THEN…

They can take their book token to a local bookseller and can use it to pick one of TEN (exclusive, new and completely free) books. Or, if they’d rather, they can use it to get £1 off any book or audio book costing over £2.99 at a participating bookshop or book club (terms and conditions apply).

Keep reading for details of how to win a TPT gift card to spend on goodies for World Book Day.

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

The website contains lots of new downloadable resource packs based on favourite books, brands, characters and authors.

It’s all about getting kids closer to the books and authors they already love, and letting them discover more books and authors they’ll love every bit as much in the future.

What Are you doing for World Book Day?

Let me know what you will be doing to celebrate World Book Day and you could be in with a chance of winning a free TPT giftcard. All you have to do to is leave your comments on my Facebook page and share with your friends. I'd love to see your pictures too! Click through the golden ticket below to enter. The winning entry will be drawn at random on Friday 9th March. Good luck!

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10 Tips For Great Assessment

2018-01-03T20:26:00.000+00:00

Assessment is a part of human nature. We assess on a daily basis without even realising it: assessing the dangers of crossing the road; assessing whether we have time to sit for coffee of whether to have a take-out; assessing whether we need to take an umbrella. It's no different in education.

When teachers go through he training process they are taught about the importance of assessment and the differences between formative and summative assessment. In fact, this is drummed into us from day one right through to the day we qualify and beyond.

Assessment is an integral part of education but is a topic that sparks much debate. What are the benefits and drawbacks to assessment? What is its purpose? What effects does it have on the child? Love it or hate it, it's here to stay!

My 10 tips below will help you to make 2018 a great year for assessment.

1. Use technology
Technology is fun and students love it! Be creative about how you set assessments - try Powerpoint slideshows, internet research, form filling tools, apps etc. Technology is also a much faster way of recording assessments than filling out paper forms. You can save paper, and save time. Technology will also give you more options for recording and storing evidence, and makes it easier to share your assessments with others.

2. Think about location
You should be assessing at every opportunity, not just on "assessment day". Assessment should be something that embeds seamlessly into the process of learning, rather than an extra task on the ‘to do’ list. Assessing children as they learn can have a direct and immediate impact. It will also save you time, as you won’t be putting off assessment until later!

3. Use a framework to ensure progress
A clear framework will make it easier for you to see each child’s next steps, and to set appropriate targets. Curricular targets can then be set to move pupils on in their learning as opposed to setting a general target score.

4. Track pupil progress
Regular tracking highlights gaps in learning, and brings to your attention more quickly those students who may be struggling or falling behind. It’s a good idea to track and compare groups of children who have similar needs or who are vulnerable. This will help you to plan interventions, set meaningful targets and differentiate your lesson plans.

5. Match it to your curriculum
Formative assessment is an important tool to help you to teach and support pupils to learn. Assess only those things that tell you something useful. The most relevant formative assessment will highlight the areas of your curriculum that are strong, and those that need more coverage or resources.

6. Record evidence
Evidence is important to back up your judgements and to share for moderation purposes. This could include examples of pupils’ work, photos, videos and sound recordings. Parents also love to see their child’s achievements, so multi-media evidence is a great way to engage them.

7. Be clear on your progress measures
Moderation is important to ensure that there is consistency in assessment across the school. Are you all singing off the same hymn sheet? Does everyone know how to recognise "working towards", "on target" and "exceeding"? Making sure that there is shared understanding helps maintain smooth progression between year groups. And your bank of evidence comes in handy here to support your judgement and to compare with others when moderating work.

8. Make it easy to share
Summative data is usually easily accessible as this is mostly comprised of National Test results and other formal tests such as reading tests, phonics checks, spelling checks etc. Occasionally you may be asked to show your formative assessment alongside your summative data (Ofsted, Estyn, Senior Leaders, Governors, Local Authority etc.). Would you be able to find and show them what they’re looking for quickly and easily? This is another area where using technology may help. Sharing assessments with students is also important: they need to know how they are performing, where they need to be and how to get there.

