212: Reading, Writing and Spelling with Jane Considine
Jane Considine is an Education Consultant who energises and inspires thousands of teachers every year, helping them to transform the teaching of reading, writing and spelling in the primary education phase. Jane’s research-informed and evidence-based systems provide structures for success, enabling teachers to continually deliver outstanding results.
Jane has authored two best-selling books, Hooked On Books and The Write Stuff, that have sold thousands of copies all over the world. Jane’s books outline her clear and systemic approaches to the teaching of reading and writing. This June, Jane will be releasing her next publications, a series of spelling systems. Like her books on the teaching of reading and writing, The Spelling Book – Transforming the Teaching of Spelling will revolutionise the way spelling is taught in the classroom.
Jane is a popular presenter, training thousands of teachers every year across the world. Having amassed almost 1 million views on YouTube, Jane adapted to the difficult climate of 2020 and took her CPD online, providing a much-needed lifeline to teachers and parents during the national lockdown. Anybody who has witnessed Jane in action finds the experience hard to forget.
Now in her 25th year in the education profession, Jane’s incredible knowledge and expertise provide a solid framework for teachers, enabling her to support, enrich and sharpen the teaching of reading, writing and spelling. Jane’s Live Lessons have helped thousands of teachers and parents in lockdown, offering children fun and easy-to-follow writing exercises to gain confidence with written English.
Website
https://www.janeconsidine.com/
Social Media Information
@janeconsidine (Twitter)
@TrainingSpace (Twitter)
Show Sponsor
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. Get a FREE e-copy of their professional journal at nape.org.uk/journal
211: Superheroes of Science with Katy Alexander
Superheroes of science set to come to life in new comic book from The Remarkablz
A new comic book is turning real-life science heroes into superheroes, bringing diverse pioneers of science and engineering to a new generation of young readers in an exciting and engaging format. The Remarkablz is the brainchild of London-based illustrator and game designer Katy Alexander, bringing the stories of scientists and engineers – particularly women, individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities – to life for children aged 6-12.
Radioactive Fallout: Katsuko’s Story reimagines the life and accomplishments of Japanese biochemist Dr Katsuko Saruhashi, known for revealing the spread and impact of radioactive fallout from atomic tests in the Pacific, helping bring an end to above-ground nuclear testing. The comic book traces the amazing adventures of young Katsuko as she gains her superpowers, battles supervillains and discovers her passion for science.
Created for children aged 6-12, and produced with dyslexia-friendly fonts, the new comic is designed to inspire, educate and excite young readers, with 24 pages of exciting artwork and storytelling backed up with engaging educational activities and a full biography of Katsuko.
The Remarkablz is a small family-run business set up to help combat the lack of diversity in games and books. Building on the success of its Top Quarkz card game, The Remarkablz is partnering with educational comic specialists Dekko Comics and artist Fernando Corrales Linares to raise £7,500 through a new Kickstarter campaign to produce and print the full book.
Creator of The Remarkablz, Katy Alexander, said:
“I am in awe of Dr Katsuko Saruhashi’s scientific discoveries, incredible life and positive impact on our world. Radioactive Fallout reimagines Katsuko’s life as a young girl, how she gains her superpowers and comes to join The Remarkablz as one of our science superheroes. I’m excited about blending her real-life story with imagined superhero adventures. The comic book creates an engaging educational tool for parents and teachers wanting to share the huge achievements of diverse scientists, engineers and inventors who have shaped the world in which we live. Our Kickstarter campaign will help us to produce and print an amazing 24-page comic book full of fun and fast-paced adventure for young readers, interweaving Katsuko’s real-story with superhero fantasy.”
The Kickstarter campaign will reward supporters with copies of Radioactive Fallout and more depending on their level of support, including science superhero posters, stickers, colouring sheets, The Remarkablz: Black Hole card game and The Remarkablz: Top Quarkz card game.
Through her games and books, Katy Alexander explores the importance of diversity in science through the power of storytelling and play.
“I created The Remarkablz to inspire the next generation of science superheroes. Positive and diverse role models shape attitudes, ignite aspirations and transform lives. When my daughter was three, she only ever saw depictions of male astronauts and questioned whether she, as a girl, could go to space. As a person with dyslexia, I grew up with no dyslexic role models, and the impact this had on the choices I made and how I saw my place in the world was enormous. I didn’t want the same for her. I developed The Remarkablz to find role models that my daughter, nieces and nephews could relate to. The people who create rockets, travel through space, discover comets, stop above-ground nuclear testing, are – to me – superhuman, so I turned them into actual superheroes where their real-life superpowers can be celebrated.”
