What is Spellzone?

Spellzone is an online English spelling resource used for our Key Stage 3 students. It unlocks the mystery of British English spelling and is adaptable for all abilities including SEND, SLD, ESL students and those with dyslexia. Spellzone is a complete online resource which our students can complete at home using computers or mobile devices. Students can work on tailored learning platforms at their own pace. In addition to the Personal Course Pathway students may occasionally be set specific word list tasks to complete.

When and why do we offer Spellzone?

Students may be required to complete 30 minutes a week at home to help secure spelling strategies and improve spelling confidence and competence to ensure students can make good progress across the curriculum. The platform is also used within Intervention lessons delivered by our team.

Our interventions are reviewed and adjusted following our mid and end of year internal testing. 

Spellzone progress is monitored to ensure students are engaging and to assess impact. Spellzone has been proven to have a positive impact on our student's development and will help lead them to reach their full academic potential. 

First News is an award winning newspaper, aimed at Key Stage 3 students.

Each week our students receive and email alerting them to the release of the latest issue of First News. They have access to a PDF copy, via the Edulink noticeboard.

Students can also access a digital copy of the newspaper, with audio function, by logging into our library website and clicking the 'Links' tab on the library homepage. Alongside the newspaper, students can access various fun/educational puzzles, a daily 'Wordie' puzzle, First News polls, FYI weekly news video and more.

More information can be found here: http://www.firstnews.co.uk/

If your child would like to receive their own paper copy of First News, subscription forms are available from Mrs Scott in the Library.

https://global-zone61.renaissance-go.com/studentportal/

Accelerated Reader is a computer programme that helps teachers manage and monitor student’s independent reading practice and improve Literacy .

STAR Reading is an online reading assessment within Accelerated Reader which is carried out 3 times a year. It has been aligned with the national curriculum to allow teachers to easily track student progress alongside the skills required in the curriculum. It reports in a number of different ways including standardised scores, percentile ranks and scaled scores.

Following the STAR assessment, each student receives their reading range/Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).  The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) suggests the readability-level range from which a student should be selecting books to support optimal growth in reading.

There are over 40,000 books on the Accelerated Reader programme with more being added daily. Students will often have books at home that have Accelerated Reader quizzes and we have a wonderful collection in our college library. 

Once a student has finished their book, they will take the relevant online comprehension quiz. This must be taken within 2 days of finishing the book. Quizzing after 2 days leads to poor quiz results as it becomes more of a memory test rather than a comprehension test. The aim is for students to try to achieve 85% or above in their quizzes as this demonstrates a good understanding of the book. If students are reading books within their reading range and quizzing within the specified time frame, this should be achievable. Differentiation is applied for every student via the level of the book.

A termly 'points' target is generated for each individual student, based on their performance in their STAR assessment. If a student achieves their target, they are usually reading the correct level book for their ability, performing well in their quizzes, working hard and spending the recommended amount of time reading each day - 20 minutes at home, in addition to designated reading time in college: 20 Minutes DEAR, 15 minutes at the start of English lessons and a 1 hour per week Accelerated Reader lesson.

The STAR assessment and quiz data generate valuable reports which are monitored closely by our Librarian/Accelerated Reader Co-ordinator and English/Accelerated Reader teachers. The reports make it easy to identify students that require intervention, students that aren't fully engaging with the reading programme and students that are ready for more challenging reading material.

Our Librarian also monitors latest quiz results to encourage 'smart choices'. 

Quiz scores of 85% or above: students are encouraged to move up in their reading range when selecting their next book to read.

Quiz scores below 85%: discuss possible reasons for the lower score to advise on an appropriate book level for a student's next read - usually moving down within their range or discussing various strategies to aid success.

Parents can monitor their child’s progress towards their Accelerated Reader targets by logging into the linked parents site, Home Connect. Parents can also sign up to receive automated email updates each time their child takes a book quiz or STAR assessment.

Accelerated Reader has helped highlight the importance of reading for pleasure and progress, more than quadrupled the number of library books our students borrow, and helped build a healthy and successful reading culture within our college.

For all queries related to Accelerated Reader or Home Connect, please contact Mrs Scott, Librarian & Accelerated Reader Co-ordinator.

What is Lexia?

Lexia is an online reading resource for our Key Stage 3 students and is used to maximize student learning through a truly personalised experience that addresses individual skill gaps and impacts reading proficiency and academic success. This targeted approach allows each student to make literacy gains quickly and develop the reading and critical thinking skills necessary to meet the demands of secondary curriculum and beyond. The programme builds and develops skills in vocabulary development, grammar and comprehension through targeted reading practise. 

