QR codes for learning games
We're excited to share our new feature to help make using Topmarks' education games even easier. We've created QR codes for you to use, linking directly to the game pages.
What's a QR code?
If you're not familiar with these, don't worry… they're so easy and we've designed them to be used by even young learners. Each one is like a barcode for that particular game, and acts as a web-bookmark or hotlink, so that when it's scanned using the camera in a mobile device, it opens up the game page instantaneously.
Here's what the QR Code for our Teddy Numbers counting game looks like…
Why are they a good idea?
Using QR codes is a great time-saving boon in the classroom, as teachers are able to maintain the pace of learning! There's no hold up while children type URLs, or need to click through a sequence of different pages. Even young children are able to scan the QR to load the web page straight away.
Keep a class 'master set' of codes, printed out for quick use and compiled together as a 'fan' book on a tag loop or metal book ring, so they're easy to flip through. (Topmarks' Tip: we found mounting on them sturdy card will make sure they're long-lasting. We don't recommend laminating the codes as the reflective surface drastically hinders the code reader.)
You could try keeping a set as part of a classroom wall display so the codes are easily accessible for everyone.
They work 'on-screen' too, so children are able to aim their tablet's camera directly at the QR Code displayed on the teacher's desktop screen.
How do I use QR codes?
The good news is that depending on the device, you may not even need a QR reader or scanner.
1. Check our table of compatible operating systems, to see how quickly and easily you can access a QR code.
TO REPLACE
The following free apps are the ones we tried, but there are many others.
For Apple, up to iOS10 – Free QR Code Reader and Scanner
For Android – QR Code Reader and Scanner
2. For the newest iPads, open the camera app and simply hold the device's camera in front of the QR code.
If using an older device or Android, just open the Reader app, and point at the QR code, again, either as a printout or on-screen.
THAT'S IT! We told you it is easy.
We'll be updating our QR code collection every time we add a new game. You can search our database any time – just type 'QR codes' into the search box on our home page. It'll always be the most up-to-date version, so just download the .PDF each time, and print out the new QR code(s) you need. Single page printing means you only need to print out the pages featuring the games you want to use.
Click to download your set of Topmarks QR codes now
Learn with Maverick Early Readers
It's always exciting to see more new book releases from the Maverick Publishing house, and to know that there are more titles to inspire children into reading is great news!
We're great fans of the Early Readers guided reading programme by Maverick, with its book banding system approved by the Institute of Education's colour-coded scheme. Pink is ideal for very young children, then through red, yellow, blue, green onto orange, turquoise, purple, gold and finally white for the highest level and more confident, independent readers.
The books in Maverick's brand new release include four fiction titles (all of which are Pink banded) and four non-fiction titles. These are 'City Animals' (Turquoise band), 'Going Green' (White band), 'Our Place in Space' (white band) and 'Food for Thought' (Purple band).
The fiction titles are as delightful as those previously released, and will surely appeal to both boys and girls equally. As ever, the top-quality illustrations to the stories really set these books apart. They're lively and colourful, with good cues to the text, which children will be sure to find engaging. The stories also each feature pages to help young learners, such as the 'Letter Trace' pages which we especially like, in which a child can practise forming individual letters with their finger. There are tips for parents too, with opportunities to practise the relevant high frequency and tricky words within the stories, and discussion activities, for example.
Each book in the Pink band includes two different stories of 30-50 words length, which we think is ideal, as these are long enough for children to focus fully on each story, before moving to the next. The language is natural English and avoids forcing phonics awkwardly. The more difficult words – some two-syllable words, for example – that are included allow pupils to get to grips with phonic decoding.
Look for 'Duck is Stuck and Get the Ball', 'Let's Dress Up and In the Net', 'Dig for Gold and Go Rocket!' and 'Look Out! and Dot and Dan's Trip'.
We also highly recommend the new non-fiction Early Readers titles. These are a perfect length – not too long as to be off-putting for struggling readers. And the presentation is ideal for learners getting to grips with non-fiction, as the titles each include contents pages, a glossary, an index and even a quiz that will be handy for teacher's to check children's understanding.
The subjects covered fit in really well with topics in curriculum-linked learning, so it is super to see the way the material has been chosen so thoughtfully. Across all the books, we like the great blend of photographs, illustrations and the consistent use of the fun cartoon alien characters, Jake and Finn, as 'tour guides' to introduce the new subject matter.
All the Early Readers books are RRP £5.99 and are out now.
Trade enquiries welcome via educational suppliers.
Disclosure: Topmarks was supplied with a selection of the Early Readers books by Maverick Publishing, free of charge for a fair and honest review, with no obligation.
Take part in Aldi's Kit for Schools campaign
This exciting new campaign from Aldi, in association with Team GB and the British Olympic Association, is part of the Get Set to Eat Fresh initiative that inspires children towards healthy food choices.
The Kit for Schools promotion is open to all primary schools across England, Wales and Scotland.
Get involved with their 'Collect, Explore and Win' message…
– Collect stickers! For every £30 spent in Aldi, you'll receive a Team GB sticker to add to a Kit for Schools poster.
– Explore the Get Stuck In resources! Find a host of curriculum-linked teaching resources to support the healthy living campaign. Use them in the classroom and to support parents and children to build healthy habits that last. Resources include videos, quizzes, games, activity sheets and discussion tasks.
– Enter to be in with a chance of winning! Each completed Kit for Schools poster, with 300 Team GB stickers, will entitle your school to a sports equipment set, and an entry into the prize draw to win one of 20 prizes of £20000. That's right, a £20000 cash prize to spend on health legacy projects in your school. (Closing date for sticker collection 3 Nov 2019, full T&Cs here.)
All eligible schools have been sent a Kit for Schools pack to start taking part – talk to your headteacher today, or request additional posters here.
Find a teacher guide and more in the resource area, too.