The Kickstarter campaign for Radioactive Fallout: Katsuko’s Story is live now for supporters to get behind: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/katy-alexander/radioactive-fallout
Website
https://www.theremarkablz.com/
Social Media Information
https://www.instagram.com/theremarkablz/
https://www.facebook.com/TheRemarkablz/
Show Sponsor
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. Get a FREE e-copy of their professional journal at nape.org.uk/journal
210: The Resilience Project with David Gumbrell
Recruitment, Retention and Resilience are intertwined and have become the new Three Rs. If we accept that Recruitment is hard, then Retention becomes that much more important. If Retention is hard, then Resilience becomes the key. Put simply, we need to start more conversations in school about well-being and Resilience. Luckily, The Resilience Project can do just that and can provide you with multiple ways to start this vital dialogue.
David Gumbrell is an author and speaker on resilience and well-being. He has been a teacher in Surrey for over 20 years, in five different schools across the county. He has worked his way up from NQT to Headship, holding positions of responsibility, including NQT mentoring, along the way. Throughout his career, he always endeavoured to develop a team, to nurture an individual teacher’s career and to protect the well-being of children and staff. The Resilience Project is a natural progression to this and David now offers you a diverse range of opportunities to get a conversation on resilience started in your school or context.
Website
www.theresilience-project.co.uk
Social Media
Twitter @Auribins
Resources Mentioned
Show Sponsor
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. Get a FREE e-copy of their professional journal at nape.org.uk/journal
209: Nurture Resilience, Empathy & Global Citizenship with Lyfta
Lyfta is an award-winning immersive learning platform where teachers can easily build or curate powerful, interactive and curriculum-aligned lessons that bring learning to life.
Lyfta helps educators to engage and inspire digitally-native children and young people; foster critical skills and values for navigating our changing world; and broaden horizons by giving children and young people opportunities to see beyond their everyday realities.
Lyfta offers a series of immersive learning environments called storyworlds, where students can explore real life human stories through stunning 360° environments, high quality films and digital content.
The interactivity and immersive nature of the content, the powerful human stories, and the carefully designed tasks and activities, combine to create truly unique, compelling and impactful learning experiences.
Serdar Ferit Co-CEO and Co-Founder is a filmmaker, digital experience designer, and teacher who has won numerous awards and worked in over 20 countries on film, new media and education projects. As an early adopter of 360 degree storytelling and Virtual Reality (VR), in 2010 Serdar learned how to take and construct 360 degree film and images and has been working on immersive stories using this medium ever since.
Website
Webinar training https://www.lyfta.com/training
https://www.lyfta.com/blog-storage/values-through-sport
Social Media
twitter.com/LyftaEd
Leanne Millingen is a year 4 teacher at Manor Park Primary, part of the LEO Academy Trust.
Leanne explains the numerous ways she uses Lyfta with her school and LEO Trust. This ranges from immersive themed activities to the ongoing nurturing of the global citizens of tomorrow.
twitter.com/ManorParkSchSM1
twitter.com/LEOacademies
Show Sponsor
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. Get a FREE e-copy of their professional journal at nape.org.uk/journal
208: Digital Strategy for Schools with Al Kingsley
Al has spent the last 30 years in the EdTech space and 20 of those as a school trustee and governor.
He is Group CEO of NetSupport Ltd, an internationally acclaimed EdTech vendor, and has lived and worked in both the UK and US. He is Chair of 2 Academy Trusts and Chair of an alternative provision Academy, all in the East of England.
Alongside these roles, Al also sits on the Regional Schools Commissioner’s Head Teachers board for the East of England and North-East London and is an independent Chair of the county’s SEND board.
As a firm supporter of lifelong learning, he is also a regional Apprenticeship Ambassador and Chair of the Employment & Skills board for his region’s combined authority.
An active writer about all things EdTech, Al is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and sits on the advisory council for the Foundation for Education Development.
As schools around the country continue to grapple with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, all eyes are on the education sector as yet another cohort of children risks being left behind due to learning loss. With some form of blended learning set to stay in place for the foreseeable future even after the vaccination programme concludes, Al discusses what role EdTech might play in addressing these issues going forward – specifically the shifting role played by teachers in an increasingly digital world, and how we can best equip our educators with the tools they need to navigate the ‘new normal’.
NetSupport recently announced the launch of classroom.cloud, an enhanced international, cloud-based classroom management and teaching platform, which will help improve teacher workloads, wellbeing and student engagement. Classroom.cloud enables teachers and learners to move seamlessly between in-class and remote schooling, having been developed in partnership with teachers and education professionals across the globe – ensuring it is designed to specifically fit the various needs of teachers and students.
Website
Social Medial Information
@AlKingsley_Edu
@NetSupportGroup
@classroomcloud_
Resource Mentioned
Show Sponsor
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. Get a FREE e-copy of their professional journal at nape.org.uk/journal