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Schools throughout the UK are closing to help slow the spread of coronavirus, but there are plenty of tools (both online and off) that can help your kids keep learning at home.
Your kids’ school will recommend tools, set work and provide resources so they can keep up with the National Curriculum, but these extra tools can help give their learning a boost and provide some variety while they’re out of the classroom.
If you’re feeling out of your depth, the BBC has put together a guide to supporting kids while they’re learning at home, full of useful tips and professional advice that’ll help you get through this difficult time.
If you’re a teacher or parent and have another resource to recommend for this guide, email downloads@techradar.com.
[IMG alt=“Divider”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rjy...JeDpNcYVEn.jpg
[IMG alt=“BBC Bitesize”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hJ8...5BKG6fKv9J.jpg
You might remember the BBC Bitesize website from your own school days, and it’s still going strong. There’s material here for kids of all ages, from reception all the way through to A-levels. It covers every subject your kids are currently studying, and as the name suggests it’s all presented in small, easily digestible chunks.
The activities and videos here are all tailored to support the National Curriculum, so you can be confident that your kids are covering the same material they would in class, with different content tailored for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Once they’ve completed a particular section, they can test their knowledge with an interactive quiz to make sure it’s stuck.
It’s great stuff, and will help them prepare for whatever coursework or remote exams they’ll need to complete in the coming months – and it’s all available free. There’s even careers advice available if your kids are in their final year, plus a support hub packed with advice from students and teachers.
[IMG alt=“Divider”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rjy...JeDpNcYVEn.jpg
[IMG alt=“BBC Teach”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7tx...tbY6tY2ZeE.jpg
There are lots of excellent learning resources available on YouTube, but separating the gems from the junk can be a huge task. With BBC Teach, you can be confident that every video your kids watch is well made and worthwhile. Forget the old BBC Schools programmes you might remember from your childhood (when the teacher would wheel out the old CRT TV on a trolley) – things have come a long way.
There are tie-ins with BBC series like Doctor Who, Springwatch and Blue Planet, and many of the videos are hosted by well-known BBC presenters who are skilled in holdings kids’ attention and making even complex topics fun and accessible.
You can watch without logging in, but signing up will allow you to keep track of which videos have already been watched
[IMG alt=“Divider”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rjy...JeDpNcYVEn.jpg
[IMG alt=“Khan Academy”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FLe...iViNL7ymF9.jpg
Khan Academy is a US-based site, and is structured around the American school system, but it’s packed with a huge amount of content that crosses over with the National Curriculum in the UK.
The arts and humanities content is quite different to what your kids would be taught in their own classrooms, but science and maths travels well, and the material on algebra, trigonometry and calculus are particularly good (especially if you’re a little rusty yourself).
All content on Khan Academy is free to use, though it’s a good idea to sign up for a free account so your kids can keep track of their progress. There are also mobile apps available for iPhone and Android, which they may prefer to the desktop site.
[IMG alt=“Divider”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rjy...JeDpNcYVEn.jpg
[IMG alt=“Duolingo”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vSX...YTYA8k4EBb.jpg
You might think of Duolingo as mainly a tool for adult learners who want to pick up a new language, but it also has lessons specially designed for school kids, which can really support their modern language classes.
While its desktop site is a handy starting point, Duolingo’s real selling point is its excellent mobile app (for iPhone and Android). It starts by assessing your kids’ current fluency, then helps them develop their skills by introducing words and phrases, with regular quizzes.
Duolingo covers both spoken and written conversation, and its quick, bite-sized lessons and instant feedback make it convenient and rewarding to use. It’s free too, which is truly remarkable.
[IMG alt=“Divider”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rjy...JeDpNcYVEn.jpg
[IMG alt=“The Artful Parent”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FX2...kNchcg4Ubh.jpg
Learning at home doesn’t have to be all about staying in front of a screen; The Artful Parent is a site packed with fun craft ideas to get your kids thinking creatively. Many of them are well suited to younger children, and are fantastic if your little ones are starting to get bored or anxious.
Whether it’s observational drawing, making sculptures from leaves or making your own playdough, each project includes a list of materials, ways to gently engage your child, and suggestions for follow-up activities.
There’s also advice on how to encourage creativity and confidence – skills that will serve them well in all their academic subjects – and ways to encourage them if they’re reluctant to start.
Other useful home schooling resources
[ul]
[li]3D Geography: printable paper templates for learning about geography[/li][li]KM Tuition: printable worksheets and past exam papers[/li][li]GamED Academy: learning through Minecraft (for a subscription fee)[/li][li]Code Studio: computer science activities and lessons[/li][/ul]
[ul]
[li]How Covid-19 can live on your phone, and how you can clean it[/li][/ul]
Continue reading…[/IMG]
Your kids’ school will recommend tools, set work and provide resources so they can keep up with the National Curriculum, but these extra tools can help give their learning a boost and provide some variety while they’re out of the classroom.
