Thursday, 27 October 2011

Key Stage 2 Maths - SATS Papers


What are SATS?
SATS (Standard Assessment Tests) tests are given at the end of year 2, year 6 and year 9. They are used to show your child's progress compared with other children born around the same time. The mean (average) score for each age group on an assessment is set at 100 and the standard deviation at 15. For any age group a given numerical value has the same meaning in terms of standing relative to the group. For example, an eight year old and a nine year old, each of whom has a standard age score of 105, have performed equally well in relation to the average for their respective age groups.
Are you set for SATs revision?
You could be in the midst of one of three lots of Standard Assessment Tests (SATs)
Key Stage 1
SATs take place in year 2. Each child is teacher assessed in Reading, writing (spelling and handwriting), maths (number, shape, space and measurement) and science. Your child's class teacher will set short pieces of work in English and maths to judge what level of ability your child reflects.
Key Stage 2
SATs are far more formal than Key Stage 1, thus may seem much more stressful! The tests which are taken in year 6 cover the three core subjects, English, Maths and Science. More intelligent children may be assessed by teachers to see if they can reach higher levels. The papers are sent away to be marked with results being available before your child leaves primary school.
Key Stage 3 teacher assessments
The Key Stage 3 teacher assessment for 14 year olds covers:
English 
Science 
History 
Geography 
Modern foreign languages
Design and technology 
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Art and design
Music 
Physical education 
Citizenship
Religious education
Here is a simple table to show you the expectations of a child:

Level Comments
Level W  Working towards level 1, very weak
Level 1  Average for a typical 5 year old
Level 2  Average for a typical 7 year old
Level 3  Average for a typical 9 year old
Level 4  Average for a typical 11 year old
Level 5  Average for a typical 13 year old
Level 6  Average for a typical 14 year old
Level 7  Above average for typical 14 year old
Level 8  Only available in maths

You may find bands 'a', 'b' and 'c' are given within the levels. This simply indicates a range within the level, A being the highest and C being the lowest.
SATS results, together with the teacher's assessment are used to stream your child at secondary school so it is important that you focus on them.

KeyStageTwo.com is currently working with schools across the British Isles to offer cost reducing benefits to schools across the UK. The system is currently working in 35 schools, and is in talks with various government agencies to have the system installed on a national level within the UK.

Key Stage Two is an affordable education system which integrates education with entertainment by linking education with fun online games which test the child while they learn. We have recorded great results with children spending on average 40 minutes per evening on the system, doing homework and usually additional tests, hence improving the acuity and performance of even the most hard to reach pupil.

The system has identified the following benefits to schools:
-Overall School Cost Reduction due to less homework needing printed it saves money
-Very low price means it is affordable for all schools as well as home tutors
-Teacher Time Reduction due to the reduced amount of marking
-Non Discriminatory, offering facilities to aid children who do not have home computers
-Environmentally friendly reducing your need for printing
-It helps schools meet their own IT targets
-Full Customer Support team in place meaning any queries are dealt with.
-There is a marked Improvement in Children’s performance particularly those who are hard to engage through traditional methods
-Tracking of Child Performance provided by the system enables constructive lesson support, identifying particular areas of weakness in particular pupils as well as the class as a whole.
Now taking sign-ups for November 2011 at http://www.keystagetwo.com or try the Demo at http://www.keystagetwo.com/demo

Key Stage 2 Maths – Teaching Resources


 There are numerous websites available on the internet to support teachers, schools, tutors and parents. 
They can use these websites for a range of resources in order to educate their children; such as,

Maths sums
Literacy skills
Games
Puzzles 
Lesson plans
Fact sheets
Videos
Spellings
Activities

However, KeyStageTwo.com is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for everything KeyStageTwo!


KS2 is the abbreviated term for the Key Stage 2 of the compulsory schooling system in the United Kingdom. Under this system, key stages are the different phases during student life created on the basis of the learning levels, categorisation of teaching topics and teaching resources to be used. The four distinct stages are Key Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Key Stage 1: Ages 5-7 (Years 1-2)
Key Stage 2: Ages 7-11 (Years 3-6)
Key Stage 3: Ages 11-14 (Years 7-9)
Key Stage 4: Ages 14-16 (Years 10-11)

At Key Stages 1 and 2, there are a number of core and foundation subjects that all children will learn.
The Core subjects are Maths, English and Science.

As the pupils progress, they start to learn other subjects such as Technology and Design and ICT (Information and Communication Technology), Geography, Art, Music, PE and History.

