Homework
Times Tables Rock Stars
At Skerne Park Academy, we use Times Tables Rock Stars for Years 2 to 6. It is an online platform where your child can:
- Work on times tables that their teacher has set especially for them.
- Improve speed.
- Play against friends and other children.
Each week your children will be involved in a battle of the band. The aim is to see which class can earn the most amount of points. Teachers will share the news each week and the class that wins receives a reward.
Each Friday in our celebration assembly children are presented with certificates for:
- Most improved studio speed in the last 7 days.
- Most improved accuracy in the last 7 days.
For more information check out the guides below.
Children’s Guide
Parents and Carers Guide
Spelling Shed
Spelling Shed is a fun and engaging way for children to confidently learn their spellings as they progress through the school, from Year 1 to 6.
At Skerne Park Academy, we use Spelling Shed to support children on their spelling journey and they progress through a range of games, levels and challenges. The spelling lists on Spelling Shed are grouped together, helping children to learn and apply different spelling rules effectively.
Children are able to compete against their teachers and classmates in challenges, assignments and hive games.
Every week, teachers set an assignment linked to the pupil’s spelling words, helping them to practise their spellings in a fun and exciting way in preparation for our weekly spelling test. Children can also choose to practise past spellings to consolidate past learning. Children, staff and parents are able to keep track of achievements through the points and honeypots that are awarded as the children progress.
The game has been developed to be ‘dyslexia friendly’, using the ‘Open Dyslexic’ font and there are three levels of difficulty to support pupils of all abilities through the spelling lists with appropriate degrees of challenge.
Pupils from Year 1 (Stage 1) to Year 6 (Stage 6) can access Spelling Shed using their personal logins, which are provided by teachers at the start of the academic year.
KS1 Common Exception Word Lists:
KS2 Statutory Word Lists:
The Importance of Reading
Reading is essential for children to become successful in school and in their journey through life. Most of a child’s learning is done from reading books. The better a child can read, the easier it will be for them to learn what they need to in school.
Home Reading
- Every child is given a Home Reading Record in which they take home a reading book every day.
- Home Reading Books are NOT changed daily – they are changed weekly to encourage fluency.
- If the child is accessing phonics, they take home a Read Write Inc Book.
- To find out which book band your child is on, speak to your child’s class teacher.
- Home Reading Books are brought in daily, parents must sign to see that the children have read some of their book the previous night.
- If a child does not return their home reading book 3 days in a row, speak to parents.
- Each child has a ‘Skerne Park Lobster’ to read to and/or their own toys/siblings to read to.
E-Books to Read Online
Oxford Owl
Highly recommended site with a good selection of online books. You will be able to access some books for your current reading level. But read whatever you choose! There are some interesting online and printable activities that go alongside some of the e-books provided.
Magic Keys
Lots of books like ‘The Gingerbread Man’ for younger readers, to the ‘Halloween House’ for older readers. Just the text here, so you can enjoy some silent reading. There is audio on some books.
Open Library
For older children, an excellent selection of books to read online. Includes some classics like Peter Rabbit, Andersen’s Fairytales and The Jungle Book. Parents might want to help you select one to read.
Classic Books
For pure classic texts as PDF, Word, or audiobook, look no further! ‘The Railway Children’ and ‘Alice in Wonderland’ are examples. The older children can get lost in the world of these wonderful stories.
Gateway to the Classics
A vast array of well-known literature for all levels. It is all text, so enjoy reading for pleasure. The Velveteen Rabbit is a classic!
To listen to stories being read aloud, whilst you read the text:
Storyline online
Lots of lovely stories to choose from to be read to you by storyteller. You can follow the text with the video too!
Choose from a range of stories or non-fiction for it to be read to you whilst you follow text. Stories can be read in other languages too.
Audible
Free children’s audio books with many talented and well-known actors bringing stories to life for you.
Early Shakespeare
A fantastic introduction for Primary children to the works of the master – Shakespeare. There are four levels to choose from, so the language used can be close to original or simplified for younger children. As they are plays, you can click on the characters to hear their speech.
For Younger Readers
Collins
This is an excellent resource with free access to over 330 e-books from their primary reading programme called Big Cat, along with free printable worksheets and online activities to practice comprehension skills.
Username: parents@harpercollins.co.uk
Password: Parents20!