If you’re feeling out of your depth, the BBC has put together a guide to supporting kids while they’re learning at home, full of useful tips and professional advice that’ll help you get through this difficult time.
If you’re a teacher or parent and have another resource to recommend for this guide, email downloads@techradar.com.
[IMG alt=“Divider”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rjy...JeDpNcYVEn.jpg
[IMG alt=“BBC Bitesize”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hJ8...5BKG6fKv9J.jpg
You might remember the BBC Bitesize website from your own school days, and it’s still going strong. There’s material here for kids of all ages, from reception all the way through to A-levels. It covers every subject your kids are currently studying, and as the name suggests it’s all presented in small, easily digestible chunks.
The activities and videos here are all tailored to support the National Curriculum, so you can be confident that your kids are covering the same material they would in class, with different content tailored for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Once they’ve completed a particular section, they can test their knowledge with an interactive quiz to make sure it’s stuck.
It’s great stuff, and will help them prepare for whatever coursework or remote exams they’ll need to complete in the coming months – and it’s all available free. There’s even careers advice available if your kids are in their final year, plus a support hub packed with advice from students and teachers.
[IMG alt=“Divider”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rjy...JeDpNcYVEn.jpg
[IMG alt=“BBC Teach”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7tx...tbY6tY2ZeE.jpg
There are lots of excellent learning resources available on YouTube, but separating the gems from the junk can be a huge task. With BBC Teach, you can be confident that every video your kids watch is well made and worthwhile. Forget the old BBC Schools programmes you might remember from your childhood (when the teacher would wheel out the old CRT TV on a trolley) – things have come a long way.
There are tie-ins with BBC series like Doctor Who, Springwatch and Blue Planet, and many of the videos are hosted by well-known BBC presenters who are skilled in holdings kids’ attention and making even complex topics fun and accessible.
You can watch without logging in, but signing up will allow you to keep track of which videos have already been watched
[IMG alt=“Divider”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rjy...JeDpNcYVEn.jpg
[IMG alt=“Khan Academy”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FLe...iViNL7ymF9.jpg
Khan Academy is a US-based site, and is structured around the American school system, but it’s packed with a huge amount of content that crosses over with the National Curriculum in the UK.
The arts and humanities content is quite different to what your kids would be taught in their own classrooms, but science and maths travels well, and the material on algebra, trigonometry and calculus are particularly good (especially if you’re a little rusty yourself).
All content on Khan Academy is free to use, though it’s a good idea to sign up for a free account so your kids can keep track of their progress. There are also mobile apps available for iPhone and Android, which they may prefer to the desktop site.
[IMG alt=“Divider”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rjy...JeDpNcYVEn.jpg
[IMG alt=“Duolingo”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vSX...YTYA8k4EBb.jpg
You might think of Duolingo as mainly a tool for adult learners who want to pick up a new language, but it also has lessons specially designed for school kids, which can really support their modern language classes.
While its desktop site is a handy starting point, Duolingo’s real selling point is its excellent mobile app (for iPhone and Android). It starts by assessing your kids’ current fluency, then helps them develop their skills by introducing words and phrases, with regular quizzes.
Duolingo covers both spoken and written conversation, and its quick, bite-sized lessons and instant feedback make it convenient and rewarding to use. It’s free too, which is truly remarkable.
[IMG alt=“Divider”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rjy...JeDpNcYVEn.jpg
[IMG alt=“The Artful Parent”]http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FX2...kNchcg4Ubh.jpg
Learning at home doesn’t have to be all about staying in front of a screen; The Artful Parent is a site packed with fun craft ideas to get your kids thinking creatively. Many of them are well suited to younger children, and are fantastic if your little ones are starting to get bored or anxious.
Whether it’s observational drawing, making sculptures from leaves or making your own playdough, each project includes a list of materials, ways to gently engage your child, and suggestions for follow-up activities.
There’s also advice on how to encourage creativity and confidence – skills that will serve them well in all their academic subjects – and ways to encourage them if they’re reluctant to start.
Other useful home schooling resources
[ul]
[li]3D Geography: printable paper templates for learning about geography[/li][li]KM Tuition: printable worksheets and past exam papers[/li][li]GamED Academy: learning through Minecraft (for a subscription fee)[/li][li]Code Studio: computer science activities and lessons[/li][/ul]
[ul]
[li]How Covid-19 can live on your phone, and how you can clean it[/li][/ul]
Continue reading…[/IMG]