Home Learning
Seesaw – online learning platform
We use the Seesaw app to share what children are learning in school with you at home, and for children to complete their home learning. Download the app and use the QR code given to your child. Seesaw is free on any device: phone, tablet or laptop. Our teachers regularly post activities and respond to your child’s work. Please let us know if you need help getting started.
Stories in your home language – LOTE4Kids
LOTE4Kids is a free online library of picture books, read aloud by native speakers in more than 100 languages. Every book also has an English version, so you can read together in your home language, in English, or both. There are also books in Irish and Irish Sign Language.
It’s free with a Dublin City Libraries card. Log in with your library card number on the website, or download the LOTE4Kids app. Library membership is free for children, and our HSCL can help you join.
LOTE4Kids – Dublin City Libraries
English
We use Sounds-Write to teach reading and spelling at Paradise Place. Sounds-Write has a free page of support for parents and carers, including:
- a free short online course showing you how to help your child build, read and write simple words, and what to say when they make a mistake
- free First Steps e-books, short, simple stories your child can read using the sounds they have learned
- tips on reading the decodable books your child brings home
When your child reads to you, give them a few seconds to work out a word themselves. If they get stuck, point to each sound and say, “Say the sounds and read the word.”
It’s just as important to keep reading to your child, so they hear what fluent, expressive reading sounds like. Any book, in any language, counts. Talking about the story together builds vocabulary and understanding.
Sounds-Write: Support for Parents and Carers
Gaeilge
What matters most is that children enjoy Gaeilge. Just watching or listening helps. Neither you nor your child needs to understand every word; pictures and sounds carry lots of meaning.
Cúla4 has TG4’s Irish-language programmes for children. The menus are in Irish: choose Cláracha for programmes or Spraoi for games.
Irish For Parents is a new website to help families support Irish at home, and you don’t need to speak Irish to use it. It has short videos, audio to help with pronunciation, simple guides, and easy packs like Five Phrases a Day and Helping With Homework.
Maths
Numberblocks has short, very visual videos to help younger children with early number work.
Numberblocks on YouTube
Math Playground has maths games and activities for all ages. Choose the right age range and type of activity.
Math Playground
Topmarks has interactive maths games, and Hit the Button is great for quick-fire mental maths.
Topmarks maths games · Hit the Button
Keeping Active – PE
GoNoodle has lots of movement, dance and mindfulness videos to get children moving at home.
GoNoodle
Cosmic Kids has yoga, mindfulness and relaxation for children.
Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube
Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, has free workouts for children on YouTube.
The Body Coach TV
Arts – Visual Art, Music, Drama
The Tate Gallery has short videos and project ideas for every part of the Visual Arts curriculum.
Tate for Kids
Incredibox lets children compose their own music with a crew of beatboxers.
Incredibox
Classics for Kids introduces children to classical music, composers and the instruments of the orchestra, with games and a podcast.
Classics for Kids
History, Geography, Science
Britannica School is a free online encyclopaedia for children. Every family in Ireland can use it for free through Scoilnet. Go to Scoilnet, click the Britannica link, and choose your child’s age range.
Scoilnet
The Heritage Council has a tutorial on the Schools’ Folklore Collection. It includes activities where children phone grandparents or older relatives to ask what life was like when they were young.
Heritage in Schools: The Schools’ Folklore Collection
National Geographic Kids has lots of information about animals, places and science.
National Geographic Kids
Curious Minds, from Research Ireland, has free science and maths activities that use everyday materials you’ll find at home.
Curious Minds activities
Digital Learning and Coding
Scratch is a free programming tool where children can create their own interactive stories, games and animations.
Scratch
Barefoot has fun online games to get your coding brain working.
Barefoot Games
Learn to code with Minecraft in this free tutorial.
Minecraft: Voyage Aquatic