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So many of the events of the last year impact directly on specification issues – Cameron’s EU veto cuts across the board from our relationship with the EU to party politics; the Liam Fox affair reminded us of individual responsibility; strikes, protests and riots raised important issues; and there were even some telling by-elections. And across the pond in the USA the primaries and debt ceiling crisis were the highlights of a very interesting year.
The Reviews of Government and Politics cover all of these tumultuous events, and more – allowing your students to understand the relevance of events to the exams, and use up to date examples in their exam answers.
The exam-relevant events of 2011 UK Politics (UL79/4488)
Expenses and the judiciary; Barnsley and Oldham by-elections; local elections; AV referendum; devolution in Scotland and Wales; phone hacking; riots; electoral reform; 2011 conference reports; the Liam Fox affair; Cameron and the EU; strikes, unemployment
Special detailed examinations of: ‘Cameron’s 2011’; ‘Developments in Devolution’; ‘Strain within the Coalition’
‘What to look out for in 2012’
The exam-relevant events of 2011 USA Politics (UL79/4489)
Healthcare reforms under attack; debt ceiling crisis; death of bin Laden; Obama in Europe and Asia; Obama’s jobs plan; the 99%; corruption; Palin and Republican candidates
Special detailed examinations of: ‘Obama – a beleaguered President’; ‘The not-so-invisible primaries’; ‘The TEA Party in trouble?’
‘What to look out for in 2012’
‘Excellent to keep A Level students up to date with current affairs and link them with the syllabus… It is easy to access from the highest to lowest ability and the controversial political issues it raises… It helps stir up debate about the actions of government and links very closely with their specification… It is so up to date, easy to use… Good value for money, it gives students an edge… bringing them up to date with current affairs.’
Clare Green, Politics Leader & Customer
View inspection copies before you order at www.zigzag.at/UL79 (click on the preview button – the current editions may not yet be available for preview).
The AS and A2 Cochlin Reports: Reviews of 2011 Government and Politics are available as photocopy masters with site licences (£39 each). Also available in: easy-printing PDF files (add 30%+VAT) or PDF with editable Word files (add 50%+VAT).
Pre-order now at http://zigzag.at/UL79 (dispatched by end of January)
ZigZag Education, Unit 3, Greenway Business Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol BS10 5PY
t: 0117 950 3199 | f: 0117 959 1695 | govpolUL79@zigzageducation.co.uk
Give your promotional code UL79 to get free postage!
Measuring literacy standards and tracking progress is obviously a key issue, and there are a number of products and services around that offer this facility.
We have developed one such product which provides tests in an online or printable format with the results presented in easy to understand charts and tables for groups and individual learners.
Of course, what we could do here is write a significant amount about why our service is particularly good and give you lots of comments from other schools about how they have used it and why they think it is wonderful.
But of late we have realised there is a much quicker and simpler way of showing you just how useful our literacy assessments are.
We will offer you 25 literacy assessments free of charge. You simply print out the assessments or ask your students to undertake them, and then get the results back immediately.
There’s nothing to pay at all, and you get the full set of results, not an abbreviated version.
To take advantage of the offer, just click here https://www.literacyassessment.co.uk/reading/, and you will be able to use the assessment program at once.
Teach ICT Ltd
Company number: 05855261
1 Ffordd y Felin
Trefin
Haverfordwest
SA62 5AX
info@literacyassessment.co.uk
01348 837241
Choose a FREE e-book worth £9
Easylearn produces a popular range of downloadable literacy and numeracy worksheets especially suitable for Special Needs and Inclusion.
Some 30 of our e-books are priced at just £9. We’d like to offer you £9 off any order you place, so you can choose any £9 book free of charge. There is no catch: your order can be of any value so if you order a book worth £9 it will cost you nothing and if you’d like a book priced at more than £9, you can still get the £9 off. You can download your book almost immediately.
To take advantage of this offer, go to www.easylearn.co.uk and choose the book you want. When you come to the checkout, enter the coupon code JJKBP3123 to get your £9 off. You will then get an email with the download link.
Regards
Graham Lettice
Easylearn Ltd
PO Box 720,
Truro,
TR1 9GE
www.easylearn.co.uk
Is your school wasting electricity at nights and weekends?
Fed up with broken classroom chairs…here’s the solution!
Efficiencies that save £1000s a year
Old Computer Equipment Recycling Service
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Is your school wasting electricity at nights and weekends?
www.crucible-technologies.co.uk
Crucible Technologies, 11 Glaisdale Road, Northminster Business Park, York YO26 6QT
Email: sales@crucibl-technologies.co.uk
Phone: 01904 792211
Most organisations waste energy due to staff leaving appliances ON overnight or at weekends. Energy monitoring can help reduce energy usage and costs.
The PowerEYE500 can help identify this and help change user behaviour.
PowerEYE 500 YouTube – see how quickly this product can be deployed.
If you would like to receive our Energy Saving Newsletter with the latest energy saving ideas then please subscribe to our mailing list.
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Fed up with broken classroom chairs…here’s the solution!
www.centraleducational.co.uk
Central Educational Supplies Ltd. PO Box 999, London E14 6SH
Email: centraleducational@yahoo.com
Phone: 020 7515 1797
Fax: 020 7515 4420
The Postura chair has a TEN year “fair wear and tear” guarantee AND it’s made in the UK. Save yourself hassle, time and money! See our website for details or phone 020 7515 1797
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Efficiencies that save £1000s a year.
www.admin.org.uk
School of Education Administration, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Rd., Corby, Northants NN17 4HH
Email: prospectus@admin.org.uk
Phone: 01536 399 007
Fax: 01536 399 012
When the School of Education Administration launched its School Efficiency courses no one quite knew which efficiencies schools would report.
But now we’ve seen it in action, and the savings schools are making are really extraordinary.
Among the most dramatic savings being achieved through efficiencies are those made to school meals arrangements, the way photocopying is organised, IT provision, school cleaning contracts and the movement to an automated text system.
The next 10 week Certificate in School Efficiency course (taught by distance learning) closes its intake of students on 30th January. The course commences on 6 February. It costs £249 plus VAT.
The next on year Diploma in School Efficiency course will also close its intake of students on 30 January with the course commencing on 6 February 2012.
There are still some places available on both courses.
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Old Computer Equipment Recycling Service
www.prmgreentech.com
PRM Green Technologies Ltd, 19 Kimberley Business Park, Kimberley Way, Brereton, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 1RE
Email via form at www.prmgreentech.com/contact.htm
Phone: 0800 840 9195
We collect redundant computer equipment (PC base units, CRT monitors, TFT monitors, servers, laptops, server racks, switches, telecom switches and printers) for recycling, ensuring all data is removed and adherence to the WEEE directive by offering industry leading environmental practices.
As we all know it can be a big leap from Key Stage 3 Art to Key Stage 4 when much greater independence is expected. This book is designed to encourage the transition to such independence from early on.
The book comprises project sheets have been especially developed for Key Stage 3 by a practising Art teacher with the focus on getting pupils to be more independent in their research by giving them the opportunity to choose, select and make decisions and to become independent enquirers and learners. In this way pupils find that by year 9 their knowledge and experience of using a range of materials is in place allowing year 9 to be a transition into the independence of enquiry and research that is required for a successful year 10.
The project sheets cover topics ranging from pop art to wire sculptures, from Leonardo da Vinci to Van Gogh. “How to” sheets and templates are included allowing teachers to make the most of the resource.
Art Aid is available as a black and white copiable book with an accompanying CD containing the text of the book plus some of the projects in colour.
ISBN: 978 1 86083 789 0
Price: £24.95 for the book and CD, plus £3.95 postage.
You can order in four different ways. In each case please quote our reference T1764emn. Sample pages and a contents list can be viewed prior to ordering on http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/art/T1764.pdf
By post to First and Best, Hamilton House Mailings plc, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Rd., Corby, Northants NN17 4HH
By fax on 01536 399 012
By phone with a credit card or with an official school order number on 01536 399 011
On line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=740
This 100 page set of revision notes for GCSE Geography, Unit 1, Dynamic Planet (written specifically for EDEXCEL B but suitable for all students studying the topic) is probably the most remarkable and good value for money download we have ever published.
The 100 pages of notes come with dramatic and beautifully prepared colour illustrations that bring the “dynamic planet” to life at each stage of the student’s revision.
The work is divided into eight topics…
Restless Earth
Climate and Change
Battle for the Biosphere
Water World
Contrasting Coasts
River Processes and Pressures
Oceans on the edge
Extreme Climates
Throughout there are summary points such as “what you need to know” and “key terms” so that students can see at once the key points of their study, and ensure that they have the basics before moving on to more complex issues.
There are also sets of headline pointers and questions, following by “key points”. For example, headings include:
How do we know that the plates move?
