For stress free, all plans included teaching (KS2 history): 
 http://www.kingdomofbenin.com/blog/benin-civilisation-study

and http://www.kingdomofbenin.com/blog/talking-grammar-punctuation-and-spelling.

Please share widely 

Special discount

For today only, this book has been reduced to £3.70 Click on it to view and purchase.

Towards Smarter marking

Here are more things we are doing to ensure effective use of teacher time.  I am amazed that not all schools are doing these already.  The resounding message is we must all be working smarter for maximum use of teacher time.

The days of long hours of marking till 11pm daily so OFSTED does not grade us  as 'Marking is ineffective.' should be dead and buried six feet under.

Here are two helpful blog links for more ideas on using teacher time more effectively:

Micheal Tidd: Why we've got marking wrong:
https://michaelt1979.wordpress.com/2015/11/05/why-weve-got-planning-and-marking-all-wrong-part-1/

https://michaelt1979.wordpress.com/2015/11/06/why-weve-got-planning-and-marking-all-wrong-part-2/

and Joe Kirby: Marking is a hornet:
https://pragmaticreform.wordpress.com/2015/10/31/marking-is-a-hornet/

Towards an impeccable behaviour

Here is link to Tom Sherrington (headgurutecaher) blog on helping students achieve excellent learning behaviour:  http://headguruteacher.com/2015/10/24/towards-impeccable-behaviour-phase-2/ 

 I like the 4 simple rules below which will work with any set of children and in any phase or setting.

Teachers will issue C1 warnings and C2 final warnings in class.  The rules are very simple:

·         Respond promptly to the signal for attention

·         Follow instructions from teaching staff when given

·         Remain on task as directed

·         Listen when others are speaking

The visual warnings displayed clearly for students to see remind them to refocus on the task at hand. I have found these work for my class particularly with any argument about 'I did not get any warning, you just sent me out.’

First Reader: Book 1

For ages 5+

With daily practice, this delightful book will get children reading fluently in two - six weeks.

Key features

• Builds on letter sounds knowledge
• Uses letter sound combination for word reading
• Uses enjoyable repetitive phrases which children find easy to remember
• Includes stories all children can relate to
• Includes popular traditional tales
• Includes comprehension questions on each story
• All the stories are contained in one book
• Can be used by anyone to teach a child to read
• Provides real value for money

Testimonials:

I used it with her over the Christmas holiday every day and she started to read well. Now all she wants to do is read books. Thank you for giving her the book. Mrs K.

My son finds reading very hard, he takes this book with him to bed every night and he is trying very hard with it. He reads the stories he knows well over and over again. This is improving his reading. Mrs A.

My cousin’s child used the book to learn to learn very quickly. All she does now is read and write all the time. Ms R

She loves the stories in the book; she says them off by heart. She likes to write the stories down from memory, this is making her writing better. Mr I

Click on the book to purchase from Amazon. 

TopChoice Tuition Centre

Topchoice Tuition Centre which operates from Copleston Centre, Copleston Road, Peckham South London, was established in September 2014 by Fidelia Nimmons, an experienced teacher and examiner to provide tuition to local students from Year 1 to GCE.

The centre’s aims include:

·        providing bespoke programmes of study for each student as identified by ongoing teacher assessment;

·        working with students to improve their current levels in English and mathematics;

·        providing books and activities which students can use independently at home;

·        working with parents to effectively support their children at home;

·        providing parents with strategies to work with their children at home.

