Supporting Learning at Home
How to use Read Write Gold - how to use the software we use to support turning text into speech - a digital reader. This PowerPoint is dyslexia friendly, clutter free, dark text, contrasting background, Lexend font
Digital Learning Newsletter – The purpose of this newsletter is to give you further up to date advice on remote learning and share some information, some useful “hints and tips” and also point out some of the “pitfalls” with you.
Online Safety Policy – Westhill Academy
Westhill Academy X (Twitter) account
Introduction
Below, you will find information on:-
How to support Numeracy in S1-S3
How to support Literacy in S1-S3
Supporting Learning across the BGE – S1-S3
Learning how to learn – all year groups
Websites to support learning at home – general and subject specific including for S4-S6
Additionally, below is some background support and information:-
including Parents as Partners and Parent Council Information
b) What is Glow? (also describes Microsoft Teams, Scholar and our Faculty Twitter feeds): –Explanation here from our Digital Literacy working group.
c) Remote learning this describes the roles and responsibilities of learners and how parents can support remote learning
d) Read and Write Gold information
e) Instructions on how to use Glow email for pupils
1. How to support Numeracy in S1-S3
A guide for parents to support pupils with their numeracy skills in S1 – S3 can be accessed through this link:-
2. How to support Literacy in S1-S3
A guide for parents to support pupils with their literacy skills in S1 – S3 can be accessed through this link:-
3. How can you support learning at home- S1-3 Broad General Education (BGE)?
Our S1-3 Broad General Education (BGE) guides are designed to keep you informed about what types of learning your young person is likely to encounter in our different curricular areas. The guides also give you an indication of homework expectations and the skills being developed.
Moreover, the guides illustrate types of activities you could be doing with your child to support learning in each subject area – it really can be as simple as watching the news together, planning meals or discussing a topic that’s being covered in class.
Research, backed up by feedback from learners, indicates that families ‘taking an interest’ in learning in just these ways has a significant impact on progress.
The guides include useful hints and tips as well as highlighting relevant resources such as websites for you to access and use at home. We hope you find this useful in supporting your children in their learning.
The booklets were designed as a direct result of your feedback and input via questionnaires, focus groups and through our Parent Council.
This Information for Parents about the BGE is available here:-
S1BGE – Information for Parents
S2 BGE – Information for Parents
S3 BGE – Information for Parents
4. Learning how to learn
The science faculty are working on study skills and ‘retrieval practice’ as follows:-
The following learning/study techniques can be used after lessons to help pupils identify what they have understood and also any knowledge or skills which they are struggling with (and can then seek help at the earliest opportunity).
They are based on the idea that you need to practice retrieving information from your short-term memory to find out what they do actually know/understand.
The techniques can also aid the transferring of knowledge from the short-term memory to long-term memory.
More information on how to use the methods can be found in the various documents posted alongside this one.
Promoting learning strategies for success
Traffic Lighting (with a twist)
5. Websites to support learning at home
General Education websites
Twinkl https://www.twinkl.co.uk/offer
use code UKTWINKLHELPS for month of free resources
Khan Academy www.khanacademy.org
Especially good for maths and computing for all ages but other subjects at Secondary level. Note this uses the U.S. grade system but it’s mostly common material.
Seneca www.senecalearning.com
Written for those revising at GCSE or A level but can be used for Scottish curriculum. Tons of free revision content. Paid access to higher level material.
Openlearn www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue
Free taster courses aimed at those considering Open University but everyone can access it. Adult level, but some e.g. nature and environment courses could well be of interest to senior phase students.
Blockly https://blockly.games
Learn computer programming skills – fun and free.
Scratch https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/games/
Creative computer programming
Ted Ed https://ed.ted.com
All sorts of engaging educational videos
National Geographic Kids https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
Activities and quizzes for younger kids.
Duolingo https://www.duolingo.com
Learn languages for free. Web or app.
Mystery Science https://mysteryscience.com
Free science lessons
The Kids Should See This https://thekidshouldseethis.com
Wide range of cool educational videos
Crash Course https://thecrashcourse.com
You Tube videos on many subjects
Crash Course Kids https://m.youtube.com/user/crashcoursekids
As above for a younger audience
British Council https://www.britishcouncil.org/school-resources/find
Resources for English language learning
Big History Project https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home
Aimed at Secondary age. Multi disciplinary activities.
