Comments for primarypete.net

Comment on Tablet Time… by Living Maths

Living Maths — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:33:00 +0000

Hi Pete, I would love to work with your Year one students. check out our website…
http://www.livingmaths.com and my blog about my mission to spread the joy of numbers (now using SKYPE in the classroom to reach schools around the world) http://www.livingmaths.blogspot.com
You should be able to find my contact details on the site. Steve

Comment on Tablet Time… by primarypete

primarypete — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:19:00 +0000

Thanks for the comment – interesting you say that about education city – we have gone with them recently for the very reason they are compatible with tablets. Very little seems to need keystrokes and that which does seems fine if you click in the box where the keystrokes would be and then use the keyboard (granted that isnt ideal). I agree with what you are saying about netbooks for half the price compare to the galaxy tab/iPad etc. I would never have gone with the Playbook if it was more than it is but at the same price as a netbook (including case and protector, I think it’s worth a look! Will be continuing to post over coming months with how we are getting on so hopefully that will help with anyone thinking of or getting frustrated with tablets in school.

Comment on Tablet Time… by Simon Walters

Simon Walters — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:10:00 +0000

I’ve got a Samsung Galaxy Tab and found that one technical problem after another- poor basic proxy server support, poor flash support in browsers that had proxy support, poor support for anything other than embeded flash videos (mpg in Espresso) etc etc etc. Another major learning platform for us (EducationCity) required real keystrokes to play learning games.A netbook for half the price didn’t have any issues at all. Nice that you’ve found something that works for you but having spent lots of time evalulating IPads/Android tablet – I’ve lost he will to try another one!

Comment on Strategically planning for use of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the classroom by primarypete

primarypete — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:14:00 +0000

Thanks – we didn’t go with them in the end BUT we have just made a substantial purchase of tablets – new post coming very soon!!

Comment on Strategically planning for use of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the classroom by Anne Croft

Anne Croft — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:50:00 +0000

Glad to hear someone else has gone with the Galaxy Tabs rather than Ipads. We use the huge amount of free internet sites constantly and it didn’t make sense to me to use ipads with no Flash. It would prevent us using so many sites we have accounts with. Plus we use google apps and the Android works so much better. So many schools are buying ipads to just use the apps without looking at the Galaxy tabs.

Comment on Using ICT to impact on basic skills by Janelisawaite

Janelisawaite — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:13:00 +0000

Pete, I totally agree – we have a good old fashioned QCA based ICT curriculum which provides some solid basic ICT skills (all be it rather dated) and glimmers of topic/skill ICT use over and above this. But all too often our class PC’s are out of commission (no sound card/links not working/network tumbleweeding etc) or the teachers are so worried with the dash to keep up with evidence in books and covering every bit in the curriculum and ‘all pupils must make be seen to be making progress in every lesson’ mantra mean that ‘self managed’ learning on tech is abandoned for a more traditional approach. I am trying to get hold of some 2nd hand android phones – so that kids can quickly pick up a phonics or handwriting (with a stylus) app with no fuss/no waiting for the network…. mmm will it work….and have 5 mins or so of a targetted intervention and pass it on. Not sure if this is a pipe dream. Feels like we should be able to have more skills based tech apps just fitting in to those spare few minutes here and there. Am very interested to find anyone who is getting on with this. Am also grappling with the old dusty un-used laptop bank (only I use them now). We have education city, first phonics, a VLE that I can link up to ictgames/kented etc etc… its just getting these things in PRACTICAL use.So we aren’t on the path – just hanging around on the edges but Im really keen to get us on the road to basic skills and expoliting kit/s/w.

Comment on APP Spreadsheets by Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:04:00 +0000

Just found your website and finding it really interesting having a look around. I’ve seen these type of sheets before, some linked to SIMS too but have always been a little sceptical about the workload side of things but your sheets look much more manageable. I was just wodnering how people have found them, if they’ve used them for a while. I have been used to (and liked) using an APP sheet for every child but we’ve had to reduce to only 6 and I’m finding it tough to manage as I have the ‘show’ folder and then all the others, which when you pull out don’t have the ’6 monitored’ children in – arrgh! So I am thinking I could keep the folder of evidence for hte 6 adn the hard copy sheets adn use these spreadsheets for the whole class.
Thanks for sharing.

Comment on #classroomorg by Jo Badge

Jo Badge — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:27:00 +0000

thanks for these Pete – they are invaluable tips for PGCE students like me

Comment on #classroomorg Stash and flash by Jo Badge

Jo Badge — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:22:00 +0000

I like this idea! Something similar I’d heard recently, more specifically for maths, was along the think, pair, share idea. Children to think of their answer silently, then turn to look at their partner when they have the answer. Only when BOTH children are looking at each other, can they share their answers. If they disagree, get them to share their methods with each other to see if either took a wrong step along the way, or can justify their thought process to the other.

Comment on #classroomorg The first 5 minutes of the day by Andy Parkin

Andy Parkin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:08:00 +0000

Working in an international school I have a whole host of different nationalities in my class, so we choose a new language to answer the register in each week, going round the class. The child that week teaches the class a phrase in their home language which we then all say. This embraces interculturism and also makes the register a fun learning experience. When we have been round all home languages in class we then pick a new language – great link to help with this is – http://users.elite.net/runner/jennifers/hello.htm

Comment on #classroomorg The first 5 minutes of the day by primarypete

primarypete — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:26:00 +0000

I agree – Secondary would be every single session! Like the emotional register idea.

Comment on #classroomorg The first 5 minutes of the day by Greg Perry

Greg Perry — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:20:00 +0000

Hi Pete. I blogged about this very topic a few weeks ago:
http://www.futurebehaviour.co.uk/good-lessons-hardly-ever-start-badly/

I totally agree that “first 5 minutes” is key but I think the first 5 of *every* lesson are important – this is especially true in secondary with a new set of students coming in each period. Your point about directing children towards an activity rather than away from negative behaviours is spot on.

Also, we do the “emotional register” with our form each day. We say “good morning” and the children reply with “good morning, I’m a …” and give us number 1 to 5. We get an idea of how they’re feeling and can sometimes help earlier than we might otherwise do. Works for us!