Visit their website on the link below to find out more about their range of provision: http://www.topchoicetuitionuk.com/

National Key Stage 2 SATs key dates

Log onto the web link below for key dates for the National Curriculum Key Stage 2 Standards Assessment Test (SATs):
 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-stage-2-assessment-and-reporting-arrangements-ara/dates-and-deadlines-for-2014-to-2015#national-curriculum-test-timetable

You can purchase revision books written by an experienced examiner to help your students achieve levels 4 - 6 in the SATs on the links below:

English Grammar, Punctuation and Vocabulary test (SPAG): 

Amazon.Uk:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Revised-Punctuation-Spelling-Vocabulary-Practice/dp/1505948908/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423420859&sr=1-14&keywords=Fidelia+Nimmons

Amazon .com
http://www.amazon.com/Revised-Punctuation-Spelling-Vocabulary-Practice/dp/1505948908/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1423421075&sr=8-6&keywords=fidelia+Nimmons

Mathematics

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Mathematics-Revision-Practice-Book/dp/1505905230/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423420859&sr=1-9&keywords=Fidelia+Nimmons

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Mathematics-Revision-Practice-Book/dp/1505905230/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1423421075&sr=8-4&keywords=fidelia+Nimmons

National curriculum assessments: 2016 sample materials

 Download sample test papers from this web site: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum-assessments-2016-sample-materials

New History Curriculum from September 2014

Here are books written from firsthand evidence to support the new history curriculum on a non- European society that provides contrasts with British history: Benin.

Teachers books

These books provide historical information needed to teach this aspect of primary history including Kingdom of Benin timeline, Religion, food and childhood.

Fiction books

These books provide a window to learn about Kingdom of Benin Childhood experiences.  The books can be used for guided reading, paired reading or 1:1 activities in class or simply enjoyed by children during independent reading or historical enquiries.

Amazon Uk link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Benin+civilisation+Fidelia+Nimmons&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3ABenin+civilisation+Fidelia+Nimmons

Amazon.com link:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=fidelia+Nimmons+kingdom+of+benin+books

English Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling and Vocabulary practice book 6: Essential revision and practice pack with answers Levels 3 – 5

This revision and practise book covers all areas that will be tested at the end of primary school in the English test in Grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary test at levels 3 - 5. This is the Standard Assessment Test or the SATs as popularly known. Some harder questions aimed at level 6 have been deliberately included in the book to give further practice to pupils who are able; taken all together, completion of the exercises will not only help pupils perform well in their SATs, they will prepare them well for their work at secondary school and beyond. Each section provides background information on different word classes in sentence construction; examples of correct usage in both speaking and writing composition are included as are a variety of consolidation exercises. Completing the exercises will ensure that pupils gain fluency in both oral and written communications and know what to do if misunderstanding should occur during private or school work. The revision notes and exercises will also help pupils’ reading fluency. This book is also suitable for those new to the English language or learning English as an additional language and for private and home tutoring. 

You can purchase this book from Amazon on this link:

Amazon.co.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/English-Punctuation-Spelling-Vocabulary-practice/dp/1481986643/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368469019&sr=1-1

New Schools Netwrok

This network has been contracted by the DFE to look into the area of setting up, running and supporting free schools. 

If you are thinking of setting up a free school, here is the link to their web site with all the required information you will need:

http://www.newschoolsnetwork.org/

Kingdom of Benin website

Here is a one stop website which provides numerous cross curricular materials to meet the requirements of the new National Curriculum starting in September 2014.

These include:

·        Complete English books and Mathematics books written by an examiner and experienced teacher.

·        Key Stage 2 History books on Benin Civilisation.  

·        Links to teachers’ websites for great teaching ideas.

·        Links to students’ websites ideal for independent study and exam revision.
·        An e-Learning section covering all subjects.  On this page, scroll down to find the subject you require.

http://kingdomofbenin.weebly.com/teachers1.html

Parents will find this website a great help to support their children’s education at home.

