English
Online platforms used by our students in school:
Lexia
What is Lexia?
Our school is using Lexia Strategies™, a web-based reading program that provides the targeted practice and instruction students need to develop their reading skills. As an added benefit, students can use Strategies at home. Each student has their own log on which they will use in school, and can be used at home.
We will not be setting any formal homework for every student, but some tutors may ask some students to look at particular activities to boost their learning.
Our tutors can look at the information provided by Lexia so that they can see what each student has been working on and help them further.
How to access Lexia
Go to the Lexia website and login. The first time you access Lexia Strategies, you must set it up:
- Click the Student/Parent button.
- Type in your teacher’s email address and click the arrow button to continue.
Allow or help your child to login. The student username and password is the same login they use at school and has been attached to the letter sent home. Lexia will then remember who they are and automatically log them into the tasks.
Finally, It’s really important to allow your child to work independently at his or her own pace. Provide encouragement, but don’t give away the answers! It’s recommended that they spend an average of 20-30 minutes per session. We recommend that usage be kept to a reasonable level – not too short and not too long.
LEXIA (power up) - Middle school only, targeted English activities
Learning activities and games – tablet and PC friendly
Targeted learning activities based on their assessment in school using the app/programme on their IPads. This work/activities can be remotely accessed by the students using their same login details as school. This can be tracked and used to record progress and obtain next steps in each element of the English curriculum by their tutor.
Each student has already been given a letter with explicit instructions on how to login (see letter below) along with their username and passwords which have been recorded in all home school diaries.
https://auth.mylexia.com//mylexiaLogin
Espresso/discovery
These can be used by all phases as it covers Foundation, Key Stage 1 & Key Stage 2 levelled activities
Learning activities and games – tablet and PC friendly.
Each student has already been given a letter with explicit instructions on how to login (see letter below) along with generic username (student64930) and password (student) which have been recorded in all home school diaries
https://www.discoveryeducation.co.uk/login/eha/?service=espresso
Top marks
Top Marks can be used by all phases as it covers 3-14 year olds in all component elements of English.
Learning activities and Games – tablet and PC friendly.
Web based activities, categorised into age related expectations and then topics. Students select the activity and follow the instructions to complete.
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/3-5-years/letters-and-sounds
Games to learn English
This can be used by all phases, covering word and text based activities.
Learning activities and Games – tablet and PC friendly
Web based activities, mainly around vocabulary building and comprehension. This website reads all instructions and helps support lower level readers independently access the activities.
https://www.gamestolearnenglish.com
British Council
This can be used by all phases, covering all component parts of English.
Learning activities and Games – tablet and PC friendly.
Web based activities that covers all component elements of English. Students are required to pick the topic or activity type and then some of these have an option of choosing a level, some are just an activity. This website does not usually have a reading feature so students will have to have a good standard of reading to be able to access independently.
https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/games
Adapted Minds
This an be used by all phases reading (decoding, segmenting, blending and comprehension).
Learning activities and Games – tablet and PC friendly.
Web based activities that practice different reading skills. Students will need to choose a level (grade) at first and then they can work through a series of ‘lessons’. In these lessons it gives some vocabulary to practice (key words) to help you read the story. There is a speak feature with this. Then it goes onto a short story where again you can tap the word if you are stuck on it. Then there are a series of comprehension questions about the text.
https://www.adaptedmind.com/reading.php
Skills Forward
For Upper School students only Linked to FS curriculum – individual logins and assessment activities provide targeted ‘packs’ of work to complete based on their current level in each component element of English.
https://learn.forskills.co.uk/login/index.php?returnurl=https%3A%2F%2Flearn%2Eforskills%2Eco%2Euk%2F (all students in upper school that this learning resource is appropriate for already have their login details and are already accessing this in school and are able to access at home using the same login details. Usernames are kept by admin, Eric Klingenberg, and as admin and if any students have any problems signing in then he can remotely reset passwords.)
Phonicsplay
For Lower School and Middle School students, range of phonics activities.
Learning activities and Games – tablet and PC friendly.
Web based activities that practice different early reading/phonics skills. Students must choose which phase they are working on and then they can choose from a range of activities that work on sounds within that phonic phase.
https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/freeIndex.htm
Excellence gateway
For Middle School and Lower School students, building on reading and writing skills
Web based programme where students select a level (entry based) and then a topic/component part of English. There is a speech feature to support lower level readers’ access independently.
https://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/interactive-resources/literacy
- The Literacy Trust
- The Communication Trust
- Word Games
- Otherways of Speaking
- Artifice Design - Listening Videos
- Poems and Stories
- The Listening Skills Teaching Pack
- Reading books aloud
- Elevenses with David Walliams
- Speech and Language games
- Free Speech Therapy Materials
- Quia.com
- Tongue Twisters
The links below may also be of interest. We do not endorse any of these sites and cannot guarantee the quality of the content. However we are happy to signpost you to them in order for you to decide if any may be of interest to you and your family at this time.
