We asked Mr Matthew, the mothertongue English teacher of our year one class (primary school) to tell us about his experience with distance learning:

In Year 1 we have been working on a myriad of skills and new topics in order to activate and stimulate the children’s minds as they are quarantined in their homes.
In our English lessons we have been covering everything from reading comprehension to adjective identification to phonics. Students, who left school nearly 2 months ago with lower levels of reading ability, are now able to listen to and read books and respond in full sentences to questions pertaining to the stories. They are taking the skills they learn through our work on phonics and applying them aptly to their reading.

This means that the videos we send out weekly and the daily online lessons have allowed my pupils to progress with their learning. I have to thank my students’ families very much because they are supporting their children on a daily basis in using the computer platforms introduced by the school. As I have their support, I have been able to continue with our weekly spelling tests. These tests have been a source of excitement, not anxiety, as the children look forward to studying and exhibiting their ability.

In our March science lessons we began by covering materials found in our world, their properties and how to dispose of them. We maintained a focus on recycling and reuse as the situation we find ourselves in calls for an emphasis on these principles. We created “plastic recycling monsters” in order to find new uses for old materials. We then moved on to animals, how they move and how they eat.
The students have been working tirelessly at improving themselves in this period. Their excitement and eagerness to learn have been nothing short of spectacular. I take great pride in their work and incredible attitude towards their education in these trying times.

Here below is some work Mr Matthew’s pupils have carried out during these past few weeks of distance teaching.