9. Communicate with students
Make sure that your students understand what is expected from them and how they can achieve it. Giving children very clear lesson objectives, learning outcomes, specific targets and descriptions of their next steps will help to motivate them along the way. They should also be given opportunities to self-assess and peer assess so that they take ownership of their own progress.

10. Link formative assessment to everything you do
Use a good tracker to link formative assessment to everything you do

I love to make assessment fun for my students. The key is to come up with activities that students enjoy and where they don't realise that they are being assessed - a bit like hiding the veg in creative ways for children who refuse to eat their greens! I can't wait to try out my newest resource that I have been working on over Christmas - the "Big Idea Challenge Relay". Children get to work on an answer for thirty seconds before moving on to the next question. They then get an opportunity to self-assess or peer assess their answers. The activity is fun and fast paced, and children love the freedom to move around the classroom on the given signal and the competitiveness.

This is a great way of testing prior knowledge before introducing a new topic and assessing how much they have learned at the end of the topic - can students beat the score they got first time round?

You can try out "The Big Idea Relay Challenge - Seasons" for half price until Friday 5th January. If you do, please leave me a comment with some feedback. The links below will take you to my TPT store, TES store and Facebook Store respectively.

Black Friday Sale - Help for Frazzled Teachers!

2017-11-19T00:00:00.000+00:00

Traditionally Black Friday in the UK has been the last working Friday before Christmas, when offices, factories and shops close and the festivities begin - literally! It has tended to be quite a rowdy yet good natured celebration with lots of parties and festive fun.

Over the last three years Black Friday has come to represent something else in the UK as the US tradition of shop 'til you drop on the day after Thanksgiving has started to take off. It is now believed to be the biggest shopping day of the year. We don't mark Thanksgiving here but we can shop 'til we drop with the best of them! And although I won't be hitting the shops I will be filling my trolley with lots of teaching goodies.

This year I am joining in with the festivities by bringing Black Friday to my stores. Between 20th November and 27th November everything will be on sale. Window shopping is always welcome, so pop on over and browse.

Now is a great time to snap up that Christmas play at a bargain price (new for 2017 is The Nutcracker, or Jesus's Christmas Party is a firm favourite). Or how about using my pack of activities to hold a Polar Express Week? And what about carrying on the Christmas feeling into the New Year by reading "Father Christmas Goes on Holiday"?

All of my Christmas resources are available in my TES (on sale all week) and TPT stores (on sale between 23rd November and 27th November), as well as my Facebook store.

And while you're there, why not sign up for news of the latest releases, special offers and free resources? Click the gift for more info.

Happy Black Friday!

Alert! An End to Lack of Productivity!

2017-11-18T20:09:00.002+00:00

Hands up if you like to make lists! Let's face it, at this time of year it's more important than ever to be well organised - but that's a department in which I am sadly lacking... Christmas is just one big blur, and Christmas shopping tends to be crammed into one day when I hit the shops and hope for the best.

It's the same when I'm working - all too often I set out with good intentions only to get sucked (unintentionally) into surfing the net and before I know eight hours have gone by with little or nothing to show for it..

Well this year I resolved to do things differently. I have found a cheeky little device on Facebook that gathers together my products into themed collections. I have been playing with it all day (ahem.. refer to the previous paragraph and lack of productivity..). Now my Christmas resources are in one place - much easier than surfing. You can check them out below.

I will be adding to the collection over the next few days in time for my Black Friday Sale. Come back tomorrow to find out more.

The Poppy - a History of The Poppy Appeal

2017-11-08T09:08:00.003+00:00

Around this time of year we see poppies being sold everywhere, we buy them or make a donation and pin them on. But how many of us actually know why we do this or the story behind the symbol of the poppy?

The poppy does not glorify war. Rather, it is a reminder of why we should not repeat the cycle of history. More importantly, the poppy is the rallying call for us to support members of the Armed Forces and their families. The Royal British Legion does sterling work to support our veterans and servicemen and servicewomen in crisis. Some of their stories can be found here.