Chatter Pack
https://chatterpack.net/blogs/blog/resources-list-for-home-learning
There are suitable activities for all students which can be accessed using the links below.
- Free spelling App - SirLinkalot
- KS1, KS2 resources - Literacy Shed
- Mindful poetry moments
- British Library - How to make a mini book
- Twinkl - Handwriting sheets / Letter formation
- Developing vocabulary and spoken language - Word games for families - Word aware Word games for schools - Wordaware. Thinking Talking
- A list of publishers offering free resources - The book seller
- Read great literature online - Free Ebooks, poetry, classic literature
- Read Free Literature - also includes study guides
- Free, fun reading games online
- 50,000 free ebooks - arranged by genre
- 3000 Ebooks and audiobooks - free for children of all ages
- Audible stories - Free during this period
- Open Library Access - Free
- Kids’ Poems and Stories with Michael Rosen - Free stories, poems, songs, and jokes - YouTube. Subscribe and only click on that name
- Houghton Mifflin Books - Learning activities based on numerous books
- Elamentari - Write and code interactive stories - free access during school closures
- Gutenburg - Download free books, e.g. Shakespear, Edgar Allen Poe, Frankenstein, etc.
- Solomon Kingsnorth - Free books in PDF, Word and audiobook format - Alice in Wonderland / Wind in the Willows / The Railway Children / The Jungle Book / Peter Pan / Black Beauty
- Reading aloud - Children can listen to stories being read aloud - YouTube
- Cambridge University Press - ALL 700 textbooks are currently available FREE in HTML format
- Hoopla - Public library online
- Creative writing resources - By Lou Enstone
- Trugs - Phonic reading games for all children, including those who cannot read or have dyslexia. Email: trugs@readsuccessfully.com for 20% off using cv2020
- Homework booklets by Garry Hammonds:
- Key Stage 3 - Dahl / Macbeth / Sachar / Dickens / Poe / Orwell / Steinbeck / Romeo and Juliet / Hunger Games
- Key Stage 4 - Creative writing / Nonfiction writing / Poetry – Nature / Personal / Society
- Dropbox files from Susan Strachan
- CrickerSoft - Reading and writing software for all abilities - Free during this period
- Core knowledge about GCSE literary texts which pupils should memorise: plot, characters, setting, context, themes, and key quotations
- Douglas Wise - GCSE English and English Literature resources
- A huge bank of IGCSE English resources
- Mr Bruff podcasts - Covering a range of English literature topics
- The Traditional teacher - GCSE English resources
- Driver Youth Trust - over 50 free resources, designed to help teachers get *all* of their learners engaged with reading, writing, communication
- Jane Considine "If schools in the UK close, I will be delivering daily English activities by video for pupils to complete at home. More details to follow. If you’re interested in your children getting involved"
- Love My Books - Creative, fun activities to support children's literacy
- Biff, Chip and Kipper books - online and audio
- David Walliams - One audio story every day - free
- Free online picture book activities - from books children might recognise - Anderson Press
- Peter Wharmby - Teaching resources - mostly audio of me talking about an aspect of English Language or English Literature - YouTube
- No Red Ink - builds stronger writers through interest-based curriculum, adaptive exercises, and actionable data
- Carter's Yard Phonics - Free access to Augmented Reality phonics cards - phonics and reading - images, text and ‘Zap codes' to view online and to print at home.
- Google Drive files - Shared by Ashley Booth
- Discovery Education - Free tool to make your own word puzzles
- The Reading Realm - Free home learning packs/book and library challenges/quizzes/discussion guides/games and stories written by children for children! You can also now draw/write your own stories, poems, reviews, diaries etc, in the app too
- TeachIt - KS3 resources / KS4 resources / KS5 resources / Home learning packs
- IXL - All ages, database of resources
- Epic - Free 30-day trial - instant access to a range of books (age 12 and under)
- Phonics Play - Free resources and a free trial
- Nessy - Help for children with Dyslexia - free trial
- Chris Grabenstein has given permission for teachers to video themselves reading his books online - royalty free
- CLPE - Free plans, videos, teaching notes for all year groups in primary
- EALhub - Home learning area
- EFL - Rivet - Free app recommended for those learning English
- Teach your child to read - free resources
- EAL Journal - List of resources
- The British Council - Learn English - English songs
- Audible - Free - Available in 6