Soft Technology

I recently discovered a bit of a game changer when it comes to accessing engaging texts to use in class, see the video here: It has inspired an incredible English project where we deconstructed the model text from the film before writing and performing our own audio descriptions over one of my favourite clips from Infinity War. Here is an example of the finished efforts from our pupils: There are so many possible ways in which this idea can be adapted to different films with audio descriptions. If you're interested in more detailed tutorials to create this, sign up to MrPICT.com. Over the past couple of weeks, I have added the option to subscribe directly through the website. There is also the option to subscribe as a school so your whole staff can access all the training videos and content. The subscriptions options are: Individual Teachers: £3.50 a month through Facebook - Click Here Individual Teachers: £3.50 a month through the website or subscribe annually and save £5. Small S...

As much as I love technology, I will always talk about the importance of reading on my CPD sessions. It really annoys me when people like to blame technology as a reason why children don't read as much. We like to blame technology for a number of things but for me, it comes down to choices. I hope through this blog and my social media pages, I demonstrate how, when used effectively, it can transform teaching and learning. Unfortunately, I think too many of us make the wrong choices with technology. When pictures like this appear on my social feeds, it does wind me up because they both can be valuable and certainly enhance each other: For me, technology can enhance the reading experience allowing pupils to explore texts in more creative ways. This is something I wanted to promote in my yearly Christmas video. For the past 9 years, I always treat my pupils to a silly video at the end of our annual talent show. To see what I have produced previously - CLICK HERE. This year, I de...

It is that time of year!! We've been waiting all year in anticipation for the new John Lewis Christmas Advert and I love this year's effort. I know not everyone is a fan. Personally, I think it is more about people possibly not liking Elton John but the message of the advert is brilliant. If you're not a fan, you can always use the adverts I have previously blogged about here: Here is this year's advert: As always, I would start with the text, What text I hear you cry? The song! One of my favourite songs, I just love it! YOUR SONG Why do you think the song has this title?  Who is this song going to be about? It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside I'm not one of those who can easily hide I don't have much money, but boy if I did I'd buy a big house where we both could live If I was a sculptor, but, but then again, no Or a woman who makes potions on a traveling show I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do My gift is my song, and this...

A couple of months ago, we released this eBook: The feedback from the eBook has been fantastic! You can get a taste of what is included in the eBook by clicking here. Building on this, I have now written and released another ebook, this time looking at Disney Villain Songs.  Click the picture to download a copy. This eBook is exclusive to the supporters of my Facebook page.  This video explains all about the Facebook supporter page.  Here is a taste of what is included in the Disney Villain Comprehension eBook: Tangled - Mother Knows Best You want to go outside? Why, Rapunzel...! Look at you, as fragile as a flower Still a little sapling, just a sprout You know why we stay up in this tower Rapunzel: I know but... That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear What does Gothel compare Rapunzel to? A flower What is a sapling? A young tree What is a sprout? It can either be the shoot of a plant or describe a young plant growing. Which word shows Gothel thinks Rapunzel i...

I've just seen the new Nike advert and was blown away. It has such a powerful message. The advert has been in the news and faced a backlash because of the narrator - Colin Kaepernick. The NFL star was the first athlete to kneel during pre-game anthems to protest against social and racial inequality in the US. I was, however, impressed with the advert as I believe it has a very powerful message. See what you think: Here is the text from the ad: If people say your dreams are crazy If they laugh at what you think you can do Good Stay that way Because what non-believers fail to understand is that calling a dream crazy is not an insult It's a compliment Don't try to be the fastest runner in your school Or the fastest in the world Be the fastest ever Don't picture yourself wearing OBJ's jersey Picture OBJ wearing yours Don't settle for homecoming queen or linebacker Do both Lose 120 pounds and become an Ironman after beating a brain tumor Don't believe you have t...