Schools also have a duty by law to teach Religious Education, but it is not a necessity for children to attend these classes if parents decide not to include them in these lessons.  Schools are also advised to teach personal, social and health education (PSHE), citizenship, and at least one modern foreign language.




The subjects commonly taught at the KS2 are English, Maths, History, Geography, Science, Languages, Art, PSHE and citizenship. For teachers, KS2 can be both fun as well as challenging. It is fun since children are involved but the challenge lies in the fact that you would be following a National Curriculum where at the end of KS2 the children would be accessed through a timed examination (KS2 SATS). The way they perform would show how well they have been taught from standard 2-6.

KS2 involves using various kinds of teaching resources so that the learning process becomes student centric, interesting and developmental. Some of the most popular and effective resources are presentations, games, quizzes, activities, worksheets, flashcards, interactive blackboard exercises, etc. Colourful, informative and interactive presentations or worksheets can be used while addressing an assembly on theoretical knowledge about a topic or instructing about how to go about doing something, e.g. writing poems.

Creativity thought out activities also goes a long way in making learning interesting. For example, assigning students to be tree detectives and chalk out an activity so that they learn about all tree details. Provide the world map as a puzzle and let them fix it. Games like hangman are very useful in word construction. Showing a set of informative flashcards and asking the associated information is one of the best memorizing techniques and can be used extensively in case of subjects like Science and History.
There are various activities on KeyStageTwo, or that can be created which teachers, parents and tutors may use for KS2. The best strategy for teachers is to plan the lesson well regarding what is to be taught, creatively assess what kind of resource would suit the students best, view the resources or create them, use them effectively and regularly monitor progress and evaluate progress of the pupils, using KeyStageTwo.com



Key Stage Two.com is compliant with The National Curriculum, which is a framework used by all maintained schools to ensure that teaching and learning is equal and consistent.
It defines:

-The list of subjects to be taught
-The understanding, skills and knowledge required for each subject
-Standards or achievement targets in each subject, (SATs) - teachers can use these results to track a pupils progress and plan the next steps in their education
-How a pupil’s progress is assessed and reported.

Whilst staying within the context of the National Curriculum, schools are permitted to plan and organise teaching and education in a way that best meets the needs of their pupils.

Key Stage Two.com  - The only resource you’ll need!

If your child is aged between 7 and 11 why not join http://www.keystagetwo.com
It is a virtual learning environment that successfully manages to combine fun games with education, whilst concentrating on the subjects your child is learning in school to help boost their grades in a fun and engaging way.  KeyStageTwo.com is National Curriculum compliant and is now being used in schools and homes throughout Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. 

Now taking sign-ups for November 2011 at http://www.keystagetwo.com or try the Demo at http://www.keystagetwo.com/demo

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Key Stage 2 Maths - Key Stage Two Games



Kids love playing video games within the classroom – they're a superb way for them to be taught whilst also having fun, and have been proven to motivate children in learning.   With advances in ICT and interactivity in classrooms, Key Stage Two have developed and perfected a fun and exciting game that actually ties in with the guidelines as determined by the National Curriculum. Keystagetwo.com – It is our vision to make learning fun!

When using the system your children can use a variety of games such as maths questions, phrase types, sentences, spelling and sequencing, which won't only stimulate and encourage, but  meet the lesson objectives of the National Curriculum. Your children enter a fantasy pirate world called Buccaneers & Lobsters where they can partake in quests and adventures to become the Admiral of the Fleet while completing their home-work online in a fun and interactive way.


During Key Stage Two, children aged between 7 and 11 start to use a wider vary of ICT instruments and are creating their analysis skills. They're additionally learning how they can amend their work and current academic essay writing it in a way that fits the audience.
What better way to teach a child self-control and moral reasoning by combining fun games with education.  When engaged in a game, the child has to learn that even in the emotional excitement of an intense game, he or she has to observe rules and regulations; to choose between fair or unfair, right and wrong, and to act on those choices appropriately.

KS2 Games are a great way to improve mental skills, and often bring with them a lot of significant benefits, they have a far greater educational influence than most people are aware of. Many children with developmental disabilities, who don't normally seem to react to their environments are often completely transformed when playing games.  They also contribute a great deal to social development. Many kids, because of problems at home, shyness or physical disability find it hard to react with others. Developmental studies show that children that are usually shy or withdrawn, have shown a lot of improvement in their ability to cooperate with playmates, and have even increased their popularity among their playmates because of skills brought about by playing games.   Keystagetwo.com successfully combines learning and education through children playing games online.

