Online safety has always been and will always be a key priority at EdShed. It goes without saying that we are fully compliant with GDPR, COPPA and FERPA to ensure your data is handled securely, but what else do we do to ensure you and your pupils are kept safe on our platform? 1. EdShed is free from advertisements EdShed is …
8 Ways EdShed Keeps You and Your Pupils Safe Online Read More »
Introducing Computing Shed… the new EdShed product designed to reduce workload, deliver a fully joined-up computing scheme in one place and improve computing outcomes. Coming very soon! One of the major perks of running an EdTech company and also being educators ourselves is the number of educators we speak to on a daily basis. One thing that repeatedly comes up in conversation is the ever-increasing impact and influence of AI in our society and the importance …
Introducing Computing Shed: The NEW Computing Scheme from EdShed Read More »
Like many educators, we eagerly awaited the release of the Writing Framework with our highlighters and post-it notes at the ready. In this blog post, we share seven key takeaways from the spelling section, along with our thoughts and how Spelling Shed aligns with it. 1. Spelling is key in releasing memory space for writing One of …
What Does the Writing Framework Say About Spelling? 7 Things You Need to Know Read More »
Did you know that most SSP (systematic synthetic phonics) programmes do not meet the National Curriculum statutory requirements for Key Stage 1? Phonics schemes are designed to meet the National Curriculum objectives for word reading and often miss spelling objectives. Often objectives like those listed below are omitted from phonics schemes. These objectives need to be covered in order to meet National Curriculum requirements; therefore, …
Using Spelling Shed Alongside Your Phonics Scheme Read More »
When schools choose to use Spelling Shed alongside Read Write Inc. Phonics, they often ask how it aligns. Spelling Shed can work hand-in-hand with Read Write Inc. Phonics. Remember that phonics schemes are designed to meet the National Curriculum objectives for word reading and often miss spelling objectives. Therefore, we recommend using Spelling Shed from Years 1 and 2. What do you need to consider? …
Using Spelling Shed Alongside Read Write Inc. Phonics Read More »
Lots of schools who choose to use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds also choose Spelling Shed as their spelling programme. This is because they align well together. It is important to use a spelling scheme alongside your phonics programme, as phonics schemes are designed to meet the National Curriculum objectives for word reading and often miss spelling objectives, therefore we recommend schools …
Using Spelling Shed Alongside Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Read More »
Big words, bold outfits and buzzing classrooms. Spelling Shed Launch or Relaunch Day is all about enthusiasm for vocabulary. It’s more than rummaging around and getting creative to dress up as a word, it’s the start of encouraging curiosity with words, showing pupils that spelling is genuinely fun. From clever puns to full-character transformations, teachers and pupils bring language to life in ways that last …
How to Launch and Relaunch Spelling Shed with Dress as a Word Day! Read More »
What is morphology and does it really matter? Where does etymology fit into the teaching of spelling? Here are some key takeaways. You can read part 1 of this blog series here, part 2 here and part 3 here. What is morphology? ‘Morphe’ means ‘form’ and ‘-ology’ means ‘the study of’, so morphology is the study of how words are formed. A …
How to Teach Spelling Effectively – Part Four: Morphology and Etymology Read More »
What should every teacher know about orthographic knowledge? Why is it so important to effectively teach spelling? Here are nine key takeaways. You can read part 1 of this blog series here and part 2 here. The diagram below shows the elements that build up our linguistic knowledge, including orthographic knowledge. The more times this process is repeated, the more solidly …
How to Teach Spelling Effectively – Part Three: Orthographic Knowledge (9 Key Takeaways) Read More »
When we think of phonics, we might think about our systematic, synthetic phonics programme that often ends at Key Stage One, but should phonics really end there? The simple answer is no. Phonics is a key part of reading and spelling beyond Key Stage One. Here are eight key takeaways of why phonics is important for all children. Read part one of this blog …
How to Teach Spelling Effectively – Part Two: Phonics for All (8 Key Takeaways) Read More »
How do you teach spelling effectively? First, we need to look at spelling skills and what is current common classroom practice. Here are nine key takeaways: 1. There are lots of influences on our spelling system. “It’s just spelled that way”, “it’s just a strange spelling”, “the English language is complicated”. These are many things that people say. Often the reason for this folk …
How to Teach Spelling Effectively – Part One: Spelling Skills (9 Key Takeaways) Read More »
If you’re ADHD, you’re three times more likely to be an entrepreneur but ten times more likely to end up in jail. What is the reality of growing up with ADHD and how can we help children onto the best path for them?
