“Do you find yourself giving George a higher grade than his homework really deserves, because you know he needs the encouragement? Does Emma end up with a higher grade than other pupils might, just because you know she’s capable of doing better?” Read more

You have a clear idea of how a student should be progressing – but your assessment data tells a slightly different story. Is the problem with your data, your appraisal of the student’s abilities – or neither?

In our latest blog, we look at how to marry together meaningful data and relevant, personalised analysis and feedback to students.

Read our blog here

Find out how Doddle can help you do more for your students with a free in-school demonstration with one of our Education Consultants.

Joe
Doddle

Why do some pupils perform below average in Numeracy but are above average in all other subject areas?

When pupils cannot understand the fundamental concepts of Numeracy they cannot be expected to achieve similar attainment levels in their SATS to that of other subjects where the fundamental concepts have been grasped.

The most fundamental concept of Numeracy is that of number and having the ability to understand what a number is.

And I’m not convinced that any of us really know what a number is. We might think we do, but what we have done is given numbers our own meaning.

For example, if any of us are asked to explain “three”, we can’t. What we do is talk about “three sheep” or “three cars” – talking about the essence of “three” is very difficult indeed. We give the value or concept a meaning which is in essence nearly impossible to define.

Without this meaning we would find it hard to manipulate (add, subtract, multiply, divide) two undefined things to achieve a logical outcome.

And it may be that those pupils who have not assigned a meaning to a number, and hence have not understood the fundamental concept of Numeracy, have dyscalculia.

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty which results in a failure to be able to comprehend maths at the level one might expect for a person of the same age and mental ability.

The Dyscalculia Centre offers an online test for £49.95, on completion of which you will receive a report from one of the Centre’s educationalists on the pupil’s understanding of maths and whether it is likely that they have dyscalculia. The test can be paid for with a credit card or by forwarding a purchase order number

If dyscalculia is diagnosed you will receive a free copy of a set of materials that are appropriate to your pupil’s needs and which can be used to help overcome his/her mathematical problems.

The report may also suggest that the pupil should receive extra time in maths tests.

If you would like to know more please email admin@dyscalculia.me.uk or call 01536 399 000.

Our fax number for placing an order with a purchase order number is 01536 399 012.

You can order a test on-line at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=755

Samantha Bates

The Dyscalculia Centre

What is the most effective way of interesting your pupils in great artists and the development of art forms?

The new national curriculum for Art and Design at KS2 and KS3 requires students to produce creative work whilst exploring and recording experiences and developing their skills in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.

Pupils should also have the opportunity to evaluate and analyse their own and others’ work using art, craft and design language.

Arty Tasks is a new book of Art resources and in this regard is an ideal starting point. It incorporates step by step instructions for 35 separate projects each of which requires pupils to produce a piece of artwork based on the work of a selection of artists as diverse as Georgia 0’Keeffe and Joseph Cornell.

The pupils using the book are thus encouraged to use a wide variety of techniques and materials to create their artwork – and if desired each project can be used as a starting point for researching the historic content of the artists and art movements.

Each project comes on a single sheet of A4 and individual activities can thus easily be photocopied for your class to use as starter activities or homework tasks, either as one-off tasks or incorporated into longer projects. They can also be handed out for higher ability students to work more independently or used for extra-curricular activities.

Arty Tasks thus offers 35 creative projects which can be used simply as creative projects or as a way into research into a particular artist or art movement.

Arty Tasks, ISBN 978 1 86083 807 1, order code T1833EMN, is available as a photocopiable book or on CD Rom. An extract is available at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/art/T1833.pdf

Prices

• Photocopiable book, £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
• CD with school-wide rights: £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
• Both the Ring Binder and the CD £26.94 plus £3.95 delivery
• Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the book…

• By post from First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, NN17 4HH
• By fax to 01536 399 012
• On-line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=813
• By phone with a school order number or a credit card to 01536 399 011
• By email with a school order number to sales@firstandbest.co.uk

When ordering the book please quote the reference T1833EMN.

What is the most effective way of introducing early literacy skills in reception classes?

As a reception teacher you know that the children in your class learn when they are actively engaged in a play situation whilst interacting with other children or an adult

Clever Clogs use games and interaction with an adult and other children to provide the scaffold which allows each child to move forward and develop new competencies in early literacy

We have developed 2 boxes of games based on this principle, one for use in the classroom and one to engage parents at home.

The games also provide purposeful situations for dialogue and for the development of speaking, listening and thinking skills .

This box is for the classroom, there are 10 games for an adult to play with 3-4 children

scroll down on the link below for more information

http://www.cleverclogsgames.co.uk/early_literacy.php

This box contains 15 games for children to take home or for parents workshops

http://www.cleverclogsgames.co.uk/help_your_child.php

If you would like to place an order please click on the link http://www.cleverclogsgames.co.uk/orders.php

If you would like to try a sample of our games look through the games listed at the bottom of this page http://www.cleverclogsgames.co.uk/early_literacy.php and we will send it to you for a special price of £10.
Usual RRP £18.50 + P&P.