This week I’ve come across a few interesting websites that may be of use to teachers:
www.storynory.com This site is only just getting going, but it allows you to download free mp3 (audio) files of traditional stories. Useful for quiet reading times, speaking and listening activities, using as a soundtrack for digital photographs enacting the story etc. Keep an eye on it.
http://www.gameskidsplay.net/ Great site listing playground games, circle games, mental games etc. Incredibly useful as a resource if you are focusing on how your children use the playground.
http://www.mrpicassohead.com/ Excellent site for wet play or free choice: paint your own portrait in the style of the great artist himself.
Surely, by now everyone has found these two excellent early years sites:
www.poissonrouge.com Simply the best early years website, ever.
www.kelloggs.co.uk/tonys-cubs Great early counting and phonics activities with Tony the Tiger designed by an early years specialist.
Web Design for Schools – incorporating Blogs
The rapid development of podcasting and blogging is changing the way schools look at website design. By incorporating a blog into your website, you can update your site from any internet connection with no technical skills whatsoever, whenever you want. My own website’s news page links to my blog site and automatically updates whenever I add a story. There are no limits on the number of blogs you can have on a website, which means that each class could have a blog, each club, governors, pta, staff news etc. What’s more, it’s so easy, that the children themselves can take responsibility for updating the site. Setting up a blog is very cheap (from free to £50 per year-ish, depending on who you use).
School Radio Station
Once you have your blog set up, there are no limits to what you can do with it. A popular new phenomenon is podcasting (setting up your own school radio station). The software to do this is freely available on the internet and very easy to use. Give speaking and listening activities a global audience by recording poetry readings, plays, interviews, the music you make etc.
To find out more about these innovative and exciting ways in which you can enhance the way your school communicates, get in touch via email or phone (or Skype, if you can use it (most LEA networks won’t allow it))
Offers:
4 page school website incorporating a blog news page and hosted off LEA servers (so you can update it from home) £250
Half-day INSET (or 2 hour twilight) on blogging and podcasting £250
Podcasting day in school creating podcasts with your children* £350**
* Run by an ex- primary teacher with 9 years experience as ICT co-ordinator, fully CRB checked etc
** If booked to take place before Easter, will include a free staff meeting on the same day
