How to help at home

Even little changes can make a big difference!

You can help your child by:

• encouraging your child to be more independent, e.g. dressing themselves, making a list of things they need for school
• encouraging your child to talk about how they are feeling
• praising your child, whether for academic performance or for good behaviour
• reading with your child
• helping your child to develop their speaking and listening skills.

5 Top tips: Talk about reading

1. Make some time to read stories together (even 5 minutes a day is a good start).
2. Read with as much expression as possible.
3. Talk about the pictures, drawing attention to detail, e.g. how do you think he or she are feeling?, what is happening behind him/her?
4. Encourage your child to predict the story, i.e. what do you think will happen next?
5. When you've finished, ask them if they can retell the story - either to you or to another member of the family.

Some general tips

• Talk as you do your jobs around the house (this is sometimes the best time for children to talk to you about their concerns and problems).
• When you are out and about, point out things you see around you and chat about them.
• Watch films and programmes on television together and discuss them afterwards, e.g. What each of you liked about the programme, which character was most interesting? which bits were funniest/scariest?

Oxford Owl

Oxford Owl is a FREE website built to support you with your child’s learning.

To help you along the way, you’ll find age-specific reading and maths tips and activities, FREE eBooks, and lots of fun ideas to really bring your child’s learning to life. You will also find support and advice on a range of questions you may have – including helping your child with their phonics, motivating boys to read and ensuring your child is doing their best in maths.

Click on the link to access this website.

Espresso

To access Espresso from home you will need a PC or Apple Mac and a connection to the internet. You can then go to https://www.discoveryeducation.co.uk/resources/primary/espresso/ and enter your child's username and password. These login details are given to your child in school.  If your child does not have these details, please ask them to speak with their teacher.

Purple Mash

Purple Mash is a cross-curricular resource covering everything from Maths and English to Computing and Art. Your child can access Purple Mash from home on a laptop, desktop or a tablet. You can then go to https://www.purplemash.com/sch/shawclough and enter your child's username and password. These login details are given to your child in school.  If your child does not have these details, please ask them to speak with their teacher.

Times Table Rock Stars

Times Tables Rock Stars is a carefully sequenced programme of daily times tables practise.  Each week concentrates on a different times table, with a recommended consolidation week for rehearsing the tables that have recently been practised every third week or so.

To access TT Rock Stars download the app on iTunes and android, alternativley access on a PC or Apple Mac with internet connection. Follow the link below to the website: https://www.ttrockstars.com and enter your child's username and password.

 

If you would like to view some useful websites to help your child with their learning at home please visit the relevant curriculum pages.

https://shawcloughprimaryschool.schudio.com/Curriculum