The different types of plate boundaries and the hazards they create
Destructive plate boundary…
Predicting Volcanoes
This book is so beautifully illustrated, and so amazingly comprehensive that it really needs to be seen. There are sample pages at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/authordownloadsamples/T1769samples.pdf
GCSE Geography, Unit 1, Dynamic Planet is published as a download so that you can receive immediately a copy onto your computer which you can print out for colleagues as often as you want. You can also put it on your school learning platform so all staff can access the document – and indeed you can make it part of the induction documentation for new members of staff.
You can obtain GCSE Geography, Unit 1, Dynamic Planet by going to http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=745
The price is £10 plus VAT (the VAT can be reclaimed in most cases by the school).
GCSE Geography, Unit 1, Dynamic Planet is published by First and Best in Education, part of the Hamilton House group. If you have any enquiries you can call 01536 399 011, or email sales@firstandbest.co.uk or write to us at First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Rd., Corby, Northants NN17 4HH.
The full range of First and Best books can be seen at www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk
First and Best in Education
Earlstrees Road
Corby
NN17 4HH
Website: www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk
Email: sales@firstandbest.co.uk
On the night of 22nd April 1993, the black teenager Stephen Lawrence was stabbed by a gang of youths near a bus stop in Eltham, South London. On 4th January 2012, two men were imprisoned for his murder. The 18 years between these two dates has seen a huge change in race relations in the UK.
To help your students understand the impact of the Lawrence case on UK race relations, we’ve produced a one-off presentation for you to download and use with your Citizenship students.
To download this free presentation, go to: http://www.boardworks.co.uk/citizenship_695
Featuring an animated account of key events from the case, including what happened on the night Lawrence was murdered and the subsequent findings of the Macpherson Report, these resources also place the case in the wider context of race issues in the UK.
Ending with a group or whole-class discussion activity about how diversity and tolerance should be taught in schools, these resources form a comprehensive introduction to one of the most influential legal cases in recent UK history.
Regards
The Boardworks Citizenship team
It is a fact that there are a variety of school laptops available at quite remarkable discounts at the moment.
That’s the benefit – the only downside is that there are always a limited number of the laptops available at the lower price.
But this is not the case for our current offer on the HP 630 Intel Core I3 4gb 500gb (the full name of the machine which takes up a couple of lines is given below).
It normally costs £599 but is currently on offer for £340 (after £50 cashback). Better still, the discount does NOT come at the expense of the guarantee. There’s a three year HP warranty & free carry case.
There’s also an optional extra offer for added protection: the HP/Symantec Norton Internet Security 1 User – 3 Year License – QD287, £30 for 3 years. This is an extra but even this is at a discount, for it is normally £30 for 1 year.
And in fact if you are interested you can buy this anti-virus program on its own.
The full description of the machine is the HP 630 A1F78ES Intel Core I3-370M 4GB 500GB DVDRW 15.6TFT HDMI BT CAM CARRY CASE Win 7HP with 3 Years HP Warranty (only 1 year if bought elsewhere).
In order to receive the discount, all you need to do is quote “eshot offer 21”.
There are more details at http://www.technoworld.com/HP_630_A1F78ES/62198/product.aspx and details of all the Terms and Conditions online, and there are details of the cash back on www.hpcashback.com/uk/laptop/claim/family-30/
If you have any questions please call 08444 820 111.
You can order the HP 630 in either of these ways:
By phone: 08444 820 111
By fax on: 0208 200 6777
By email at education@technoworld.com
An average of 18.6 per cent of 15-year olds in the UK fail to read at the level at which they can “understand, use and reflect on written texts”, according to the last Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) tests.
The recent Eurydice report (which analyses education systems and policies across 33 European countries) suggests that the best way to improve present reading standards is for primary literacy lessons to have a greater emphasis in reading comprehension.
In terms of comprehension, take this classic short poem:
“Algy met a bear,
A bear met Algy,
The bear was bulgy,
The bulge was Algy.
Most people who read this will understand Algy’s grisly fate, but there is nothing in the text that says Algy has been eaten. It is inferred – and that ability to infer has to be learned.
Comprehension is crucial to get pupils to the next step: reading for fun. When children enjoy reading, read diverse material and adopt reading comprehension strategies, they can attain a higher level of performance in reading.
Similarly, disadvantaged students who read a diverse range of texts and employ effective reading strategies tend to perform well in reading.
This is why we have developed ‘Comprehension in Themes’ for Year 3 to Year 6. Each photocopiable book contains a diverse collection of fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts grouped in themes suitable for the age groups covered.
The exercises can be used to prepare children for SAT style tests and can be matched to themes the class may be studying at the time or used on a weekly basis.
The question pages are split into three sections. Section A gives an overview of the text with missing words or phrases to find. Section B contains open-ended questions requiring inference and deduction. Section C is a relevant written challenge for more able pupils or those who work quickly.
Paper and electronic versions of the books are available.
If you’d like to see exactly how we have tackled this issue there are free sample pages available from our website. Click here for Year 3, here for Year 4, here for year 5 and here for year 6.
If you would like to know more please call 01772 863158
Or email enquiries@topical-resources.co.uk
You can order in any of these ways:
Online at the above web links
By phone on: 01772 863158
By fax: 01772 866153
By email: Sales@topical-resources.co.uk
By post: Topical Resources, P.O. Box329, Broughton, Preston, Lancashire PR3 5LT
GREAT TEACHING SPACES IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
AT GREAT PRICES!
All of our outdoor classrooms are built to order, which provides the opportunity to configure the design to meet your requirements. Whilst bench seating and wheelchair access comes as standard a range of options are available, which include activity tables, dropdown canvas panels and chalkboards. During the school day the outdoor classroom provides an all-weather outdoor space and at playtimes the structure can be used as a quiet area. At the end of the school day it can become a covered parent waiting area.
www.playintheshade.co.uk
Email: info@playintheshade
Imagine a tray unit. You probably use it for storing trays. Which is good, since that is what tray units are built for.
So why my question?
Quite simply because a well-designed tray unit should do something else – something rather special – as well as storing trays.
It works as a display area as well as a tray unit.
For our tray units come with a unique design which allows children’s work to be put on display and makes it easy to have the display changed regularly.
You can even add shelving (which we also supply) so that you have even more flexibility with your display.
Then, if you wish, you can move the tray unit away from the wall (after all no one has ever said that tray units have to be placed against the wall) and use the pin-board on the back on the shelving – thus extending the effect.
And, since the back panel also includes a magnetic ceramic whiteboard which lets you use magnets to mount artwork, it seems a shame not to use it.
“But when can I have it?” you may ask – and a very reasonable question it is too. The answer is that we deliver our tray units within two weeks. Guaranteed.
There is more information on our display and tray units at: http://www.communityplaythings.co.uk/products/shelving/tray/index.html
We have a wide range of grit bins, in a variety of sizes, colours and designs. We guarantee we have something for everyone, whether for home use or large industrial areas. Remember – all these products come with FREE Delivery.
Small Grit Bins
Small grit bin with 30 litre capacity supplied with 25 Kgs of salt and a scoop. Available in mottled grey, forest green and in black which is made from recycled material.
It is ideal for homes, shops and small business premises and doubles up as a step, stool and secure storage box.
Lockable Grit Bins
Manufactured from tough, medium density UV stabilised polyethylene, our grit bins come with capacities of 100, 200 & 400 litres
Fitted with a locking hinged lid to protect contents from the elements, they will not discolour or deteriorate through long term exposure to the elements.
Heavy Duty GRP Grit Containers
Extra heavy duty GRP grit containers with capacities from 200 to 1500 litres. Options include a steel base for stable footing or frame with castors for mobile use.
Boxes are stackable for easy storage and transport and are fitted with “vandal-resistant” lids.
Just £54.99 delivered including
scoop and salt From £74.99 delivered From £219.99 delivered
New for 2011: Economy Grit Bins from £84.99 delivered
New economy range of grit bins with capacity of 200 or 350 litres. Colour options of yellow or forest green.
Sturdy construction with “GRIT” clearly embossed on lid, fitted with forklift pockets for easy movement. These units stack easily for storage and transport. Optional hasp & staple for use with padlock (not included).
Prices from £84.99 + vat, delivered. Bulk discounts available.
Seltek Warehouse (A Division of NetSecrets Ltd)
Ayrton House, Buntsford Park Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 3DX
Tel: 01527 571733 Fax: 01527 557122
Email: info@selteksolutions.co.uk
VAT Registration Number 747 4911 07, Company Registration Number 04439226
Unique material, focussed exam training and orginal sources with mock exams on the development of penicillin.
GCSE OCR A Exam Preparation Pack
Historical Source Investigation Summer 2012 (Penicillin)
Totally focused on maximising exam performance, this resource contains all the exam preparation material that students need for the Summer 2012 exam.
Revision Material & Notes:
Clear and concise notes cover all the content students need on this year’s special topic – more in-depth than the textbook!
Mind maps emphasise relationships between information – supporting structured thinking and revision.