Neurodivergent Educational Psychologist Dr Joanne Riordan shares her top tips for supporting learners with dyslexia. Dyslexia is not a deficit — it’s a different way of thinking, learning, and experiencing the world. As an Educational Psychologist, a neurodivergent person, and a parent to a dyslexic child, I see the full picture — from the classroom …
Supporting Our Dyslexic Learners: 10 Things All Adults Should Know Read More »
The whole of the EdShed interface is being changed and updated to improve educators’ (or sheducators’) experience of EdShed. This has started with our leading product, Spelling Shed. Spelling Shed has had a huge new update, which is now on a preview release, that not only looks different but also gives educators a whole new wealth …
Part 4 of ‘How to Make the Most Out of Your Spelling Shed Subscription’ focuses on Spelling Shed’s writing scanner. Read part 1 here, part 2 here and part 3 here. Writing Scanner Spelling Shed’s writing scanner is a great assessment tool. You can upload an image of a pupil’s work to their …
How to Make the Most Out of Your Spelling Shed Subscription Part 4: Writing Scanner Read More »
Spelling Shed’s subscription includes a full research-based spelling scheme, spelling games, a full grammar curriculum, grammar games, Mastery Zone, end-of-term assessments, data and assessment tools, leagues, challenges and a writing scanner! Part 3 of ‘How to Make the Most Out of Your Spelling Shed Subscription’ focuses on all thing grammar including Spelling Shed’s Grammar …
Spelling Shed includes everything you need to teach and lead spelling effectively. Part 2 of ‘How to Make the Most Out of Your Spelling Shed Subscription’ focuses on data and assessment, leagues and challenges. Read part 1 here. Data and Assessment Spelling Shed includes a full suite of tools to enable schools and educators to …
How to Make the Most Out of Your Spelling Shed Subscription Part 2: Data and Assessment Read More »
Whether you’re new to Spelling Shed or have used Spelling Shed for years, it’s always useful to make sure you are getting the most out of your subscription, especially because there are always new features being released to enhance your experience. What once started as an app has escalated into a full multi-award-winning, innovative spelling …
Our avatar store has had a major update and has lots and lots of new accessories. Let’s Go Shopping! Spending honeypots is now better than ever. Will you and your pupils choose a new pet, a new flag, a new instrument or some facial hair? If you’re feeling lavish, you might go for the ultimate …
Upgrade Your Style: NEW Avatar Accessories Now Available Read More »
Cornerstone C of E Primary School is a wonderful Phonics Shed and Spelling Shed Showcase School based in Fareham, Hampshire. We spoke to them to find out the impact that EdShed has had at their school. We are a rapidly growing primary school, set to become a full three-form entry institution. Currently, we have approximately …
The Impact of Phonics Shed and Spelling Shed at Cornerstone C of E Primary School Read More »
Early Years educator, phonics specialist and author, Katie Whitehead (known to her followers as Phonics Family), shares her advice for developing vital pre-reading skills. In the UK, conversations about school readiness are louder than ever. The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has declared it a national priority with ambitious targets. For example, 75% of five-year-olds being …
Find out how Danesfield Primary School are using Phonics Shed to improve results in their school.
Pencoed Primary School are a fantastic Spelling Shed and MathShed Showcase School based in Bridgend, Wales. We spoke to them to find out the impact that EdShed has had at their school. “One of the key things we wanted to do was to improve our pupils’ higher-level vocabulary knowledge – this is where we came …
The Phonics Screening Check takes place in June each year. All eligible Year 1 pupils will participate and some Year 2 pupils will resit it if they did not pass it when they were in Year 1. If children are absent during this week, then they will complete the check during variation week (the week …
The Ultimate Guide to Preparing for the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check Read More »
Each year in May, all eligible Year 6 pupils are assessed using Key Stage 2 SATs tests. The KS2 English grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) test consists of two papers. GPS Paper 1 is a 45-minute, 50-mark test which focuses on grammar and punctuation questions. For an analysis of GPS paper 1, read our ‘Play …
Can preparing for Key Stage 2 SATs really be engaging and unintimidating? The simple answer is yes, of course it can and why shouldn’t it be? Preparing for KS2 SATs often looks like completing lots of past papers and whilst some of this is important, it’s also important for your preparation to be engaging and …
Play Your Way to SATs Success With Grammar Arcade Read More »
We’re delighted to announce that Spelling Shed is the winner of Bett’s Primary Digital Learning Product Language & Literacy Award. What Did the Judges Say? “This is a comprehensive resource for teachers to support teaching, learning and assessment of spelling. Its assessment tool is effective and reduces teacher workload. Parents can see their child’s learning …
We are always looking for new ways to improve your EdShed experience. That’s why we’ve created a new sign up process, designed to make it simpler than ever for schools, teachers, trusts, parents, guardians and learners to join us. What Does This Mean for Existing EdShed Subscribers? If you are an existing EdShed subscriber, you …
At EdShed, we are always striving to make learning more effective and accessible for schools, teachers and pupils. That’s why we’re pleased to be part of MyLoginSSO. What is MyLoginSSO? Our integration partner, Wonde, has launched a super-fast single sign-on so you just log in once using one of the child-friendly sign-in options. This includes …
Hello, We have made some important changes to your Literacy Shed Plus account, which will come into effect from the 2nd of October. Currently, access to our resources is assigned automatically to the teachers in your school. From the 2nd of October 2023, it will be necessary to assign access by allocating teachers to classes. …