A child’s learning in school starts in the foundation stage from 3 years old, and runs through to age 15 at GCSE level. The National Curriculum, which sets out the areas of children's learning, is followed by all state schools is broken down into 4 key stages following the age bands of the children.
Crucial to all learning for kids is the element of fun and enjoyment that helps develop confidence.   Keystagetwo.com offers a growing selection of teaching resources to support key stage 2. Developed by teachers and educationalists it combines educational games to help a child develop all subject areas of Key Stage 2. They include learning games and software to complement kids learning against all key stages and SAT's revision such as KS2 English and KS2 Science.


If your child is aged between 7 and 11 why not join http://www.keystagetwo.com
It is a virtual learning environment that successfully manages to combine fun games with education, whilst concentrating on the subjects your child is learning in school to help boost their grades in a fun and engaging way.  KeyStageTwo.com is National Curriculum compliant and is now being used in schools and homes throughout Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. 

Now taking sign-ups for November 2011 at http://www.keystagetwo.com or try the Demo at http://www.keystagetwo.com/demo

Monday, 24 October 2011

Key Stage 2 Maths - Key Stage 2 Tests

 
This article, brought to you by KeyStageTwo.com looks at KS2 Tests, Teacher Assessments, the National Curriculum, and how KeyStageTwo.com can really help your child through this important time in their education.

The National Curriculum teacher assessments are designed to give you and your child's school information about how well your child is performing in school.
Teacher assessments……
At the end of each key stage, your child's teacher will officially measure their performance in order to determine your child's progress.
Of course, throughout the year your child's teacher will be informally assessing their learning at other times to help them plan future teaching. They may, for example, listen to your child read, ask them questions in class or look at their maths work.  Some schools may also use non-compulsory tests to assess children's progress to boost their education.

National Curriculum levels…..
During Key Stages 1-3, progress in most National Curriculum subjects is assessed against eight levels. At the end of Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 the school will compile a report advising you what level your child is working at.
At Key Stage 1 the level will be based on the teacher's assessment, taking into account your child’s performance in several tasks and tests.
At Key Stage 2 the level will reflect the teacher’s assessment and your child’s national test results.
At Key Stage 3 the level will be based on the teacher's assessment.
'End of key stage' tests…..
Your child will take national tests at the end of Key Stage 2. The tests are designed to show if your child is working at, above, or below the target level for their age group.
The results of these tests allow the school to determine whether they are teaching effectively, by comparing the pupils' performance to the national average results, and also helps them plan future learning for the child.



Key Stage 2 tests for 11 year olds cover:
-English - reading, writing (including handwriting) and spelling.
-Maths - including mental arithmetic.
-Science.
These tests are taken on set days in mid-May, and should not take more than five-and-a-half hour’s altogether to complete.

By the age of 11, most children are expected to achieve level 4.

Q. How can KeyStageTwo.com help my child throughout this important time in their education?
A. KeyStageTwo.com is currently working with schools across the British Isles to offer cost reducing benefits to schools across the UK. The system is currently working in 23 schools, and is in talks with various government agencies to have the system installed on a national level within the UK.

Key Stage Two is an affordable education system which integrates education with entertainment by linking education with fun online games which test the child while they learn. We have recorded great results with children spending on average 40 minutes per evening on the system, doing homework’s and usually additional tests, hence improving the acuity and performance of even the most hard to reach pupil.

The system has identified the following benefits to schools:
-Overall School Cost Reduction due to less homework’s needing printed it saves money
-Very low price means it is affordable for all schools as well as home tutors
-Teacher Time Reduction due to the reduced amount of marking
-Non Discriminatory, offering facilities to aid children who do not have home computers
-Environmentally friendly reducing your need for printing
-It helps schools meet their own IT targets
-Full Customer Support team in place meaning any queries are dealt with.
-There is a marked Improvement in Children’s performance particularly those who are hard to engage through traditional methods
-Tracking of Child Performance provided by the system enables constructive lesson support, identifying particular areas of weakness in particular pupils as well as the class as a whole.

If your child is aged between 7 and 11 why not join http://www.keystagetwo.com
It is a virtual learning environment that successfully manages to combine fun games with education, whilst concentrating on the subjects your child is learning in school to help boost their grades in a fun and engaging way.  KeyStageTwo.com is National Curriculum compliant and is now being used in schools and homes throughout Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. 

Now taking sign-ups for November 2011 at http://www.keystagetwo.com or try the Demo at http://www.keystagetwo.com/demo