Sources Exam Skills Training:
Imaginative ‘see-saw’, ‘timeline’ and ‘tiles’ activities provide specific strategies for answering OCR’s common question types
AfL and peer-marking activities focus students on how to improve their grades
Progressive tasks with examiner’s commentary and ‘your turn’ sections provide differentiated levels of support
Original sources on Florey, Chain and Fleming, carefully selected to match OCR’s question style.
Mock Exams:
Students put what they have learnt into practice
2 full mock exams with mark schemes included.
For a preview of last year’s resource (by the same author) and to pre-order for early February, see: zigzag.at/penicillin-UL75
(and don’t forget to quote UL75 for FREE POSTAGE)
The GCSE OCR A Exam Preparation Pack is available as Photocopy masters, PDF files and editable Word files.
You can pre-order (please reference UL75 when placing your order for FREE POSTAGE)
By phone: 0117 950 3199
By post: ZigZag Education, Unit 3, Greenway Business Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol BS10 5PY
By fax: 0117 959 1695
By email: History-UL75@zigzageducation.co.uk
Via the website: zigzag.at/penicillin-UL75
Details of all History resources are given at http://zigzageducation.co.uk/order.asp?userid=History&link=ul75
Enjoy Your English is a compendium of teaching activities and approaches written specifically for students learning English as a second language. It provides engaging work that generates sustained enthusiasm and effort all round.
Throughout, the focus is on learners finding the activities enjoyable in themselves. This allows the assimilation of vocabulary to take place informally, as happens in ‘real-life’ experiences.
Developing this theme many of the activities provide real-life experiences in the classroom setting. It is understood that formal presentation of the grammar and vocabulary will happen at other times – this work involves using the language in everyday situations building on the language that young people hear and see all around them every day.
In addition the book offers guidance such as: An A to Z of Ways to Explore a Text – Quick Reading Activities – Vary Those Writing Tasks – Ten Teaching Techniques That Work. Every activity is presented in a style and format that make it easy and straightforward to put into practice. Open the book, select an activity, and do it – or fit it into your scheme of work.
This resource contain 66 copiable masters which are available as PDF downloads or as a PDF or editable Word files on a CD. The price of £39.99 + VAT is the same for all formats.
Once purchased the CD can be freely copied and networked throughout the school.
To see sample pages please email sales@classroom-resources.co.uk quoting the order code 5324.
You can order Enjoy Your English in any of these ways:
On our website
By phone on 0117 940 6409
By fax on 0117 940 6408
By email (quoting a school order number) to sales@classroom-resources.co.uk
By post to: Classroom Resources, PO Box 1489, Bristol, BS99 3QJ
Introducing an exciting new edition of the
index for inclusion
developing learning and participation in schools
Written by Tony Booth and Mel Ainscow
3rd edition, substantially revised and expanded
Includes CD
A green edition for a sustainable planet
A new curriculum for schools
Previous edition translated and adapted for use in 39 countries.
Essential for anyone interested in the principled development of schools.
CSIE price: £39.50 (RRP £65) + £4.50 p&p
The Index is an accessible, flexible and practical resource for school self-evaluation and improvement.
The review materials are organised around sets of indicators and questions.
The Index encourages staff, children and young people, families and communities to work together in reviewing all aspects of cultures, policies and practices in their school.
The Index draws together interventions in education to do with environmental sustainability, global citizenship, health promotion, democracy, values, rights and non-violence.
Index can help schools to:
put their own framework of values into action
create a detailed self-review and school improvement strategy
sustain the changes that are made
empower adults and children to voice their ideas
improve the school for staff as well as for children and families
minimise barriers to learning and participation
integrate work on community, global citizenship,
sustainability, rights, health and values
present to governors and inspectors a clear
rationale for development.
Staff in primary and secondary schools that have worked with the revised Index said:
“Thought provoking, incredibly useful, challenging document.”
“The Index had a really positive impact on our work. It made us think more clearly about things we had assumed were in place.” “It is a fantastic tool for sharpening your thoughts and focusing your efforts.”
To order your copy, please email the following information to admin@csie.org.uk
Priority order code HHIfI3950
Index for inclusion: developing learning and participation in schools
Number of copies required:
Your Name:
Contact telephone no:
School Name:
School Address :
Invoice Address:
(if different from above)
Purchase order no:
(if applicable)
CSIE price: £39.50 each (RRP £65) + £4.50 p&p for up to 2 copies
Total cost:
SAFE CIC and CEOP (the Child Exploitation and Online Protection) Centre are working in partnership to promote SID 2012 (Safer Internet Day). We are both giving away free resources for schools to make this the best SID ever.
Visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents for details.
CEOP also provide excellent free teaching resources and activities which can all be downloaded at http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/teachers
You can also download SAFE’s comprehensive free E safety App and leaflet at http://www.safechilduk.info/esafety_flowchart.htm
For further details or to find out about our Child Protection Training packages for schools (not available on our website), please contact us:
marc.t@safecic.co.uk
Tel: 01379 871091
www.safecic.co.uk
Safer Activities for Everyone CIC (SAFE). A company registered in England 7855719. Registered Office: Chestnuts Farm, Langton Green, Eye, Suffolk IP23 7HL
A problem faced by students lies in the fact that core philosophical arguments are very often buried in discursive text and can be difficult to discern. This resource book of philosophical arguments presents and discusses such arguments, and where relevant looks at individual philosophers, in a way that is accessible and comprehensible to students. After each argument there is an explanation – where necessary – of each part of the argument, followed by discussion of any problems or issues arising. Finally there are questions and points for discussion.
Philosophical Arguments by Paul Hill is written primariy for students who are taking the AQA AS level course in philosophy. It covers the modules concerning Theory of Knowledge, Moral Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion.
Some of the material on God and Moral Philosophy will also be useful to students of A level Religious Studies whose course includes some Philosophy of Religion and Ethics. Of particular relevance are sections on: arguments for the existence of God; faith, reason and belief; religious experience; God and morality; miracles.
There are sample pages from the photocopiable book at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/re/T1706.pdf
Publisher’s reference: T1706EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 771 5
Prices
Photocopiable book: £25.95 plus £3.95 delivery
CD with school-wide rights: £25.95 plus £3.95 delivery
Both the book and the CD: £32.94 plus £3.95 delivery
Prices include VAT.
You can purchase the report… please quote the order ref: T1706EMN
By post to First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Way, Corby, NN17 4HH
By fax to 01536 399 012
On line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=41&products_id=536
When one pauses to think about it, the answer must be “quite a lot”. Colleagues who are motivated, who enjoy their work in the school, and who are willing to go the extra mile, are bound to get more out of their pupils and students than those who are not so motivated.
Enthusiasm, drive and determination are infectious. If a teacher feels good about the job and everything around it, then obviously that will encourage those in the classroom to do more work.
Such observations are easy to make. But it is nevertheless the fact that the overwhelming majority of schools in the UK don’t engage in any sort of programme that focuses on raising teacher morale and then maintaining it, once a high level of morale has been achieved.
Rather, the dominant view has come to be, “teachers are professionals and we expect professionals to work hard and do their best.” In other words it is generally not considered the school management’s job to consider the morale of teachers.
Although this is a widespread point of view the fact remains that, in organisations where the morale of the professional staff is considered, results increase.
Perhaps one of the biggest problems is that it is not immediately obvious to most school managers exactly how one goes about raising teacher morale. After all, one doesn’t want to pry into a colleague’s private life, and one certainly doesn’t want to make overt statements to colleagues which suggest that morale in the staffroom is not as high as it might be.
And yet there is a whole range of strategies available for raising teacher morale which have been used with success in a number of schools and which can be introduced into any school.
These strategies, along with a detailed study of the issues that affect teacher morale and how a broader policy of maintaining high morale can be achieved, are all detailed in the volume “Raising Teacher Morale in a World of Change.”
The volume comes in copiable form, so that several managers can consider the approaches at once and then meet together to discuss them. It is also available on CD so that again it can easily be shared with colleagues.
Publisher’s reference: T1600emn; ISBN: 978 1 86083 648 0
Sample pages can be viewed on: http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/education/T1600.pdf
Prices
- Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £49.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- CD with school-wide rights £49.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- Both the Ring Binder and the CD £56.94 plus £3.95 delivery
Prices include VAT.
You can purchase the book…
Creating a new form time activity each week is not necessarily difficult, but it can take time, and it is occasionally the case that form time is not used as fully as it might be..
Of course there are many form time programmes that have been produced commercially – but with these it is not always clear what one will get if making a purchase.
Which is why we offer all our form time activities on a free trial basis. What’s more, if you ask for a trial, you get to choose which lessons you see – not the ones we have chosen for you. And, if you like our resources, we have now halved the price of an annual subscription for unlimited access for the whole school.
We’ve created a series of KS3 and KS4 form time plans that can be used throughout the year. Each includes a PDF overview and a PowerPoint presentation.
