Hi,
I was asked by Heather from Twinkl (thanks Heather!) to review one of their subscriptions so here goes...
There is so much to review that it would not be possible to discuss all of the areas, however this is a positive of having everything you need when you look for it and if not you can either create your own unique resources or ask them to make it for you! I have decided to focus on some key areas that I will find particularly useful during my teacher training.
I was asked by Heather from Twinkl (thanks Heather!) to review one of their subscriptions so here goes...
There is so much to review that it would not be possible to discuss all of the areas, however this is a positive of having everything you need when you look for it and if not you can either create your own unique resources or ask them to make it for you! I have decided to focus on some key areas that I will find particularly useful during my teacher training.
EAL resources for EYFS
My first placement is going to be within a school in Foundation Stage where many children have English as an additional language so I have been looking through the resources in this area. The resources are related to the EYFS however it would depend on the abilities of the each child on what you would use. It is important to note that not all children with EAL require any differentiation although some may require additional support. I particularly like the 'Silent circle game' suggestion, where the circle time requires no speaking at all and can include things like pass the action or using musical instruments. This is a great starting point that you could use not only for children with EAL but as a whole class to engage in turn taking activities and promote positive behaviour. I also like the 'Jigsaw puzzle' which is a matching jigsaw. This can be used effectively to broaden a child's vocabulary even with limited language as you can differentiate questions throughout the puzzle.
How long have I spent in the past asking parents for key words in their language or trawling through the internet when there are many key words in other languages such as Polish and Chinese on Twinkl. These are a great starting point to your classroom and can be effective for starting to build relationships with new children and their parents. Some of the resources such as the pronunciation posters I would not display within the classroom however they are a useful reminder to model when children are finding it difficult to pronounce sounds.
New National Curriculum
As the National Curriculum is now in place there is a handy section full of new ideas. I have been working my way around the KS1 section as I am covering KS1 in my teacher training. There are teaching packs and plans which can provide an overview of your topic. Some topics include living things and their habitats and telling the time. Although I wouldn't use these resources in isolation they are a useful addition to use where you feel appropriate so this is a useful section to look at when planning new topics.
Halloween
As Halloween is very close by I looked at some of the resources for this topic. I found the KS1 Teaching and activity pack really useful. The lesson plan sheet which covers English, Maths, Science, Art and ICT can be easily adapted to the new curriculum. There is a step by step pumpkin soup recipe which is easy for children to follow. Also there are some resources to use as an extension to the 'Room on the broom' story - always a favourite at Halloween! As I have been reading this story with my children I will be using some extension activities for them. I am going to try the matching game with my 2 year old and use the role play headbands to create a guessing game for my 6 year old.
I could go on and on looking at these resources however I will leave it there with a few final points and upload any Twinkl resources I use in the future on Pinterest.
Overall this is a fab site to use with many useful resources for school and home. It is well worth paying for the yearly subscription as you get access all resources and can request anything else you need or make your own. If you cannot afford the subscription then it is still worth registering free as you still get access to some of the resources. The website can be a little tricky to navigate as some resources cross over into different sections e.g. EYFS resources in the KS1 section, however once you have found your way around you should easily find what you need. It is important to note as I has said before in this review not to use all of the resources in isolation. The resources are only as good as the person using them! So be open-minded, creative and you will find them very useful. If you are, like me, a student doing teacher training then I definitely recommend subscribing to their website!
Thanks again Twinkl for giving me the opportunity to review the site which has enabled me to gain a wider insight to the resources I can use throughout my teacher training and beyond!
Pam :)
My first placement is going to be within a school in Foundation Stage where many children have English as an additional language so I have been looking through the resources in this area. The resources are related to the EYFS however it would depend on the abilities of the each child on what you would use. It is important to note that not all children with EAL require any differentiation although some may require additional support. I particularly like the 'Silent circle game' suggestion, where the circle time requires no speaking at all and can include things like pass the action or using musical instruments. This is a great starting point that you could use not only for children with EAL but as a whole class to engage in turn taking activities and promote positive behaviour. I also like the 'Jigsaw puzzle' which is a matching jigsaw. This can be used effectively to broaden a child's vocabulary even with limited language as you can differentiate questions throughout the puzzle.
How long have I spent in the past asking parents for key words in their language or trawling through the internet when there are many key words in other languages such as Polish and Chinese on Twinkl. These are a great starting point to your classroom and can be effective for starting to build relationships with new children and their parents. Some of the resources such as the pronunciation posters I would not display within the classroom however they are a useful reminder to model when children are finding it difficult to pronounce sounds.
New National Curriculum
As the National Curriculum is now in place there is a handy section full of new ideas. I have been working my way around the KS1 section as I am covering KS1 in my teacher training. There are teaching packs and plans which can provide an overview of your topic. Some topics include living things and their habitats and telling the time. Although I wouldn't use these resources in isolation they are a useful addition to use where you feel appropriate so this is a useful section to look at when planning new topics.
Halloween
As Halloween is very close by I looked at some of the resources for this topic. I found the KS1 Teaching and activity pack really useful. The lesson plan sheet which covers English, Maths, Science, Art and ICT can be easily adapted to the new curriculum. There is a step by step pumpkin soup recipe which is easy for children to follow. Also there are some resources to use as an extension to the 'Room on the broom' story - always a favourite at Halloween! As I have been reading this story with my children I will be using some extension activities for them. I am going to try the matching game with my 2 year old and use the role play headbands to create a guessing game for my 6 year old.
I could go on and on looking at these resources however I will leave it there with a few final points and upload any Twinkl resources I use in the future on Pinterest.
Overall this is a fab site to use with many useful resources for school and home. It is well worth paying for the yearly subscription as you get access all resources and can request anything else you need or make your own. If you cannot afford the subscription then it is still worth registering free as you still get access to some of the resources. The website can be a little tricky to navigate as some resources cross over into different sections e.g. EYFS resources in the KS1 section, however once you have found your way around you should easily find what you need. It is important to note as I has said before in this review not to use all of the resources in isolation. The resources are only as good as the person using them! So be open-minded, creative and you will find them very useful. If you are, like me, a student doing teacher training then I definitely recommend subscribing to their website!
Thanks again Twinkl for giving me the opportunity to review the site which has enabled me to gain a wider insight to the resources I can use throughout my teacher training and beyond!
Pam :)