Category Archives: Primary 5

Four tips for a smooth home learning

Four tips for a smooth home learning routine from the Education Endowment Foundation

Everyone is adapting to an unusual situation and some parents are feeling the pressure to replicate school behaviour systems. When supporting your child’s behaviour, and their social and emotional needs, there are a few key principles that should help:

  • Find your new routines. Consistent routines are important for behaviour in school and our routines at home have changed significantly. Routines support behaviour and you will be finding a new rhythm for your family. You could share this video with your child. Talk to them to help them plan their new routines.
  • Look for the positives. Because you need to be on the ball when things go wrong, it is easy to focus only on the unwanted behaviours and spend time addressing those with our children. If we can also catch them doing things right and praise this behaviour, we’re likely to get more of it. Could your daily routines include activities where your child is likely to make you proud?
  • Model the coping techniques you are using. Children are still learning to self-regulate their emotions and behaviours. It’s likely that we will also face new challenges during this period: finding a new workspace, managing anxiety, being productive under new circumstances. Talk to your child about the struggles you face and how you are addressing them – and don’t be afraid to be open about getting it wrong and trying a different strategy. Encourage your children to explain the approaches they are trying too.
  • Remember, there are no shortcuts.The most important principle for teachers in managing behaviour is to get to know and understand each pupil individually. This is good news! You already know your child. Speak to your child and trust your judgement about what works for them above any generic advice.

Outdoor Learning P1-P7

With all this fabulous sunshine and dry weather, let’s take the learning outdoors! Below you will find some suggested outdoor activities and websites where you will find lots of ideas, video clips and tips about how to get the most out of our gardens and green spaces.

https://www.edenproject.com/learn/for-everyone

outdoorclassroomday.org.uk

april-spike-tree-age

swoops-balance-towers

march-spikes-frogs-and-toads

bettys-gods-eye

bettys-tipi

 

Home Learning Literacy Information and Resources

I have attached some links to resources which you may find useful for supporting your children with learning at home. A couple of the links are general support about routines and structure, while others focus on how you can support your child’s literacy learning.

7_Top_Tips_to_Support_Reading_at_Home Reading_with_TRUST_comic Supporting_home_learning_routines_-_Planning_the_day

There are additional resources which you may find useful and these can be found at the education endowment fund website: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/videos/EEF_Supporting_daily_routines_during_school_closures.mp4

Online Safety Resources

With all this fantastic use of online materials and resources, it’s important now more than ever that we discuss online safety with our children. Miss Farooq has been gathering some ideas of how we can do this and we will post up activities over the coming weeks for you to do with your children. I have attached an activity for P1-3 and P4-7 to get started.

Online Safety Activity P1-P3pdf

Online Safety P4-P7

STEM Vertical Group: Flying object challenge

Mrs Burns and I have been missing our time with our vertical group and have created a STEM challenge that you can take part in at home. If you are not part of our vertical group and fancy joining in, please just go ahead. The more the merrier!

Flying Object Supporting Links

What is STEM?

What Makes Paper Aeroplanes Fly?

Different Plane Designs

We´d love to hear how successful your invention is or even see a picture of it. Email us at: wlfallahill-ps@westlothian.org.uk

We´ll include the pictures on our STEM sway so you can all see each other’s inventions.

Good luck inventors!