Topics currently include…
Active careers (2 activities)
Alcohol (12 activities)
Credit crunch (6 activities)
Critical consumers (4 activities)
Democracy (7 activities)
Diversity (3 activities)
Economic ideas (7 activities)
Enterprise (5 activities)
Enterprise and the community (3 activities)
Enterprise skills (3 activities)
Gap year introduction (4 activities)
Gap year volunteering (2 activities)
Human rights (7 activities)
The media (6 activities)
Options in year 9 (7 activities)
Prejudice (4 activities)
Revision (4 activities)
SkillsActive professional skills resources (6 activities)
The stock exchange (4 activities)
Preparing for work (5 activities)
Thinking about work (3 activities)
If you would like to have the resources for a completely free 14 day trial, with no obligation to buy, please visit http://www.teaching-resources-uk.com And if you would like unlimited access to all our resources for the whole school we are now offering this at £249.99 (annual subscription) – just follow the link that says “join now”.
In a recent survey almost 90% of respondents had seen a decrease in support provided by their Local Authorities. Due to this lack of support, schools have seen a vast increase in workload for administrative and management staff with reduced opportunities for continued professional development within the school.
Schools are encouraged to do more locally and the traditional support networks are struggling to cope. The result is that schools are often left with unanswered questions and with little or fragmented advice on what to do and when. One thing is for sure; it’s getting harder doing it the old way and 2012 promises to be even more challenging.
TES PropertyPrefect in association with NASBM bring you a series of FREE to attend web classes showcasing TES PropertyPrefect system that will help with these along with other management issues. The first class begins on Monday 16th January at 10am comprising a number of useful topics.
We’ll be starting with an overview of TES PropertyPrefect Activities highlighting:
the 80 predefined templates typical to a school for you to chose from
creating your own so you can tailor them to your school,
building an evidence base to prove to the auditors that you’ve been doing the activities required
building business continuity with more effective management of your site team
reducing the administrative overhead.
Limited places are available at www.propertyprefect.com/webclasses.
“I think it’s a fantastic online premises/health and safety management tool. It is effective, simple and user friendly and something that my caretaker is also very happy to use.” Sam Wells, School Business Manager – Eldene Primary School
“Both I and my Site Manager both feel that the product will be a really useful tool to help us manage our premises effectively.” Liz Luxton – School Business Manager – Birchwood High School
“PropertyPrefect provides the reassurance I need that we’re doing everything that should be done.” Anne Arrandale – Headteacher, Reedings Junior School
“…it’s a really good quality product for Academies.” Dave Taylor, Facilities & Media Development Manager – RSA Academy
“It scratches an itch that every school has! We’d looked around a lot for a system for us and there’s nothing like PropertyPrefect out there.” Matthew Wheeler, Business Manager – Hodge Hill Sports & Enterprise College
“PropertyPrefect help schools to deliver more effective premises management, whilst also flagging up compliance issues in a timely manner. Our members who are currently using the system have high praise on the time reduction achieved and the simplicity.” Bethan Cullen – NASBM
Alternatively, if you’d like your own personalised and interactive tour of the system book a date and time at www.propertyprefect.com/onlinedemo.
Warm regards
Adam Watson | TES PropertyPrefect Director
m: 07920 224504 | Office: 0203 194 3004 | e: adam.watson@tes.co.uk
www.propertyprefect.com | twitter.com/propertyprefect | facebook.com/propertyprefect
PropertyPrefect is a Registered Trademark of Sandgate Systems Limited (part of TSL Education Limited, owners of TES)
It is a fact that there are a variety of school laptops available at quite remarkable discounts at the moment.
That’s the benefit – the only downside is that there are always a limited number of the laptops available at the lower price.
But this is not the case for our current offer on the HP 630 Intel Core I3 4gb 500gb (the full name of the machine which takes up a couple of lines is given below).
It normally costs £599 but is currently on offer for £340 (after £50 cashback). Better still, the discount does NOT come at the expense of the guarantee. There’s a three year HP warranty & free carry case.
There’s also an optional extra offer for added protection: the HP/Symantec Norton Internet Security 1 User – 3 Year License – QD287, £30 for 3 years. This is an extra but even this is at a discount, for it is normally £30 for 1 year.
And in fact if you are interested you can buy this anti-virus program on its own.
The full description of the machine is the HP 630 A1F78ES Intel Core I3-370M 4GB 500GB DVDRW 15.6TFT HDMI BT CAM CARRY CASE Win 7HP with 3 Years HP Warranty (only 1 year if bought elsewhere).
In order to receive the discount, all you need to do is quote “eshot offer 20”.
There are more details at http://www.technoworld.com/HP_630_A1F78ES/62198/product.aspx and details of all the Terms and Conditions online, and there are details of the cash back on www.hpcashback.com/uk/laptop/claim/family-30/
If you have any questions please call 08444 820 111.
You can order the HP 630 in either of these ways:
By phone: 08444 820 111
By fax on: 0208 200 6777
By email at education@technoworld.com
Have you noticed how little time pupils seem to have for written communication these days? The days when we used to sit down and write long letters to each other seem to have passed.
Now young people tend to communicate with short messages. Even then they are being cut down because it seems that they can’t actually be bothered to spell out whole words. So they use abbreviations, initials or made up versions of words, that I in particular h8.
Today’s world is used to instant messaging and constantly bombarded by advertising.
In an effort to use this technique to get some important messages across in schools, we have developed a new type of poster. We call it the Skinny Poster.
Using a combination of visually attractive design and high impact messages, we believe that they not only add colour and excitement to any room or corridor, but these posters convey the message in a way that is familiar to today’s students.
You can see and order this exciting new range by clicking here
Of course we still supply all the posters that have proved so popular over the years.
These can be seen by visiting www.ieied.co.uk
You can always call us, if you prefer to talk 0870 240 5879
Or fax us on 0844 358 667
Our email address is info@ieied.co.uk
Of course if you are one of those people who still do like to write long meaningful letters, we would love to hear from you.
Inform, Engage, Inspire Ltd
Unit D
Home Farm Enterprise Zone
Hall Road
Cromer
NR27 9JG
For class teachers who are not language specialists teaching a foreign language can be singularly daunting.
Talking Books has been designed to allow non language specialist staff to deliver effective language teaching. It gives a simple introduction to languages via sound, pictures and text.
Talking Books is a collection of five stories (KS2) for beginners of French, German and Spanish spoken by native speakers.
These are designed principally for use with an Interactive White Board although they can also be used on individual pupil machines. Each story is delivered a sentence at a time and contains full text, with option to translate. There are illustrations and animations throughout. For each sentence there are hyperlinks to grammar notes. This means that all relevant information on any sentence is either on the screen or a single click away, enabling the teacher to deliver guidance with confidence. There are exercises at the end of each title which test comprehension and sentence building skills.
A trial version which contains one of the stories can either be tried on-line or downloaded from www.keylinkcomputers.co.uk – just click on the link to Talking Books on the left of the home page.
A set of five stories for one language is available at a special discounted price of £40.00+VAT for a site licence (quote code HH1211 on your order). Orders can be sent to sales@keylinkcomputers.co.uk or by post to Keylink Computers Ltd, 2 Woodway House, Common Lane, Kenilworth CV8 2ES.
All 16-18 year olds are invited to enter (closing date 2 March 2012) this year’s competition with its theme of Voyages, judged by Christopher Reid, Don Paterson and Peter McDonald.
First prize £3,000; second prize £1,000; third prize £500 and commended entries £250. Winning schools receive £150. Winning poems from previous years are on the website and the longlisted poems from 2011 plus a list of winning schools over the last years.
Over 100 book reviews are published online and forthcoming poetry readings and other events.
www.towerpoetry.org.uk
Christ Church, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DP
email: info@towerpoetry.org.uk
phone: 01865 286591
Twitter @TowerPoetry
The amount of space in a room and how it is organised affects children’s behaviour – often far more than we might imagine.
But it is a common observation that many of us are so used to working in a particular space that we stop seeing just how the space is affecting the behaviour of the children in it.
What’s more, some spaces are contradictory – causing different types of behaviour at different times, and among different children.
A tight space may encourage working together, for example, but can also lead to aggression and frustration on occasion.
As a result many schools find that something as simple as reducing clutter and installing flexible furnishings can maximise the use of each area while getting rid of the negative behaviour that some spaces can engender.
On the other hand, too much space can cause children to be restless and unfocussed and have low interaction with their peers. In such circumstances using dividers to create activity areas reduces distraction and can help teachers to facilitate absorbed play.
To help you look at the options and possibilities we have a free room layout design service for children from Nursery up to Foundation and Key Stage 1. There’s no obligation – we simply come up with ideas for ways in which the space you describe can be utilised to its best advantage.
There are more details on our website at http://www.communityplaythings.co.uk/resources/room-planning.html
If you would like to talk through our approach with one of our room planners, please do call 0800 387 457.
It’s not too long before the exam season when sometimes there may be a bit of panic in the air ….
and not just for students facing their GCSE or A level exams !