When and why do we offer Lexia?

Lexia is offered to students who we have identified and believe will benefit from some additional reading support. Students may be required to complete 30 minutes a week at home, with the recommendation that they begin with the comprehension section. The reading platform is also used within Intervention lessons delivered by our team. The programme is tailored to the student's level following on from a placement test that is undertaken once they have gained access. 

Our interventions are reviewed and adjusted following our mid and end of year internal testing. Lexia progress is monitored to ensure students are engaging and to assess impact. Lexia has been proven to have a positive impact on our student's development and will lead them to reach their full academic potential.  

www.pearsonactivelearn.com

Students are required to complete several tasks online through the Pearson Active Learn website, based on the topics that have been taught over recent weeks.

Students have been issued with their login details.

Students are encouraged to ask for help if it is needed.If there are any IT issues at home the work will need to be completed at school during social times.

Browser support:

• Internet Explorer 9 and higher
• Firefox 3.0 and higher
• Google Chrome
• Safari 4.0 and higher

Tablet compatibility:

EdexcelGCSE Mathematics 9–1 works on the tablets listed below.

Tablets running iOS 5.1 and later: iPad 2.0 and later, iPad Air, iPad Mini.

Tablets running Android 4 and later: Samsung Galaxy Tablet and other android tablets with 10-inch display.

ActiveLearn works best on these devices using Chrome or Firefox rather than the standard browser.

The Nexus-7 and other 7-inch tables are not supported.

Recommended software to make full use of our resources:

• Adobe Reader 8 and higher
• Adobe Flash Player v10 and higher
  Latest versions of Adobe software are available at

Microsoft Office 2003 and higher (and compatible alternative)

Support for ActiveLearn

https://app.readingcloud.net/?theme=blue&customerid=U021146

Bringing Casterton College Library to every student's home. Students can search, view and reserve books in our fantastic library collection, view Accelerated Reader book levels, manage their library account, keep track of overdue books, view past and current loans, write book reviews and recommend books to friends, view author videos, access links to First News, Accelerated reader sites, puzzles and more. 

Student login details are:

Username: Personal college email address

Password: Date of birth in eight digits, without any punctuation, e.g. June 24^th 2002 = 24062002.

https://global-zone61.renaissance-go.com/studentprogress/my-goals-6-plus

Home Connect is the parent site linked to their child's Accelerated Reader account. 

This site allows parents to view their child’s progress towards points targets and view the scores achieved in all book quizzes completed by their child. 

Parents can also sign up to receive automated email updates each time their child takes a book quiz or STAR assessment. Once logged in, click the '

Home Connect Login: Use your child’s Accelerated Reader login details to log into Home Connect - they are the same. 

https://www.arbookfind.co.uk/Usertype.aspx

This website allows students to check whether a book is on the Accelerated Reader programme and if it is, book level information will be included.  

Books from our college library already have the Accelerated Reader information inside the front cover but this site is particularly helpful if a student wishes to read a book from home, local library etc.

Advanced search can be used to view books in various categories, within a student's reading range - useful for finding new and exciting books to read next.

Bedrock – not just for The Flintstones…

If your child is in Y7 or Y8, they will access Bedrock regularly both in school and as prep. This continues until the end of Y8. If you have a child in Y9, Y10 or Y11, we use Bedrock as an intervention to boost vocabulary levels. These students receive a weekly Bedrock prep set on EduLink by the Head of English.
 

Bedrock Vocabulary, an online curriculum, teaches students the academic words they need to succeed in school and beyond. Students from 6 to 18 years old can use Bedrock as part of their learning in school, independently at home, or as a combination.

A wide vocabulary is essential to both strong academic performance across all areas of the curriculum and success beyond formal education. Students are immersed in aspirational, academic ‘Tier 2’ vocabulary – which includes words like ‘analyse’, ‘emulate’, ‘integral’ and ‘verify’ – in a way that’s accessible, student friendly, and ensures reliable, statistically significant progress.

Bedrock Vocabulary is a ten-year programme split into one-year blocks and immerses students in academic vocabulary, whilst ensuring they read interesting fiction and non-fiction texts.

A short test – the ‘Alpha’ test - at the start of each academic year or intervention means what they go on to study is tailored to their ability and need. All pupils have access to a 37 Common Roots unit, designed to improve students’ understanding of unfamiliar words by teaching common Greek and Latin roots such as cycl-, spec- and chron-.