For this year's Poppy Appeal, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s famous poem, In Flanders Fields, is being recreated across seven locations. The Royal British Legion is encouraging people to #RethinkRemembrance and consider the meaning of the poppy as both a symbol of Remembrance and hope.

It is often difficult to teach children about remembrance and the importance of the poppy as a symbol of hope. I have created two resources that are aimed at children between the ages of 7 and 11 (although they could be used with older pupils too). The first is all about Remembrance Day, while the second tells the history of the poppy and why we wear it. Both are available in my shop and all proceeds will be donated to the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal. Let's give them lots of support by sharing this widely. Thank you for your support.

By wearing a poppy, you aren’t just remembering the fallen: you’re supporting a new generation of veterans and Service personnel that need our support.

Remembrance Day and Firework Safety

2017-11-05T21:22:00.000+00:00

Hi all

This is a very special week for us in the UK. It starts off with Guy Fawkes Night (or Bonfire Night) and ends with Remembrance Day.

If you've managed to pick up my last post you will know that Guy Fawkes is one of those typically British customs with a rather nasty undertone. It originates during the reign of King James II when Catholic protestors plotted to overthrow him by blowing up the House of Parliament with him inside! Fortunately for him the plot was foiled. Unfortunately for the plotters this meant trouble. The plot was hatched by Robert Catesby and his co-conspirators but they had persuaded Guy Fawkes to guard the gunpowder kegs hidden in the cellars beneath the House of Parliament. An anonymous letter alerted the king and Guy was caught. Needless to say his demise was rather sticky (and very unpleasant..).

Today we still remember the Gunpowder Plot on 5th November, celebrating by lighting bonfires complete with effigies of poor old Guy, setting off fireworks and generally being merry.

This is a perfect opportunity to teach children about the firework code and fire safety. For older children I have prepared a useful reading resource packed full of facts and some worksheets to practise their comprehension skills. It is on sale for the next few days for just £1.60.

On Sunday we celebrate Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day takes place on the second Sunday of November when a 2 minute silence is held to remember all those civilians and servicemen and women who fought in World War I and subsequent conflicts. Church services and parades are held and poppy wreaths laid by cenotaphs and memorials.

At school children often come into classes to sell paper poppies, often without realising their significance. I have always made a point of telling them the story behind the poppy and why we wear them at this time of year. I have pulled together a similar resource that helps to inform children by putting them in control of their own learning. They can read the facts about Remembrance Day and answer questions. The fact sheets can be used in so many other ways: try getting them to make posters about how they can remember; or make a class memory book where children can write short memories about a person or a special pet.

More details of the British Legion's Poppy Appeal and lots of teaching resources can be found here

Calling all November Newbies

2017-11-03T20:51:00.000+00:00

If you've never tried TES Resources before, then now's a great time. Throughout November new customers can get a resource up to the value of £5 absolutely free! Just click through the link or on the graphic to get the code. https://m.me/SOSSupply

Autumn Events and Traditions

2017-10-30T15:05:00.000+00:00

I love this time of year! Autumn is a season of colours and smells as well as some wonderful traditions and holidays such as Hallowe'en.

Hallowe'en has always been big in the UK, but in a different way to the US Trick or Treat. Crowds of us would spend weeks thinking up our costumes and making them ourselves out of old sheets, shiny stuff, blankets, bandages - in fact anything we could get our hands on (commercialism has taken the edge off today, with shops crammed full of decorations, flamboyant costumes, make-up and special food). Then we'd plan our party. Back then pumpkins were not popular in the UK so we made do with swede. Try hollowing out and carving a swede: hard - literally! And the smell of searing swede when the candle was lit... mmmm). We loved apple bobbing, apple tucking and other spooky games, traditional food and fun. No "trick or treat" for us: announced by the chant "help the tuckers" we would knock on doors of sympathetic neighbours and collect spare change which we would then pool and use to buy fireworks for Guy Fawkes night, just 5 days after Hallowe'en.