Judging by the comments we’ve had from some premises staff over the years, it seems that “the powers that be” in their school or college suddenly decide they need some new exam desks…. and they want them yesterday !
If you’re faced with such a situation (or even if you don’t have such a tight deadline) then why not give Central Educational Supplies a call on
tel: 020 7515 1797 or visit their website to see how they might be able to help.
They can supply folding , cantilever or “zimmer” style desks from only
£ 15.95 ex vat, as well as transporters for folding desks. They can often supply exam desks at short notice although it’s always easier if they have a few weeks notice !
Central Educational Supplies Ltd., PO Box 999, London E14 6SH
Tel: 020 7515 1797 Fax: 020 7515 4420 email: signpost@talk21.com
website: www.centraleducational.co.uk
PS. If you’re in the market for new classroom tables and chairs you may find what you need on their website…… or why not give them a call ?
Some behaviour management books run to hundreds of pages, and if you are writing a thesis on the subject or running courses for other teachers they might be exactly what you need.
But sometimes there is a need to go back to the beginning – especially if you are looking to help NQTs, support staff or other colleagues who are having some difficulties in the classroom.
It’s for this reason we have produced Behaviour Management: or what do I do now?
The aim of the booklet is simple – to set out the basics in behaviour management in a short simple format, so that anyone interested can take the information and transform their work in the classroom immediately.
The focus is the simple question: “What do I do with young people who have anger and behaviour issues?” It is in fact a straightforward first information pack for staff who are looking to make progress in this own classroom environment.
The booklet covers such topics as “The Conflict Cycle”, aggressive signs and signals, ways of managing anger, the “solid relationship”, the “CALM” technique, body language etc etc.
Behaviour Management: What do I do now? is published as a download so that you can receive immediately a copy onto your computer which you can print out for colleagues as often as you want. You can also put it on your school learning platform so all staff can access the document – and indeed you can make it part of the induction documentation for new members of staff.
You can obtain Behaviour Management: What do I do Now? by going to http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=744
The price is £10 plus VAT (the VAT can be reclaimed in most cases by the school).
Behaviour Management is published by First and Best in Education, part of the Hamilton House group. If you have any enquiries you can call 01536 399 011, or email sales@firstandbest.co.uk or write to us at First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Rd., Corby, Northants NN17 4HH.
The full range of First and Best books can be seen at www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk
First and Best in Education
Earlstrees Road
Corby
NN17 4HH
Website: www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk
Email: sales@firstandbest.co.uk
Mathematical Investigations Key Stage 3 and 4 (a copiable resource) contains 18 structured mathematical investigations suitable for pupils aged 11-16 to prepare students for investigations in the Mathematics curriculum.
These projects start with very structured activities to familiarise students with the process and thinking of investigation, and ends with more open-ended tasks very similar to what used to be GCSE coursework tasks.
As a bonus the activities promote lateral thinking and inventiveness of thought, and help students to be logical and systematic in their approach to problem solving.
Secondly, the activities give the students the opportunity to develop oral and written communication skills while allowing students to enjoy Mathematics for the sake of intellectual challenge. Thus the subject matter becomes more purposeful and more meaningful in the eyes of the student.
Above all the investigations are incredibly varied, ranging from topics such as “handshakes” to “expanding rectangles” from “matchstick snowflakes” to “chequered flags”.
Each comes with teaching notes, answers, worksheets and an introductory OHP slide for the students.
There is a sample of one of the projects available at: http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/authordownloadsamples/T1767samples.pdf
One further bonus with this book is that it is published as a download, which makes it a lot lower priced that would otherwise be the case.
This means that the ordering process and delivery to you all happens on line – reducing the publishing and printing costs dramatically.
You can download the whole collection of 18 investigations (which can be copied and reused as often as required) for £10 plus VAT at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=742
To undertake the purchase you will need a credit or debit card. A receipt is provided so that you can reclaim this cost from the school, if using your own card.
Please note the book is not available for delivery through the post, but only by download from our internet site.
If you have any enquiries please call 01536 399 011.
This download is published by First and Best, Hamilton House Mailings Ltd, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Rd., Corby, Northants NN17 4HH.
Examination questions on Thomas Wolsey and his ministry are set by OCR, Edexcel and AQA. The questions set by the examination boards require students to explain events and attitudes relating to Wolsey’s rise and ministry or to give their own view on a historical debate or interpretation.
This 40 page study guide provides a synthesis of the historical writing on Wolsey and his ministry suitable for GCE students, along with guidance on how to approach key questions. It gives a comprehensive description and explanation of events as well as introducing the various interpretations of Wolsey and his career given by both contemporaries and modern historians. Questions are posed to the students throughout the book to help them to focus on the underlying motives and reasons and draw their own conclusions rather than just memorise the bare facts.
Thomas Wolsey – The King’s Cardinal by John Goode. Sample pages can be viewed at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/history/T1636.pdf
Publisher’s reference: T1636EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 707 4
Prices
- Photocopiable report: £15.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- CD with school-wide rights: £15.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- Both the Ring Binder and the CD £22.94 plus £3.95 delivery
- Prices include VAT.
You can purchase the report… please quote the order ref: T1636emn
One of the most common observations concerning the loss and damage of school equipment is that both increase as feelings of responsibility decrease. In short, if the item belongs to an individual he/she naturally looks after it. If it belongs to the school, then the level of care invested in the equipment by the average student declines.
Obviously there’s no way of giving students ownership of equipment such as laptops, which they have on loan from the school. But there is a way of using the situation so that students do take much more care over school equipment.
The issue of the lack of care taken over communal equipment stems from the fact that quite often no one knows who was using the equipment when any damage took place.
However, where there can be no doubt as to who has used which equipment, the feeling of “ownership” and responsibility returns – and this is what is achieved through the use of Intelligent Cabinets.
Intelligent Cabinets store laptops, iPads, phones, testing equipment and tooling. Once you have inserted a piece of equipment into an Intelligent Cabinet the cabinet not only charges the equipment, it updates the tracking report of who has used it and when. It also prevents the issuer from locking the door should the laptop not be charging correctly.
Each cabinet is linked to the buildings network and feeds back information about when, at what time and by whom a storage compartment was opened and the allocated item either removed or replaced.
This charging and tracking is in fact only the start (there’s a bullet summary of some of the functions below).
But if you want to find out more about Intelligent Cabinets, all is revealed on our website. Alternatively give us a call on 01753 53 99 55.
What Intelligent Cabinets do …
- Booking in/out periods are monitored and logged
- Due back times can be set and late alerts issued
- Equipment re-calibration or maintenance periods can be set
- Audit reports can be run on equipment stock
- Fault alerts report any equipment issues and prevent further use
- Reduces the requirement for mains supply outlets within library/study areas as each cabinet is connected to a single mains supply.
In my last blog I wrote about the various items we hold in store for people in our facility.
I commented in passing on how, although much of our storage is given over to legal documents, there were quite a few other unusual things that our clients chose to keep in our warehouses.
Following that I had a note from one of our customers telling me that he felt his collection of items held at Admiral was probably the most “eclectic” (to use his word) that there was.
Obviously since I don’t go looking inside people’s storage section (every client of Admiral has their own unique area to store within) I am never sure what’s in the warehouse, and so I can’t actually check if this is a unique concept – but I have to admit this one does seem likely to be up there with the most unusual.
For this client not only stores his legal documents, deeds and contracts with us, along with sales receipts and older invoices for his business (which his son now runs) that have to be kept in place for seven years (just in case Revenue and Customs decide to have a rummage into one’s past). No he also keeps old Christmas cards.
Now as this is something that I don’t do (I tend to dispose of my cards on 12th night when the Christmas season officially comes to an end in my house) I was puzzled. And so since the information had been volunteered I decided to email him to ask why anyone would keep seasonal cards way past the season.
“I can only assume,” said my customer in reply, (and I felt with a certain imperiousness), “that you are somewhat younger than I. Sadly as one gets older one tends to get a little out of touch with one’s long-term friends.
“You don’t meet up for the birthday event or once a year get together. The Old Boys association of the school doesn’t do reunions for your year any more since too many of the class have passed on. So there are no meetings, no photos, and gradually the phone calls fade away. Christmas cards are a valuable memento of the past.”
I was, I have to say, suitably chastened. It was not an issue I had ever thought about, and I guess many of us don’t face until we get to an age when some of our long term friends are sadly not there any more.
As I say, I was somewhat put in my place by the reply. But I did ask one further question: did my client ever get the cards out? He said he did, each year, and although it was a sad moment recalling those no longer with us, he insisted it was also a positive moment. A value placed on past friendships which he was determined not to let slip away.
I don’t think I have been so moved over a Christmas message for many a year. To think that our storage facility is being used in this way, to keep past memories alive is, for me at least, utterly moving.
As a Christmas thought, I don’t believe I can find anything more powerful.
Have a Happy Christmas, and I hope to be sharing a few more thoughts with in you in the new year.
Trying to convince teenagers of the need to engage in a healthy lifestyle can on occasion seem a difficult task.
