Category Archives: Supporting homework

Digital Learning Week: Supporting Learning at Home

Sum Dog and Purple Mash are two online resources we have purchased to support learning and teaching in Maths and Language. These resources can be used in school and at home. The PSA have helped us to purchase Purple Mash.

Teachers may set homework using these resources, however if homework has not been set parents can use these resources to support Maths and Language development at home.

Sum Dog

P1-7 have a Sum Dog Reading and Maths account. They can access this account at home by using the log in provided in their homework diary/book.

To access Sum Dog go to: http://www.sumdog.com/

If you have an apple device you can download the Sum Dog app for free.

Purple Mash

P1-7 have a Purple Mash account. They can access this account at home by using the log in provided in their homework diary/book.

To access Purple Mash go to:

https://www.purplemash.com/sch/midcalder-EH53

To find out how to use Purple Mash on your tablet you will find information here: https://www.purplemash.com/#app/documents/purplemash_on_tablets

To find out how to use Purple Mash with iPad apps you will find information here:

https://www.purplemash.com/#app/guides/mashificationguide

 

Information to support parents/ carers: using-ict-to-support-maths-and-language-updated

#digitaldifference

Tabletastic in P5B

We are learning to recall our times tables quickly and accurately. 

  • I can recite and recall the multiples and table facts of all tables
  • I can use a range of strategies to help me work out a fact if I cannot instantly remember it

This term, Primary 5B have been recapping our times tables facts. We have explored a variety of key vocabulary linked to multiplication including groups of, lots of, times and multiplied by. We have used our bodies to create human arrays and groups to represent a range of multiplication facts.

We also create arrays using materials we found outside, as well as using chalk to create different pictorial and numerical representations of our table facts. We have been practicing our times tables through our Maths Facts of the Day.

Stations:

Teaching station- We have been learning about the links between different tables e.g. the 4 times table is just double the 2 times table, and that 6 x 4 is the same as 4 x 6. We have also been exploring the link between multiplication and division.

ICT station- Sumdog Multiplication Challenge

Game group- playing Multiplication Bingo and a variety of games to develop our quick recall.

Supporting at home:

Security in the recall of multiplication and division facts is vital for future learning in maths. Here are a few ways you can support your child’s recall of the table facts at home:

Tables puzzle– Ask your child to write out one of the times-tables in order, without the answers, and then cut out each question to create a puzzle. On the back of each question, e.g. 4 × 8, they write the answer, e.g. 32. You can then use the puzzle cards to test their knowledge of the answers to table facts or of the question that produces a particular answer.

Quick Fire Questions- At any spare moment throughout the day, ask your child a mixture of times tables questions with a focus on the times tables that they do not feel confident with.

Sumdog– an additional challenge named ‘TIMES TABLES CHALLENGE’ has been added that specifically focuses on table facts. 15 minutes on Sumdog every day would be an excellent and fun way to learn times tables.

iAchieve in P5

At Mid Calder we recognise that profiling it creating a holistic overview of the child as a learner through reflection and dialogue. This is central to practice in recognising achievement, profiling and reporting.

What is profiling?

Profiling means that learners will be engaged in regular, on-going discussions with staff about their progress. This should be a continuous process for all learners from 3 to 18.

iAchieve

iAchieve is our new approach to achievement which is being used in all our cluster schools. Each child now has a copy of their iAchieve level (you can download these here: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/wl/public/mcps/uploads/sites/2949/2016/09/iAchieve-Level-4.pdf

This is used to track their achievements inside and outside of school. When they have achieved three of the tasks in each box they will receive a certificate in class or at a Friday Assembly and move on to the next area within their level, for example if they complete Brilliant Bronze for Responsible Citizen they will move on to Super Silver.

If the achievement has been completed at home the pupil can fill out an iAchieve sheet which are available from their class teacher or Primary 4 to 5 have the option of using their private iAchieve blog: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/wl/mcpsiachieve2010/

Using the iAchieve Blog:

  • Google MCPS Blog to access the school blog
  • Select iAchieve, Primary 5 from the tab along the top
  • Pupils enter their Glow username and password
  • At the top they can click add, new post or on the right hand panel they can click add a new post
  • The blog post should link to their iAchieve pathway
  • Tick the categories for the post including:
    • Award
    • 4 Capacities
    • Value
    • Level – 5
    • And any other relevant category
  • Tag their name by typing in their name and clicking add
  • Add a title
  • Write their post (you will see examples on the blog):
    • Title of achievement from their pathway (in bold and colour)
    • Summary of achievement and what they learned
    • What school value they lived (the school value can be in bold and colour)
  • If you wish to add a photo:
  • Click on add media
  • This will ask you to browse for the photo on your computer
  • Click insert into post
  • Click Publish

Download these instructions: iAchieve-in-p5

iAchieve Level 5: iAchieve Level 5

iAchieve in P4

At Mid Calder we recognise that profiling it creating a holistic overview of the child as a learner through reflection and dialogue. This is central to practice in recognising achievement, profiling and reporting.

What is profiling?

Profiling means that learners will be engaged in regular, on-going discussions with staff about their progress. This should be a continuous process for all learners from 3 to 18.

iAchieve

iAchieve is our new approach to achievement which is being used in all our cluster schools. Each child now has a copy of their iAchieve level. You can download these here: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/wl/public/mcps/uploads/sites/2949/2016/09/iAchieve-Level-4.pdf

This is used to track their achievements inside and outside of school. When they have achieved three of the tasks in each box they will receive a certificate in class or at a Friday Assembly and move on to the next area within their level, for example if they complete Brilliant Bronze for Responsible Citizen they will move on to Super Silver.

