Does anyone's primary school use an app for spellings?

[PenguinsAreAce]

That's it really. Is there some sort of decent primary equivalent of show my homework, where the school supplies the spellings and the parents can download an app and use it on phones/tablets? Would be perfect if there was something visually appealing to children with the functionality to allow them to practise on the tablet. Actually, even just a way of sharing the weekly list that is not some scrappy bit of paper would be excellent.

Anyone know what's out there and how much it costs schools?

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

I tend to photograph sheets now on my phone. It means that I don't lose them and if we have five mins spare on the move then I have them with me.

[mrz]

Spelling apps are old technology and largely ineffective

[mrz]

It certainly isn't my baseline but we've discovered the hard way that flashy technology doesn't make for good communication or learning

[PenguinsAreAce]

Oh well that's fine then. Seriously, we'll have to agree to disagree if your baseline for communicating via modern tech is having a website.

[mrz]

It's a statutory requirement to have a website

[mrz]

The majority don't

[PenguinsAreAce]

Some do.

[mrz]

Schools don't avoid modern technology for communicating with parents

[PenguinsAreAce]

I said "avoiding modern technology in communicating with parents"

[mrz]

Schools definitely don't avoid technology

[PenguinsAreAce]

One can have compassion without being completely unrealistic. Life is not fair and inequality/poverty exists. This is not an argument for schools avoiding modern technology in communicating with parents who are able and wish to use it.

Ffs I grew up in a poor family and had free school meals, I am not an idiot. Do you expect schools to offer zero after school clubs, author visits (with inevitable book signings), parents association events, fundraising (inc sponsorship requests), no snow announcements on the website, etc etc? If kids are growing up in poverty they are excluded from all kinds of shit. Using this as an argument against using apps/email is a red herring.

[mrz]

No schools must provide the most effective methods and resources and not waste stretched budgets on products that aren't value for money or effective. Schools should look at the evidence and any available research before maki g costly decisions.

[cexuwaleozbu]

Some schools have a subscription to Spellodrome which has lots of games and the teacher programmes in each child's spelling list which allows them to set different levels of difficulty for each pupil. Not sure if you can subscribe individually.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

Sigh... Good to see there is still compassion for children living in poverty.

[PenguinsAreAce]

Okey dokey. State schools must never offer anything that might cost anything, or require technology or anything else that the very poorest family might not have. Noted.

[PenguinsAreAce]

I completely agree Mrz.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

You mean singling out children based on their economic situation? Yes that is unacceptable IMO. I have seen the trauma some of these children have been through. If a school can make it better for them by not making them stand out for their differences, why wouldn't they?

The technology is used at school when appropriate but just because it's available, doesn't mean it's good.

[mrz]

Providing spelling lists to memorise in any format isn't an effective way to teach/learn spellings.

[PenguinsAreAce]

Thanks Mincey, we'll try that one

[PenguinsAreAce]

So providing spellings electronically is unacceptable because of poverty and digital exclusion? Even is a printout is available from the office/on request?

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

The assumption is also that every family has a device to use an app on. Some of the families in my school don't have enough money for food so we can't single their children out by giving them the paper copy whilst others get an app code.

[Minceybits]

My spelling clearly needs help :/

[Minceybits]

There is a pretty Good app from the Squeebles people that does what you describe: keystagefun.co.uk - you/dc record spelling list (useful in itself and fun) and then type in spellings. We used it as a change of pace from repeated copying out. School can do it's thing - but what you do at home is up to you (as long as it is suporting the objectives) and needs to be peaceful and enjoyable. If dcs like the ipad then there is no real harm in using it? Lots of the Sqeebles apps have been really useful for us at certain points (xtables, fractions etc) where repetition really needed to nail something.

[mrz]

It's no good having great systems if parents can't access them. We discovered that many of our parents don't have Internet access in the home or even smartphones ...so they don't get text alerts or updates on the school website etc

[PenguinsAreAce]

It does take time, sadly. How long have you had it up and running? Yes, keen parents singing the praises can be a good way to encourage adoption.