Which is why one PSHE teacher thought about turning the issue into a series of “Life Games” – all based around the curriculum requirements for the health and lifestyle topics in PSHE Key Stages 3 and 4.
These games enable you to inform and engage your students on topics which are notoriously sensitive including relationships, reproduction, substance misuse, sunshine and travel, mental health and depression.
Each game is a stand-alone activity which can be delivered to a range of groups. Most of the games are accompanied by separate student notes. Clear learning objectives, based on the national curriculum, together with session plans, are provided.
The games can be used in any order and are suited to the classroom, although they could be used in other contexts. They are intended for groups of about eight to forty participants and are generally appropriate for teenagers and young adults. Each activity should last about thirty minutes, although they can be adapted for longer sessions. There are also suggestions for extending the activity and “talking points”, useful as fillers.
Life Games is available as a photocopiable book or on CD Rom, and individual activities can thus be readily copied and distributed to students as required. The copies can also be shared with colleagues or given to supply teachers, without any fear of the original book being misplaced.
An extract from Life Games, ISBN 978 1 86083 718 0, order code T1730EMN
is available at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/pshe/T1730.pdf
Prices
- Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- CD with school-wide rights: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- Both the Ring Binder and the CD £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery
- Prices include VAT.
You can purchase the report…
- 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://tinyurl.com/nvmxng
- By phone with a school order number or a credit card to 01536 399 011
When ordering the book please quote the reference T1730EMN.
One of the biggest problems facing teachers in the classroom is handling the increasing number of pupils with SEN. Recent research by Canterbury Christ Church University stated that ‘there is a sizeable proportion of teachers who do not consider they have a sufficiently wide range of strategies to manage the behaviour of pupils with SEN’.
To help overcome this problem the details of 43 of the most common and equally most often misunderstood special needs are given in 2 books: A Guide to Syndromes and Conditions and A Guide to More Syndromes and Conditions. In each case the condition is defined in terms of the characteristics and symptoms and then details of strategies and treatments followed by details of other useful resources.
More detail on the contents within these books and an order form can be found at www.behaviourmatters.com/syndromesoffer
Details of purchase for this photocopiable resource:
Cost:
£25 plus £2 postage and packaging (if one book purchased)
£40 plus £4 postage and packaging (if two books purchased)
Behaviour Solutions Limited
15 St. Mary’s Close
Abbotskerswell
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ12 5QF
Phone / Fax: 01626 366161
I’m am the author of The Spartapuss Series (set in ancient Rome in a world ruled by cats) and Beowuff and the Horrid Hen, a new Viking tale.
My graphic novel “London Deep” was chosen as a Recommended Read for World Book Day 2011 in the 9-12 category.
My stories are suitable for students aged between 8 and 12 years old but I have also adapted a series of Roobarb and Custard stories which are ideal for Reception and Y1 and I’ve written a picture book called Count Milkula.
My titles have been well received, and reviews and extracts can be found at http://www.mogzilla.co.uk
I hold an enhanced CRB check and academically I have degree in Drama and English. When not writing books, I also write songs – I co-wrote songs for musical versions of Julia Donaldson’s brilliant books The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom.
Activities:
I can tailor my activities to fit in with your learning goals – but to give you an example: I typically begin with an hour’s presentation – in the hall or a large classroom. (I like large crowds and am happy speaking to groups of up to 200).
My assemblies are fun events where the children get to do lots of interesting activities… For example: in the case of my Viking/Anglo-Saxon themed event:
As well as listening to me reading an extract from Beowuff – they also get to: learn to salute like a Viking, practice their war chants, and ‘battle’ each other with a Viking quiz.
While they are having fun doing all of this, they are also revising the vocab which will come out in their writing sessions.
I would then follow this up with a hour long creative writing session with each class. In this case it would either focus on Viking stories or Skaldic poems (the Skald’s were the Viking’s bards, so this is a great way to introduce poetry).
The pupils will get to share and compare their stories/poems at the end of each session.
My sessions can be adapted to work with Anglo-Saxons/Vikings (Beowuff), Celts (Boudicat), or Romans (Spartapuss) and this approach is likely to produce some great written work from your pupils.
I am happy to mix and match my workshops in one day – for example I could do a session on Roobarb with Reception/ Y1, followed by Spartapuss with Y3-Y5 and London Deep with Y6.
At some point in the day I’m more than happy to spend time signing books and I always bring lots of free postcards to give out. If the school wants to buy a signed set of five of my titles it is available at the reduced price of £25.
Further information and feedback from my previous visits can be found at: http://www.mogzilla.co.uk/events
Costs:
If you get in touch this year, you can book me at 2011 rates. I charge £55 per hour-long assembly or per writing workshop plus travel expenses up to a maximum of £50 (using the most cost effective transport – I am based in Ivinghoe, Bedfordshire but I travel all around England and Wales).
I also offer a full day with a presentation and up to four 45 min workshops £250 plus travel. However, I am more than happy to visit your school for as much time as you would prefer, and the costs would be adjusted accordingly. For example, if you would just like me to come in for one workshop and one assembly that would be £110 plus travel only.
Availability:
I’m afraid that I’m now fully booked for the week of World Book Day itself but I still have availability on the following dates in Jan/Feb.
20th Jan, 22nd Jan, 23rd Jan
5th Feb, 7th Feb, 8th Feb
Other dates in Jan-Oct 2012 are available.
If you would like to discuss, feel free to get in contact via email at robin.price@lineone.net or call on 07740 929404. If I’m not answering please leave a message with Mogzilla’s answering service and I’ll call you back ASAP.
Thanks for your time
Robin Price
One of the most common observations concerning the loss and damage of school equipment is that both increase as feelings of responsibility decrease. In short, if the item belongs to an individual he/she naturally looks after it. If it belongs to the school, then the level of care invested in the equipment by the average student declines.
Obviously there’s no way of giving students ownership of equipment such as laptops, which they have on loan from the school. But there is a way of using the situation so that students do take much more care over school equipment.
The issue of the lack of care taken over communal equipment stems from the fact that quite often no one knows who was using the equipment when any damage took place.
However, where there can be no doubt as to who has used which equipment, the feeling of “ownership” and responsibility returns – and this is what is achieved through the use of Intelligent Cabinets.
Intelligent Cabinets store laptops, iPads, phones, testing equipment and tooling. Once you have inserted a piece of equipment into an Intelligent Cabinet the cabinet not only charges the equipment, it updates the tracking report of who has used it and when. It also prevents the issuer from locking the door should the laptop not be charging correctly.
Each cabinet is linked to the buildings network and feeds back information about when, at what time and by whom a storage compartment was opened and the allocated item either removed or replaced.
This charging and tracking is in fact only the start (there’s a bullet summary of some of the functions below).
But if you want to find out more about Intelligent Cabinets, all is revealed on our website. Alternatively give us a call on 01753 53 99 55.
What Intelligent Cabinets do …
- Booking in/out periods are monitored and logged
- Due back times can be set and late alerts issued
- Equipment re-calibration or maintenance periods can be set
- Audit reports can be run on equipment stock
- Fault alerts report any equipment issues and prevent further use
- Reduces the requirement for mains supply outlets within library/study areas as each cabinet is connected to a single mains supply.
Drama Cover Lessons comprises 22 units of work which are photocopiable, self-contained and designed to develop the pupils skills in a meaningful way. They can be set quickly by the Drama Department and administered easily by the cover teacher, who can thus feel more comfortable with administering and supervising this subject .
The units of work are varied in length to enable different periods of time to be covered. There are practical tasks included that can be used when the pupils have a drama space to work in, but no drama teacher. There are also worksheets that reflect upon and develop practical skills which would be equally useful as one-off lessons or to support the practical work in the curriculum. These would also be ideal for those times when the drama room is not available. Some of the tasks involve working in pairs or small groups and others are for individual work.
Drama Cover Lessons is written for KS3 and gets progressively more challenging, building towards some of the requirements for GCSE. The final units can be used with GCSE groups.
You can see some sample pages at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/drama/T1629.pdf
Publisher’s reference: T1629EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 678 7
Prices
- Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £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 report… please quote the order ref: T1629EMN
Creating a new form time activity each week is not necessarily difficult, but it can take time, and it is occasionally the case that form time is not used as fully as it might be..
Of course there are many form time programmes that have been produced commercially – but with these it is not always clear what one will get if making a purchase.
Which is why we offer all our form time activities on a free trial basis. What’s more, if you ask for a trial, you get to choose which lessons you see – not the ones we have chosen for you. And, if you like our resources, we have now halved the price of an annual subscription for unlimited access for the whole school.
We’ve created a series of KS3 and KS4 form time plans that can be used throughout the year. Each includes a PDF overview and a PowerPoint presentation.