 

Bedrock benefits for students

✓ Tailored to individual learning level, right from the beginning

✓ Learning adapts to each student’s pace

✓ Accessible from home

✓ Wide range of engaging texts expand world knowledge (Cultural capital) as well as vocabulary

✓ Gives instant feedback on learning progress

✓ Certificates celebrate students’ success

 

Bedrock benefits for parents

✓ Access to a child’s unique dashboard shows individual words their child has learned and is still learning, as well as overall progress. You will need a code for this which is available from your child’s English teacher (Y7 & Y8) or me (Y9 & Y10)

✓ Provides an understanding of a child’s learning, making it easy to support

✓ Bedrock research shows parents believe using the program improves their child’s written vocabulary and reading skills, and makes children more engaged across the school curriculum

 

How does Bedrock work?

✓ Each student has their own online account, which they can access both at school and home. Students’ learning is enhanced by parental involvement, so parents have access to their child’s dashboard to monitor their learning and progress.

✓ The programme is divided into nine blocks, from 3 to 11. Each block takes about one academic year to complete.

✓ At the start of their Bedrock journey, students take the Alpha Test. This uses a bespoke algorithm to ensure learners begin with the block that’s most tailored to their ability – so not frustratingly easy for more able students, and not too hard for those who find learning more challenging.

Using Bedrock

✓ Once placed in the correct block, students progress through a variety of topics (between 10 and 14 in each block), experiencing engaging, language-rich fiction and non-fiction texts that expand their knowledge of the world as well as their vocabulary. Subjects range from hot air ballooning, Galileo and sea creatures in Block 3, to the climate crisis, Charles Dickens and social media in Block 11.

✓ Each topic consists of six 15-20 minute lessons, plus a pre- and post-test to track students’ progress. Learners make optimum progress when they complete two lessons each week – at school, at home, or a combination. To ensure new vocabulary is retained in long-term memory, teachers can set the spaced learning algorithm to a rate which is most suited to their learners.

✓ Every lesson is human narrated to engage students and enable them to both hear and read words in context. Students need headphones for most effective use.

✓ Each lesson introduces students to between three and five new words. New words are shown in multiple contexts and alongside synonyms and antonyms to help students relate new words to ones they already know, embedding understanding.

Understanding progress

✓ Assessment at the end of each lesson tracks each student’s progress and results are logged on their dashboard automatically.

✓ If a student scores under 60% in a lesson’s post-test, they repeat the lesson to ensure they retain the new words before moving on to the next lesson.

✓ If at any point a student scores over a certain threshold in two consecutive pre-tests, they’ll be re-allocated to the next block up to ensure they maximise their learning. Equally, if a student scores below a given threshold, they’ll be re-allocated to the block below to ensure they’re learning at the right level for their ability. Capping ensures learning remains age appropriate.

✓ Teachers and parents can monitor performance quantitatively through their dashboard, which uses a traffic light system to show each student’s progress.

✓ Teachers receive weekly emails containing data on both completion and progress.

✓ Students are awarded badges and certificates to celebrate their progress.

Students engage really well with Bedrock and find it easy to build it into their weekly routine. It really has become a ‘bedrock’ since its launch as a means of supporting students post-pandemic. As with any prep or intervention, it works best when parents support its completion at home and students are accessing it on a regular basis.

 

WHAT IS GCSEPOD?

At the heart of GCSEPod are videos or “Pods”. Each one is a highly concentrated, 3-5 minute burst of audio-visual learning and specialist subject knowledge for 20+ curriculum areas. It is written by expert subject teachers then rigorously quality assured. Narrated by professional voice over artists and with visuals produced by an award-winning in-house design team, every Pod is mapped to GCSE exam boards and GCSEPod is committed to keeping up with curriculum and technology changes.

PARENTS

Help your child reach their potential whilst building their confidence across a range of subjects.  Use GCSEPod to learn a new topic together or help them identify their weakest areas and fill their knowledge gaps.  The content on GCSEPod is already filtered by your child’s school so you can login with the peace of mind that what is available will really make a difference to their progress.

STUDENTS

GCSE Pods are designed for any device and can be watched both in and out of school.
It is a bit like carrying a huge pile of textbooks with you everywhere!  Have experts read and explain everything clearly including all the right facts, quotes, keywords, dates and diagrams on screen.  You won’t need to use it for long to feel the impact.  Consistent use in brief 10-minute sessions is proven to support achievement right up to grade 9.

• Suitable for Android and Apple
• Get organised with ready-made or bespoke playlists
• Favourite any Pods on topics you find hard, then revisit them and fill your knowledge gaps
• Complete tests to identify your weaker areas and then watch personalised playlists to help strengthen those areas
• Watch exam specific playlists with everything you need to excel in an upcoming exam
• Complete homework online and get instant feedback