When your child starts school or begins to need further support with their education, it can sometimes be tricky to know where to look to find the best free online resources to help.
Here we present some of the best we have come across.
Topmarks
Topmarks is a website that I have used both in teaching/tutoring and in supporting my daughters to consolidate their learning at home. As well as hosting its own fantastic interactive activities, it also links to other sites.
Stand out resource: Hit The Button – this can help with times tables, number bonds, doubles and halves. It’s good to have a basic knowledge first as the timed element makes it more challenging.
Duolingo
Use as either a website or app (or both!) to learn or enhance your skills in a foreign language, Duolingo is a great resource. Us Brits have quit a bad reputation as poor when it comes to learning another country’s language. However, this could help reverse that stereotype. A great free online resource for both children and adults alike! It is free but with adverts, which can be removed if you pay for a subscription – but I’ve never bothered to do that.
YouTube
Ok, so this might sound a little strange, but I promise you that YouTube has some of the best free online resources for educators available. Learning things through the medium of song or simply watching someone explain something via a cartoon can really help to embed new concepts.
Here are some of our favourites:
BBC Bitesize
I remember recording BBC Bitesize GCSE revision videos when I was studying at the age of 16… who would have thought that BBC Bitesize would still be offering such great support for pupils of all ages? Primary (including early years), secondary and post-16 students are catered for in a variety of subjects and through activities, videos and worksheets.
Stand out resource: Dance Mat Typing is a fantastic and fun way in which your child can learn to touch type. It’s a skill imperative to the modern world as how often do we find ourselves confronted by a computer rather than pen and paper these days?
Wordwall
Aimed at teachers who are looking to create fun, engaging and interactive activities for their students quickly and easily, Wordwall actually is one of our favourite free online resources for use at home, too. Although you do have to register for an account, it is certainly worthwhile. The basic package is enough to use for your child(ren) at home as you can search for resources others have created.
Stand out resource: the Whack-a-Mole games are always a hit!
So there you have just a handful of the best free online resources that are available to support your child’s learning. Please feel free to email us if you have any other suggestions that you feel must be added to our list: info@blossomeducation.co.uk