If the achievement has been completed at home the pupil can fill out an iAchieve sheet which are available from their class teacher or Primary 4 to 5 have the option of using their private iAchieve blog: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/wl/mcpsiachieve2012/

Using the iAchieve Blog:

  • Google MCPS Blog to access the school blog
  • Select iAchieve, Primary 4 from the tab along the top
  • Pupils enter their Glow username and password
  • At the top they can click add, new post or on the right hand panel they can click add a new post
  • The blog post should link to their iAchieve pathway
  • Tick the categories for the post including:
    • Award
    • 4 Capacities
    • Value
    • Level – 4
    • And any other relevant category
  • Tag their name by typing in their name and clicking add
  • Add a title
  • Write their post (you will see examples on the blog):
    • Title of achievement from their pathway (in bold and colour)
    • Summary of achievement and what they learned
    • What school value they lived (the school value can be in bold and colour)
  • If you wish to add a photo:
  • Click on add media
  • This will ask you to browse for the photo on your computer
  • Click insert into post
  • Click Publish

Download these instructions here: iAchieve-in-p4

Level 4 iAchieve: iAchieve Level 4

Sumdog

As P3-P7 now have access to Sumdog to support their learning in maths, and P2-P7 have it to support their learning in reading, P5 buddied up with P3/2 today to show them the wonders of Sumdog. The Primary 5s showed their buddy how to login, how to play some of the games, how to earn coins as well as explained how to get their first pet and how to decorate their Sumdog house.

Sumdog will be used to support learning in school, but can also be accessed at home where the children can complete challenges set by their class teacher. They can access this account at home by using the log in provided in their homework diary/book.

To access Sumdog, go to: https://www.sumdog.com

It’s Maths O’Clock in Primary 5!

 

Learning Intention: We are learning to tell the time on digital and analogue clocks (MNU 1-10a)

Success Criteria:
I can recognise and show time on analogue and digital clocks
I can answer simple problems involving time
I can talk about am and pm times

In Miss Sherlow’s maths class, we have started a new unit on time. We have been learning about how people use time in their daily lives, and now we are learning how to tell the time on both digital and analogue clocks. In our class today, we started by recapping some key time vocabulary- o’clock, quarter past, half past, quarter to, am and pm etc. We then discussed that the clock can be read in 5 minute intervals and used our knowledge of the 5 times tables to help with this. We used our counting stick to count up in 5 minute intervals starting at a variety of different times. We then played a game using our learning hats where we wrote a time secretly on a post it, then stuck it to our partners head. Each person had to guess what time they were given by asking questions e.g. is the hour even? Is the time before 5pm?

We then split into our groups:

1. Teaching table- we were learning to use am and pm times and write them as 24 hour times.
2. Sumdog group- Time Challenge.
3. Game group- Pass O’Clock– we set a clock at 3pm then flipped a coin. If we rolled a heads, we moved the time on 5 minutes. If we rolled a tails, we moved the time on 10 minutes. We had to read the time each time. First to 5 Hours- we rolled a dice 3 times with each dice showing how many lots of 5 minutes we had (e.g. a 3 would equal 3 lots of 5 minutes, so 15 minutes). When we reached 60 minutes, we received a counter. The winner was the first person to get 5 counters.

You can support your child’s learning at home by: asking your child to read the time from both digital and analogue clocks regularly; discussing time durations (e.g. how long it takes to walk to the shop, how long it would take to drive to your Granny’s house etc.) and by asking the difference between two times (e.g. how many minutes between 5.34pm and 6.03pm). You could also try making your own learning hats at home and challenging your child to guess the time.

eBooks available for your child’s IT device from West Lothian Library Service

Following a report in December 2015 by the National Literacy Trust  looking at eReading and reading motivation in young people. The findings included that significantly, more pupils thought reading was cool after being involved in the eReading project.  To read the full report visit:www.literacytrust.org.uk/assets/0002/9076/The_Impact_of_Ebooks_final_report.pdf
Below is a link to a leaflet displaying some of the most popular eBooks for younger readers available from West Lothian Libraries.  Children need to be a member of the library to make use of this free service.

Primary 1 Bookbug Bags Parent Survey

bookbug bag
We hope all of the Primary 1 pupils and their families are enjoying their free Bookbug Bag from the Scottish Book Trust. We would love to hear about all the activities you have enjoyed together below.
The Scottish Book Trust would also like some feedback. If you have a couple of minutes, please follow the link below and complete a short questionnaire.

P4-7 Parent Drop In: Using ICT to Support Homework

Thank you to all of you who attended the 4-7 parent drop in session, looking at how to use ICT to support learning at home.

If you were unavailable to attend you will find out more information by clicking below:

Sum Dog

Purple Mash

Here is the feedback from those who attended:

Tickled Pink:

  • It was excellent to see SumDog and to know more about Purple Mash. Both will be good learning tools made fun for the children.
  • Sum Dog and Purple Mash both look like fun programmes for learning.

Sum Dog:

  • My child loves it can use it independently.
  • They have never been so keen to do maths homework before this.
  • Likes to compete with friends.
  • Quick, fast, keeps the mind ticking.
  • Feels like a game.
  • Can do it on their own, therefore it doesn’t seem like homework.
  • Instructions really clear and formative.
  • I now understand what Sum Dog does.
  • Excellent way for them to learn in a fun way.

Purple Mash:

  • Really caught their imagination.
  • My child loves it.
  • Great that they can use it independently.
  • Looks like a great tool. Many thanks to Anna for her clear explanation.

Green for Growth:

  • Purple Mash can have some aspects that are quite difficult
  • Would be good to have written work to back up Sum Dog
  • Clearer instructions of what homework is and what is ‘nice to do’