Topics currently include…
Active careers (2 activities)
Alcohol (12 activities)
Credit crunch (6 activities)
Critical consumers (4 activities)
Democracy (7 activities)
Diversity (3 activities)
Economic ideas (7 activities)
Enterprise (5 activities)
Enterprise and the community (3 activities)
Enterprise skills (3 activities)
Gap year introduction (4 activities)
Gap year volunteering (2 activities)
Human rights (7 activities)
The media (6 activities)
Options in year 9 (7 activities)
Prejudice (4 activities)
Revision (4 activities)
SkillsActive professional skills resources (6 activities)
The stock exchange (4 activities)
Preparing for work (5 activities)
Thinking about work (3 activities)
If you would like to have the resources for a completely free 14 day trial, with no obligation to buy, please visit http://www.teaching-resources-uk.com/2011 And if you would like unlimited access to all our resources for the whole school we are now offering this at £249.99 (annual subscription) – just follow the link that says “join now”.
Stress levels among teachers are now reported to have risen to unprecedented levels. The courts have made it clear that all school managers and governors have a duty to undertake a risk assessment on the levels of stress that the staff may be experiencing, to ensure that the working environment does not produce stress levels that are unacceptable and to help recovery where teachers have suffered from high levels of stress. It is not an acceptable argument to suggest that everyone knows that teaching is a stressful job. One teacher won more than £250,000 when her school failed to respond to her rising stress levels.
This volume covers many of the personal problems faced by teachers: assertiveness, low self-esteem, lack of self-belief, depression, coping strategies, sources of stress, and so on. It also details solutions – anxiety management, problem solving, relaxation techniques, etc – and helps school managers to understand what their colleague under stress is going through and how she or he can be helped.
The volume includes a set of templates relating to the school’s policy on stress. It can be bought as a ring bound book or on CD Rom with a full photocopy license for use within your school.
You can see some sample pages at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/education/T1535.pdf
Publisher’s reference: T1535EMN ISBN: 978 1 86083 665 7
Prices
- Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £49.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- CD with school-wide rights: £49.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- Both the Ring Binder and the CD £56.94 plus £3.95 delivery
Prices include VAT.
You can purchase the report… please quote the order ref: T1535EMN
We have a new website design, but it is running late so currently our online training and CRB ordering systems are not available. This problem should be sorted out in the next few days; meanwhile we are still available by phone or email if you need our services.
This is all in preparation for our becoming SAFE CIC (Community Interest Company). The changeover will be completed on 14th December, so please look out for our new look and new status!
We will still be a not-for-profit organisation with the same aims and objectives, but we will be able to respond to the needs of our clients more promptly and more effectively, with new courses going on line in the next few months.
In the mean time, the last two months free downloads will still be available via these links.
Online flowchart: http://www.safechilduk.info/esafety_flowchart.htm
Online safeguarding app: http://www.safechilduk.info/app_online_version10.htm
Downloadable iPhone/Android app: http://www.safechilduk.info/index.html
Have a happy festive season 
Kind Regards
The SAFE Team
www.safechild.co.uk
marct@safechild.co.uk
SAFEchild. Registered Charity No. 1110743 and Limited Company by Guarantee No. 5481751
Registered Office: Birketts Solicitors, 24-26 Museum Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1HZ
SEALSONGS is a collection of assembly songs which aims to get children engaged through the experience of making and creating music. The lyrics were written with considerable input from Year 4 and 5 pupils, so speak from children to children, and the musical backing tracks were professionally recorded.
But the resource goes further and offers teachers detailed advice on writing new lyrics, leading singing and other ways that SEALSONGS may be used in the classroom. Thus it enables teachers to give young children the positive experience of working with others in creating new songs within the SEAL framework. There is also guidance for non-specialists in how to teach songs.
The SEAL themes are:
Song 1: New beginnings
Song 2: Getting on and falling out
Song 3: Say no to bullying
Song 4: Going for goals!
Song 5: Good to be me
Song 6: Relationships
Song 7: Changes
Two further general songs – one about writing songs and one providing a Rhyme Game – are also included in the pack.
JENNY MOSLEY (Founder of Quality Circle Time) said “SEALSONGS is a wonderful gift to any adult who wants to truly help their class or school embed SEAL as a way of ‘being’ with ourselves and others. We all know that song can lift you to a different spiritual dimension – David Stoll has given us the perfect package to help even the most music-shy amongst us to engage young people in the process of creating heart-warming songs as part of a creative team….. This is an excellent resource.”
HOWARD GOODALL (National Ambassador for Singing) said “These SEALSONGS have the authentic ring of children’s ideas and feelings in every line. This, for me, makes it a valuable and empowering set of musical tools….. with excellent supporting materials and explanations.”
The SEALSONGS book and CD are now available as a download for £9.85 plus VAT. This price includes a licence for full use of all the material within the school, including recording new versions of the songs. The complete package is split into different files so that schools may choose which elements they wish to record or print.
Sample music can be downloaded from www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/music/SEALSONGSSamples.zip and you can purchase the book and CD on-line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=739
Are you, like many schools, spending lots of money on computer headphones each year?
Many schools treat headphones as an expendable item. Yet with the increasing use of computers in schools, they are also a necessity.
Here at Wishtrac, we know our range of headphones are high quality, and have been used in hundreds of schools across the country with amazing results.
We believe our Quality Stereo Headphones are the perfect solution; they’re affordable, durable and comfortable. With in-line volume controls and the option of either the boom microphone or in-line microphone models, you can choose the headphones which are right for your school. For those who don’t want headphones with a microphone or volume control, take a look at our Hi Fi Stereo Headphones or our Stereo Headphones with coiled cables.
We also understand that with budget constraints, it’s becoming even more important for you to get a good deal on a good product. That’s why we offer great Bulk-Buy deals on all of our headphones, so you can ‘save a bundle’ and still get exactly what you need.
To view the full range, visit www.wishtrac.com/headphones
For a free guide to the 7 Top Tips when buying headphones for schools, please click here. Or to talk to us for some advice, please phone us free on 08000 80 77 80.
Big Savings Every Day till Christmas!
Every day we’re opening another window of our Advent Calendar in the run-up to Christmas. For example, on 9th December you can save £9 off a Tuff Cam, and on 10th December the saving is £10 off the Easi View Visualiser. By the 24th December, you can save £24 on that day’s special offer!
For daily updates on savings, follow us on Facebook or Twitter
For further details of these special offers, please go to www.wishtrac.com/specialoffers
Although that headline represents a huge agenda it is one that is possible to achieve.
The discovery of the route to this achievement springs from the observation that foundation stage results in settings where children are given support, encouragement and help in terms of communication and language are invariably significantly better than those of children who do not get such early support.
What’s more, as this support continues beyond age 5, risk of school exclusions is decreased, children’s understanding improves, and ultimately educational achievement improves – all through the child experiencing the right type of interaction in terms of communication and language at an early age.
Indeed, the importance of communication and language is reflected in the proposed EYFS framework (planned to be in place by September 2012) as one of the three prime aspects that influence development. This also highlights the partnership between parents and your children’s centres and PVI settings.
It is because of the huge significance and importance of communication and language, as well as partnership with parents, that I CAN has developed a major collection of accessible resources on this topic which will ensure that early years practitioners have the knowledge and skills necessary to cultivate collaborative relationships with children and with their parents.
These resources describe the different elements of communication and language and how they develop. They outline what good practice looks like and how to empower parents so they can interact with their child to develop communication and language skills. There is even a pack to support teams of early years practitioners to understand, reinforce and enable the development of speech, communication and language.
These resources from I CAN also have progress checks for early years practitioners to share with parents for early identification of difficulties and to respond to the recommendation to report to parents between 24 and 36 months. The resources also show the way in which everyday activities can be used as opportunities for enhancing communication skills.
As a result the you can direct all early years practitioners towards resources to develop the skills and knowledge to lay a sound foundation for communication and language, build partnerships with parents and improve the long term outcomes for children.
You can read details of all these early years resources and the benefits they bring on https://shop.ican.org.uk/catalog/2 or place an order via our order form here http://www.schools.co.uk/ICANorderform.pdf. The resources are all written by specialist speech and language therapists and teachers who have worked across the UK with LAs, settings and practitioners.
Whether you are teaching English and Media, English Language or English Literature, advertising is excellent resource material for teaching the key concepts and contexts in each subject.
Good adverts always grab attention, encourage debate and spark the imagination, but finding the right image, relevant text or video clip to illustrate the theory can sometimes be difficult and time-consuming.
Here at the History of Advertising Trust we manage the largest advertising resource of its kind in the world. We have tens of thousands of stimulating and instructive advertising images and TV commercials, print and other media available for study.
We are now publishing regular free bulletins for teachers entitled ‘Advertising in Education’ which contain articles closely linked to curriculum topic areas and suggestions for use in the classroom, as well as providing access to relevant free resources.
You can subscribe to our free bulletin by clicking here.
If you are already a subscriber there is no need to do anything further, except look out for our next bulletin which will arrive shortly.
One of the great problems with mental arithmetic tests (as with most kinds of formalised assessment) is that the results can be warped, due to the fact that many children will do less well within an test setting than when faced with a more commonplace classroom experience.
