The channel 4 TV programme presents the case to improve literacy through an intensive programme in schools, yet head teachers are not all are comfortable with the process or outcome. It is supported by an article in the Sunday Times “Read my lips , I can fix our schools”

Critically the article mentions that once the code is broken a whole new world opens and learning becomes vastly easier. Observe any child that has cracked the code; generating a text message in seconds, playing a computer game at speed, operating a PC and the controls of the infamous video or DVD. The key process combines instruction and practice.

A respondent mentions the effect of SEE, HEAR and DO. Whereas See and Hear  can achieve 50% retention the National Training  Laboratory who completed the analysis revealed  the Do practice function achieves  75% retention of learning. As children spend just 15% of their wakening time at school there is a massive opportunity for parents to help in the practice opportunity at home. With modern teaching resources in the form of educational games engaging parents in fun activity at home is real possibility.

There are 7.4 m households with school aged children, and if a percentage becomes active with some guidance, wonders can happen. The easy response would be to say parents are not teachers, but as parents outnumber teachers by 16:1 (assuming 1 active parent per household) maybe some of the support that Ruth Miskin needs is facing the wrong way. Let teachers instruct (see and hear) and parents help practice at home ( do)

 

Alistair Owens

Keen2learn

One of the most exciting things a child can do is to look through a microscope. Designed to magnify the details by 200 time’s magnification a whole new world of detail suddenly emerges.

Everyday objects take on a whole new dimension and meaning and the natural inquisitive nature of children can open new worlds. Designed to be robust and inexpensive, the Proscope plugs into a laptop or desk-top computer to allow a group to see the object . No more taking turns to squint down the eyepiece, whilst listening to instructions as where to look for a particular detail, now everyone can join in.

In the last weeks of August we took the Proscope to the Derbyshire peaks, and met up with a fly! Not an uncommon occurrence, but we were able to check out the colour of his eyes, and yes it was a boy fly we were able to check that as well.

Take a look at the fantastic Proscope, it certainly helps with Dad ‘s stamp collection and assessing Mum’s “real” diamonds.

To compliment the extensive range of educational games toys and puzzles from keen2learn is a great site with a host of educational worksheets and teaching resources to help you plan a lesson or a game at home. For an annual fee of US$20 for a home or a site license for schools, you gain access to a wealth of downloadable worksheets. www.edhelper.com

Do you have a gifted child aged 9 -15 years old that would like to take part in TV challenge against adults.

BBC SEARCH FOR THE NATION’S FINEST

GIFTED AND CONFIDENT CHILDREN

Are you really clever?

Do you enjoy beating adults?

Are you really competitive?

THEN WE NEED YOU!

The BBC is currently looking for bright, confident and gifted girls and boys, aged 9 – 15, to take part in a brand new Saturday night entertainment show.

If you can help and want to know more please call

020 8222 4566

or email

TheKids@EndemolUK.com

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

We have been looking at a number of web sites that could be of interest to parents, teachers and children. This is one of the best we have seen. It includes a number of free on-line games you can play. Hours of fun and you are learning at the same time. Try the map game to locate the countries of Europe is a great way of learning where each member of the European union is. Then try the game against the clock. www.sheppardsoftware.com

This is what Shepard say about themselves; “We design educational software and on-line games with these goals: 1) To add sound and visual effects to make learning fun and more memorable. 2) To design games with many difficulty levels so that players will continue to be challenged no matter how far they progress. 3) To provide games that will exercise players’ brains”.

Check this great new web link