Geography Games https://world-geography-games.com/world.html
Geography gaming!
The Artful Parent https://www.facebook.com/artfulparent/
Good, free art activities
DK Find Out https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/…
Activities and quizzes
Fuse School https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS3wWlfGUijnRIf745lRl2A
YouTube education channel
Bright Red Digital Zone https://www.brightredbooks.net/subjects/
SFL
Scholar
Business and ICT
Scholar
Microbit
Scratch
Maths
Twitter https://twitter.com/MathsDeptWA
Username westhillac
Password three
www.sumdog.com – free access during a school closure
www.twinkl.co.uk/offer – free access during a school closure
Drama
BBC Bitesize (N5) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zrs3kqt
BBC Bitesize (H) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zgnv9j6
Revision https://performingartsmeldrum.wordpress.com/revision-pages-drama/
Music
BBC Bitesize (N5) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zkty4wx
BBC Bitesize (H) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z8hv9j6
Quizzes (H) https://mymusiconline.co.uk/national-5-quizzes
Flashcards https://quizlet.com/13222756/national-5-music-concepts-flash-cards/
Quizzes (H) https://mymusiconline.co.uk/higher
Revision https://performingartsmeldrum.wordpress.com/revision-pages/
Guidance
Bullying https://respectme.org.uk/
Cyber Safety https://ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
Diversity https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/what-we-do/about-us/equality-anddiversity/
Diversity http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sfxn7
this is a link to one of the programmes we often show called Autistic Superstars
Puberty http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/puberty.html
Drugs www.talktofrank.com
Alcohol and Drugs Action, Aberdeen (ADA): www.drugsaction.co.uk
Global Citizenship + Children’s Rights: www.unicef.org.uk www.oxfam.org.uk
Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration: www.scra.gov.uk
Sexual Health and Relationship Education (SHARE) http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/4946.aspx
YPI Scotland http://ypiscotland.org.uk/
Work experience https://www.workit.info/
CV’s / Personal Statements / Future planning https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/
Science
Twitter https://twitter.com/ScienceDeptWA
BGE (S1-3)
S1 and 2 https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zq8myrd
S3 https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zjk2fg8
Fuse School https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS3wWlfGUijnRIf745lRl2A
Biology
SQA https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/45723.html
Past papers https://mrssmithsbiology.wordpress.com/national-5-biology/sqa-past-papers-and-marking-instructions/
Course revision http://www.oronsay.org/Biology.htm https://mrssmithsbiology.wordpress.com/
BBC Bitesize (N4) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z3ykjxs
BBC Bitesize (N5) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zync87h
BBC Bitesize (H) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zm6tyrd
Scholar https://scholar.hw.ac.uk
Fuse School https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS3wWlfGUijnRIf745lRl2A
Chemistry
SQA https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/45720.html
Past papers http://www.chemistry-teaching-resources.com/PastPapers.html
Course revision http://www.chemistry-teaching-resources.com/
BBC Bitesize (N4) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zhvycdm
BBC Bitesize (N5) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zmnp34j
BBC Bitesize (H) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zjmtsbk
Scholar https://scholar.hw.ac.uk
Fuse School https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS3wWlfGUijnRIf745lRl2A
Physics
SQA https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/45729.html
Past papers https://mrsphysics.co.uk/n5/past-papers-for-national-5-physics/
Course revision https://mrsphysics.co.uk/
BBC Bitesize (N5) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z6fsgk7
BBC Bitesize (H) https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zpyb4wx
Scholar https://scholar.hw.ac.uk
Fuse School https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS3wWlfGUijnRIf745lRl2A
English
English work is available for S1-3 on the Glow English page in the folder “Snow Day School Closure”. There are both short tasks and more extended project work. All pupils are encouraged to keep up with personal reading and book, play and media reports can be downloaded from Glow. Pupils should also refer to their own class Teams for additional work set by their teachers.
Follow us on twitter @WesthillEnglish for book recommendations!