Guy Fawkes Night - a tradition reserved for the Brits. it doesn't happen anywhere else in the world and most non-Brits wouldn't have a clue what it is or what it symbolises. It goes back a long time - back to King James 1 in fact. They were dark times, and Catholics were not tolerated in Britain. They had to worship in secret and priests were persecuted if caught. But they had many supporters who felt that things needed to change. So a group of protestors led by Robert Catesby plotted to blow up the king while he was at Parliament. Guy Fawkes was given the job of guarding the gunpowder which had been hidden in the cellars under the House of Parliament. Unfortunately he was betrayed and caught. The rest of the gang were also rounded up soon after. They all met rather a sticky end. On 5th November every year, the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, bonfires are lit, fireworks are set off and effigies of Guy Fawkes are burned. As with many other traditions the sinister undertones are overlooked and it has become a time for merrymaking and family fun.

And this brings me nicely round to another important event - Remembrance Day. Held on 11th November every year, the ceremony commemorates the end of World War 1 and all other conflicts that have taken place since. It is a time to remember those who gave so much so that we could be free and their families. A minute's silence is held at 11am - the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month and also on Remembrance Sunday. The poppy has been adopted as the symbol of remembrance and has been adopted by the British Legion to represent their Poppy Appeal.

It is important that our young people realise and understand the huge implications of Remembrance Day. Children at our school loved going from class to class selling poppies, but when I asked them why they were doing it and what they were for, they didn't know. I always make a point of telling children about this important event, in a way that delivers the message in a child-friendly way. It was hit home to me last year when I visited Arnhem and Oosterbeek, one of the settings for Operation Market Garden in September 1944. It seems such a long time ago, but in reality it was within living memory, as testified by the remaining British Paratroopers who make the pilgrimage to Oosterbeek every September to join their commemorative walk. They are getting smaller in number, but we should make sure that they are never forgotten.

I have prepared a selection of resources especially for this time of year. If you are one of my US readers, perhaps you would like to give Guy Fawkes a try - I'd love to see your photos or samples of your pupils' work.

Hallowe'en

First, a freebie for you to enjoy:

Guy Fawkes

https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/guy-fawkes-and-the-gunpowder-plot-11138812

Have a Free Resource On Me!

2017-10-20T17:28:00.000+01:00

A quick heads up about a freebie I'm offering on my Facebook page. Hop on over to bag yourself a free resource up to the value of £5 or equivalent, or click on the link below to take you straight to my store. Enjoy your resource!

Fancy your mortgage or rent paid for a month?

2017-10-16T07:41:00.001+01:00

Who doesn't fancy their mortgage or rent paid for a month? Imagine what you'd do with the cash...holiday, shopping spree, Christmas prep... the list is endless. For the price of a resource you stand a chance. Check out how here.

Sos-Supply

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SOS Supply

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And Now For Something Completely Different... And a Special Introductory Offer

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Catalina and the King's Wall Blog Tour

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Cathy Duffy Recommended Reads for Homeschoolers - Reading and Writing

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Magic School Bus Science Club Kits

SPECIAL OFFER: Save 50% on a year’s subscription through Educents. This deal is amazing!

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Handwriting, Pen Grip and Spelling Strategies

and up. This spelling method is best for 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, but with help it can be used for children as young as five years old. The activity book can be used for Dyslexic children and children with ADD, ADHD or Autism. Struggling learners thrive with this method!

World Book Day

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The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper by Fiona Ingram

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1st March is World Book Day!

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What Are you doing for World Book Day?

10 Tips For Great Assessment

Black Friday Sale - Help for Frazzled Teachers!

Alert! An End to Lack of Productivity!

The Poppy - a History of The Poppy Appeal

Remembrance Day and Firework Safety

Calling all November Newbies

Autumn Events and Traditions

Have a Free Resource On Me!

Fancy your mortgage or rent paid for a month?

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