The Tweeted Times

Turn your tweets into newspapers: http://tweetedtimes.com/

National Curriculum Assessments

Find the Standards and Testing Agency 2014 timetable for EYFS –KS2 National Curriculum Assessments on this link: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/n/2014_wallchart.pdf

Time table for primary national curriculum changes

Here is the link to the timetable for how primary national curriculum changes will affect teaching, reporting and assessment arrangements in maintained primary schools in England from 2013 to 2017: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/276634/Curriculum_and_testing_changes.PDF

Science webcasts

Plan a virtual visit for your class. Click on the link below to bring Q?rius into your classroom with Smithsonian Science How?,  a new way to tap into the National Museum of Natural History.

https://qrius.si.edu/jump/live-qrius-science-webcasts#.UxmJhD9_sue

English Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling and Vocabulary practice book 6: Essential revision and practice pack with answers Levels 3 – 5

This revision and practise book covers all areas that will be tested at the end of primary school in the English test in Grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary test at levels 3 - 5. This is the Standard Assessment Test or the SATs as popularly known. Some harder questions aimed at level 6 have been deliberately included in the book to give further practice to pupils who are able; taken all together, completion of the exercises will not only help pupils perform well in their SATs, they will prepare them well for their work at secondary school and beyond. Each section provides background information on different word classes in sentence construction; examples of correct usage in both speaking and writing composition are included as are a variety of consolidation exercises. Completing the exercises will ensure that pupils gain fluency in both oral and written communications and know what to do if misunderstanding should occur during private or school work. The revision notes and exercises will also help pupils’ reading fluency. This book is also suitable for those new to the English language or learning English as an additional language and for private and home tutoring. 

You can purchase this book from Amazon on this link:

Amazon.co.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/English-Punctuation-Spelling-Vocabulary-practice/dp/1481986643/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368469019&sr=1-1

Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/English-Punctuation-Spelling-Vocabulary-practice/dp/1481986643/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390900919&sr=1-1&keywords=English+Grammar%2C+Punctuation%2C+Spelling+and+Vocabulary+practice+book+6%3A+Essential+revision+and+practice+pack+with+answers+Levels+3+%E2%80%93+5

Let's Read, Write and Spell - Year R

Let’s Read, Write and Spell - Year R: For readers aged 4 -5 is aimed at reception class children. The focus of the book is developing early reading and writing skills using phonics. The book provides essential practise in:

• letter and number formation
• spelling simple words
• naming common objects
• reading simple stories

This book can be used at home or school and in Early Years settings.

114 pages

Price: £9.99

Available at:

Amazon.co.uk:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Read-Write-Spell-Complete/dp/149532995X/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_t_1_GR7H

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Read-Write-Spell-Complete/dp/149532995X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390749521&sr=1-2&keywords=let%27s+read%2C+write+and+spell

Price$14.25

Let’s Read, Write and Spell – Year 1

Let’s Read, Write and Spell – Year 1:  For readers aged 4 and 5 is a complete English Language programme for Year 1 which covers all areas of the New English National Curriculum for England (2014). It provides essential practice in:

·        Word reading,
·        Phonics and spelling
·        Grammar and Punctuation
·        Handwriting

The main aim of this book is use of phonics and spelling to help children focus on each part of a word and to secure their knowledge of how graphemes work in words. Working through this book will ensure that the learner is able to read most words in readiness for reading comprehension by Year 2.   

Reading and writing intervention teachers will find this book invaluable as will parents and other teachers. This book can used at home and school as a complete English programme.

110 pages

Price £9.99

Available at:

Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Read-Write-Spell-Complete/dp/1495214001/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390120370&sr=8-1&keywords=lets+read+write+and+spell+year+1

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Read-Write-Spell-Complete/dp/1495214001/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390120440&sr=1-1&keywords=let%27s+read+write+and+spell+year+1

Let's Read , Write and Spell - Year 2

Let’s Read, Write and Spell covers work for Year 2 (ages 6 - 7) in the new English National curriculum (2014).

It provides essential practice and revision exercises in:

•      Word reading and comprehension
•        Phonics and spelling
•         Writing

This book can be used at school or at home. It is suitable for the brighter Year 1 pupil or pupils in older year groups who need more practice in English usage and exercises.

78 pages
Price: £6.99

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Read-Write-Spell--Year/dp/1494923912/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389859647&sr=1-1&keywords=fidelia+nimmons

Amazon. uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Read-Write-Spell-Year/dp/1494923912/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1_YGNP