However there is a way to overcome this problem – and the solution is fairly straightforward.
Obviously one key point is to make the testing programme one that relates to knowledge that we really do want the children to have. This involves having detailed feedback so that it can readily be seen where each child is regularly making the same mistake.
In this way, the fretting and concern that children might have when it comes to a mental arithmetic test is set aside, and the analysis of the results of the tests becomes a valuable educational resource in itself.
It was from this thinking that we devised our Mental Arithmetic Programme for Year 2 to Year 7.
The resources within the programme are available as photocopiable books, as PDF ebooks, as an audio CD or a combination of the PDF ebook and audio CD.
With the audio versions, questions are read to the children, they are then given the correct 5, 10 or 15 second intervals to answer the questions.
Each format contains 30 sets of teacher’s questions and answers as well as 30 photocopiable pupil sheets with prompts. The repetitive questions in each book steadily get harder over the course of a year.
Full details are available from www.topical-resources.co.uk/numeracy (just scroll down the page).
If you would like to know more please call 01772 863158 or email enquiries@topical-resources.co.uk
You can order in any of these ways:
Using a resource that engages students is always going to prove more successful; however finding the time to produce these for every topic can, understandably, be time consuming and therefore not always possible.
To help relieve this pressure we have produced our Ecotourism – Study Series CD which contains GCSE exam questions, learning outcomes, teaching and learning resources and tasks, and has multimedia features.
Definitions are included as well as case studies, principles, benefits and problems which can be used for a range of teacher-led or student-led activities when studying an ecotourism unit.
The resource can be edited in PowerPoint for any specific case studies and provides clear staged annotation to help with the order and explanation of complex processes.
This resource may be used in full or part, as a single lesson or for a whole half term, and anything in between.
What’s more, if added to the schools VLE, it is an ideal resource for e-learning and revision.
Sections of the resource have completed answers and mark schemes.
Certain sections can also be enlarged to show extra detail or added to with extra information and photographs and provide easy modification in order to differentiate between ability levels.
This resource contains 30 PowerPoints plus two movie files and is available as a download or on a CD. The price of £39.99 + VAT is the same for both formats.
Once purchased the CD can be freely copied and networked throughout the school.
To see sample pages please email sales@classroom-resources.co.uk quoting the order code 6025.
You can order the Ecotourism – Study Series CD in any of these ways:
- On our website
- By phone on 0117 940 6409
- By fax on 0117 940 6408
- By email (quoting a school order number) to sales@classroom-resources.co.uk
- By post to: Classroom Resources, PO Box 1489, Bristol, BS99 3QJ
Imagine a company that goes into schools and removes unwanted IT equipment free of charge.
Now imagine a company that does more, such as data wiping and making sure the disposal is environmentally friendly.
And finally imagine a company that will pick up virtually everything unwanted in IT, from computers to telecoms, from monitors to cables. And who will do it before Christmas if that is what you want.
And to make it clear:
First of all, PRM really does offer a free service. There are no charges.
Second, we treat everything in the most environmentally friendly way possible, in keeping with school sustainable education programmes.
Third, all the data on the drives is wiped to the highest standards possible. In fact, on this issue we go further, for we clean out all the data from the drives, and then all the equipment is then recycled within the UK – all without any charge.
The only requirement we have is that you have at least 30 items for collection and that they are all gathered together in one easily accessible place for our driver to pick up.
We can take PC base units, CRT monitors, TFT monitors, servers, laptops, server racks, switches, telecom switches and printers. Indeed as long as you have 30 of these items we will take away other IT equipment at the same time, such as keyboards, cabling and telecoms.
At the end of the process we issue you with free certification evidence so you can see that the correct procedures were complied with.
For more information please call our freephone number: 0800 840 9195 or fill in the form by clicking here www.prmgreentech.com/contact.htm And if you want us to collect before Christmas give us a ring – our last collection date is 22nd December.
This comprehensive and straightforward manual describes the workings of a theatre and the people who create the magic of it.
Suitable as a background resource for pupils studying GCSE/A-Level Theatre Studies, this photocopiable book is also a valuable resource for students interested in pursuing a technical career in the theatre – in fact anyone with an interest in what happens behind the scenes.
The topics, divided up as scenes, include theatre staff, scenery, lighting, stage areas and stage fittings.
The author also provides a helpful list of theatrical suppliers and a suggested book list for those interested in specialist areas of the theatre.
Cat No: 978 1 86083 692 3 Order code: T1612emn – please quote with order.
Sample pages can be viewed at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/drama/T1612.pdf
- Photocopiable book: £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- CD with school-wide rights: £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- Both the Book and the CD: £26.94 plus £3.95 delivery
- Prices include VAT.
You can purchase the report from the publisher:
This comprehensive and straightforward manual describes the workings of a theatre and the people who create the magic of it.
Suitable as a background resource for pupils studying GCSE/A-Level Theatre Studies, this photocopiable book is also a valuable resource for students interested in pursuing a technical career in the theatre – in fact anyone with an interest in what happens behind the scenes.
The topics, divided up as scenes, include theatre staff, scenery, lighting, stage areas and stage fittings.
The author also provides a helpful list of theatrical suppliers and a suggested book list for those interested in specialist areas of the theatre.
Cat No: 978 1 86083 692 3 Order code: T1612emn – please quote with order.
Sample pages can be viewed at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/drama/T1612.pdf
- Photocopiable book: £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- CD with school-wide rights: £19.95 plus £3.95 delivery
- Both the Book and the CD: £26.94 plus £3.95 delivery
- Prices include VAT.
You can purchase the report from the publisher:
Green Aid Relief is a charity whose goal is all about Making Life Better. Making life better for children, families and communities.
There are many families within our own local community and within communities around the world who struggle with extreme circumstances. We want to help bring hope and raise their quality of life.
Many families battle for basic needs such as food, water, shelter and medical attention. They are desperate, and the children are the young innocent victims.
In developing countries many people are forced to drink contaminated water, are unable to receive medical support or education and are malnourished. Social justice and basic human rights are non-existent, with many people homeless and living in disease-ridden slums.
Orphans and widows are often neglected and child trafficking is on the increase. Your support helps us to join the fight to address these issues. We hope to be able to partner with you and your school.
There are many types of community organisation that we want to partner with. These include Schools, Workplaces, Community Clubs and Organisations, Sporting Clubs, Churches and more.
We work by supplying sterile plasters which can then be purchased by families and friends. In short we don’t ask for donations but rather suggest those associated with your school buy the plasters from Green Aid Relief rather than from the local chemist. One third of the money received goes to the manufacturer of the plasters, one third to the charity, and one third is kept by the school as a form of fund raising.
There are also prizes awarded to the top three sellers per school (the exact details of the prizes depend on the school size – if you let us know your school size we’ll give you an indication of the prizes involved).
To receive more information you can do any one of the following:
There’s no commitment at this stage – we’d just like the chance to show you the work that we do for a wide range of charities and give you the chance to consider Green Aid Relief as one of the charities you will support this year.
Answer: Don’t
It’s a very old joke. So old in fact it will barely raise a smile. But the fact is that something like 90% of schools still run school trips each year, and tens of thousands of us put ourselves through the hard work of organising and developing the trips, because of the good that we know it does for the pupils and students we teach.
Which is why, as a result of setting and running the School Visits news forum last year, I wanted to publish a book on school trips, covering everything that we had discussed.
And that’s what we have done. It is called Organising Successful Trips and Visits: a practical guide for secondary school teachers, and we’ve made it available as a download. In that way you can simply click on the link, and the file drops into the computer, ready for you to run off as many copies as you want for colleagues across the school.
The book covers all the basic points, from “loco parentis” to turning the idea into a trip, from transport issues to the letter to the parents, from staffing issues to kit lists.
In just over 50 pages it gives you all the basics – not least so that if a colleague in the school is looking to organise a trip for the first time, he/she will be able to read up on all the key issues presented in a straightforward way.
There are sample pages at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/authordownloadsamples/T1772samples.pdf
Organising Successful Trips and Visits: a practical guide for secondary school teachers” is published as a download so that you can receive immediately a copy onto your computer which you can print out for colleagues as often as you want. You can also put it on your school learning platform so all staff can access the document – and indeed you can make it part of the induction documentation for new members of staff.
You can obtain Organising Successful Trips and Visits: a practical guide for secondary school teachers” by going to http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=747
The price is £10 plus VAT (the VAT can be reclaimed in most cases by the school).
Organising Successful Trips and Visits: a practical guide for secondary school teachers” is published by First and Best in Education, part of the Hamilton House group. If you have any enquiries you can call 01536 399 011, or email sales@firstandbest.co.uk or write to us at First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Rd., Corby, Northants NN17 4HH.
The full range of First and Best books can be seen at www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk
First and Best in Education
Earlstrees Road
Corby
NN17 4HH
Website: www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk
Email: sales@firstandbest.co.uk
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