Before I start discussing what we did, it is only right to share where the original idea for this project came from. This blog post by the brilliant @Joe_Moretti  gave me the inspiration for this project - AR STORYCUBES PROJECT I have been using my iPad with my children to support them with their reading journal homework for a while now. My boys struggle with their handwriting and find it very onerous to write even though they have some great ideas. As discussed by @MrTullock at the Animate2Educate conference last week, technology should be used to enable children to show their knowledge and understanding even if they struggle with an element such as decoding or handwriting or spelling. I loved a quote he shared, and I have linked it in a poster to the story @CarolJAllen shared around the latest BGT winner. I want to use technology so my children and pupils can create content to express themselves, their knowledge and their understanding. Making our own Interactive Avengers ...

If you're in the midst of testing season, I am sure you can relate to these videos: This also made me chuckle, this chicken has nailed it as a teacher! 😂😂😂 Tag a teacher who walks like this! #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teachers A post shared by Lee Parkinson (@ict_mrp) on Jan 13, 2018 at 1:25pm PST I am sure every Year 6 teacher can also relate to this video from last year: Make sure you follow on Mr P on:

Ever since John Murray ( @ReadingExplorer ) visited our school around 5 years ago, our school's approach to reading has changed massively. One aspect of the training which has really engaged our teachers and students was the use of picture books as a stimulus in English. It is something we have embraced right from EYFS to Year 6 and every class do at least one unit of English based on a picture book. Since then, there's been a wealth of resources and support for using picture books to inspire English. One of my favourite people to follow on twitter is Simon Smith ( @SmithSmm ) who, for me, is like the guru of children's fiction. I was truly inspired by his session at Reading Rocks around the brilliant Arthur and The Golden Rope picture book. Click the picture to read Simon's blog post on this: Year 4 have started looking at the beautiful book 'Flotsam.' Having explored the first few pages, we decided to create short videos telling the story in our own words. To ...

Over the weekend, I finally managed to watch the film - The Greatest Showman. One of the songs stood out to me and straight away I thought, this is a must for the classroom. If you have followed my blog, you know I am a fan of using music for reading comprehension and you can read some of my other posts here . The film tells the story of PT Barnum and his circus. "This Is Me" is a fight song for people who are not accepted by society. It is sung by Lettie Lutz after she and the rest of the circus troupe are barred by Barnum from an after party following Jenny Lind's performance. The bearded lady refuses to be cut down by the fact that the showman is embarrassed by them. According to the song's writer, "It was really inspired by the group of oddities in the film, and what they came to represent and what [director] Michael [Gracey] talked about them representing," Pasek told Billboard. "People who had lived in the shadows their whole lives and for the fir...

A few years back, I put together an eBook - 15+ ideas for the emoji keyboard in class.  The eBook shared some useful and inspiring ideas for how to utilise the emoji keyboard. I have since blogged about using Bitmoji in class.  This is another great tool that allows teachers to turn themselves into a cartoon and then create images such as these to share with your pupils: I have just seen a blog from Mr Hill who shares some more ideas for Bitmoji, you can read it here. More recently, there has been a new tool that seems to have dominated every social media platform and that is GIFs. To define a GIF: An animated GIF is an image encoded in graphics interchange format (GIF), which contains a number of images or frames in a single file and is described by its own graphic control extension. The frames are presented in a specific order in order to convey animation. An animated GIF can loop endlessly or stop after a few sequences. GIFs seem to be everywhere and for the past few m...

I have blogged about the power of music in the classroom and have previously shared a number of songs which can be used in the classroom, especially for reading comprehension. You can read them here.  The song currently at Number 1 in the charts - These Days by Rudimental feat. Macklemore, Jess Glyne and Dan Caplen - is another great song which can be used in class. Here is a link to the music video: Here are the lyrics with some suggested questions: I know you moved onto someone new Hope life is beautiful You were the light for me to find my truth I just wanna say, thank you Who is the rapper speaking about? Are the couple still together? How do you know? No - moved onto someone new. How does he feel towards his old girlfriend? He still likes her - wishes her well Is this always the case when people split up? Open to discussion Do you think he regrets breaking up with her? No, the relationship helped him grow. Why is he thanking her? He recognises that she helped him on his j...

The next in the series takes a step back in time and uses some of the best hits from the 90s for those popular teacher catchphrases: Watch every volume of Now That's What I Call Being A Teacher Vol 1-14 here. Please subscribe on YouTube.