Guides for Parents and Teachers
55 practical, step-by-step guides to help children with maths, reading, spelling, writing, homework and test preparation, at home and in class.
📝 Test prep · 🏫 For teachers · 🔢 Maths · 📚 Reading & English · 🏡 Family life & learning habits
📝 Test prep
How to Prepare for a Selective or Scholarship TestA calm, practical plan to prepare your child for a selective school or scholarship test: what is tested, a realistic timeline and how to keep stress low.What Is NAPLAN? A Parent’s GuideWhat NAPLAN tests, who sits it, how the online adaptive tests and proficiency levels work, and simple ways to help your child prepare without stress.NSW OC Test: A Parent’s Guide to the Opportunity Class TestWhat the NSW Opportunity Class (OC) test covers, how thinking skills questions work, and a calm weekly plan to help your Year 3 or 4 child get ready.Selective School Tests in Australia: A Parent’s GuideHow the NSW Selective High School Placement Test works, how other states differ, and a practical weekly plan to help your child prepare calmly.School Scholarship Tests: A Parent’s GuideWhat school scholarship tests cover, how ACER and Edutest tests differ, and a calm, practical weekly plan to help your child prepare with confidence.How to Practise Spelling Words for a Test: A Weekly RoutineA simple five-day routine for weekly spelling lists: pre-test early, sort words by pattern, focus on mistakes, practise recall and keep words for good.
🏫 For teachers
Free Maths Games for the Classroom: A Teacher’s GuideHow to use free online maths games well in class: warm-ups, rotations and differentiation, plus a step-by-step walkthrough of our free Classroom mode.How to Run Maths Rotations With Online GamesSet up a maths station rotation with devices: a ready timings table, group roles, which games to use at each station and how to keep everyone on task.How to Set Online Homework for Primary PupilsA practical guide to setting online homework in primary: choosing games, keeping it to 10 to 20 minutes, working with families and following up fairly.Class Leaderboard Ideas That Motivate Every ChildIdeas for using a class leaderboard to spark friendly competition safely: effort awards, weekly resets, personal bests and ways to avoid shaming anyone.Differentiation With Educational Games: A Practical GuideHow to differentiate with educational games: match levels to pupils, use level guides by school year, adjust as pupils progress and extend with reasoning.Literacy Centres With Online Games: Ideas for TeachersIdeas for literacy centres using free online games: spelling, phonics, punctuation, reading comprehension and typing stations, with timings and routines.
🔢 Maths
How to Learn Times Tables Fast: 7 Tips for ParentsA simple, proven order for learning times tables, plus 7 practical tips and free games to help your child master multiplication from 2× to 12×.How to Teach a Child to Tell the Time (Step by Step)Teach your child to read an analogue clock in five easy stages, from o’clock to any minute. Includes tips, common mistakes and a free telling time game.How to Help a Child with Fractions: A Parent’s GuideWhy fractions feel hard, the order to teach them in, and simple kitchen-table activities and free games to help your child understand fractions.Teaching Kids to Count Money: A Step-by-Step GuideHelp your child recognise coins and notes, count mixed amounts and work out change, with simple steps, real-life ideas and a free money game.How to Improve Mental Maths: 8 Strategies for KidsEight practical mental maths strategies, from number bonds to doubling and rounding, plus daily habits and free games to build quick, confident maths.How to Teach Place Value: A Simple Guide for ParentsWhat place value is, why it underpins almost all of maths, and hands-on ways to teach ones, tens, hundreds and beyond, with tables and free games.How to Help a Child With Maths Anxiety: A Parent GuidePractical ways to help a child who feels anxious about maths: spot the signs, change the way you talk about it and build confidence with small daily wins.How to Teach Multiplication: Concepts Before FactsTeach multiplication the way it sticks: equal groups, arrays and skip counting first, then the times tables. Includes activities and free games to help.How to Teach Division to Kids: Sharing, Grouping and FactsA step-by-step way to teach division at home, from sharing and grouping objects to division facts and remainders, with activities and free practice games.How to Teach Fractions, Decimals and PercentagesHelp your child see how fractions, decimals and percentages connect, with simple visuals, the key equivalents to know, everyday activities and free games.How to Help a Child Who Hates MathsWhy some children decide they hate maths, and practical ways to turn it around at home: find the gap, rebuild confidence, play games and change the talk.Maths Games Without Screens: Cards, Dice and Kitchen FunEasy maths games to play with a deck of cards, a pair of dice or kitchen items, with rules, ages and the skill each one builds. No screens needed.How to Teach Addition and Subtraction: Step by StepA clear progression for teaching addition and subtraction, from counting on and number bonds to mental strategies and column methods, with free games.How to Teach Shapes and Geometry at HomeHands-on ways to teach 2D and 3D shapes, symmetry, angles, position and area at home, with a progression by age, common mix-ups and free shape games.How to Teach Measurement: Length, Mass, Capacity and MoreHow to teach children to measure length, mass, capacity, time and temperature, from comparing and estimating to reading scales and converting units.How to Make Maths Fun at Home: 15 Easy IdeasFifteen easy ways to make maths fun at home, from breakfast puzzles and maths talk on walks to real jobs in the kitchen, family challenges and quick games.
📚 Reading & English
What Are Sight Words? A Parent’s Guide (with Dolch Lists)What sight words are, why they matter for early reading, the Dolch sight word lists by grade, and fun ways to practise them at home, including a free game.10 Fun Ways to Practise Spelling at HomeMake spelling homework fun with 10 easy, proven activities, from look-cover-write-check to word scrambles and spelling games kids actually enjoy.How to Improve Reading Comprehension: Tips for ParentsPractical ways to help your child understand what they read, from fluent word reading and vocabulary to asking good questions before, during and after.Grammar Basics for Kids: A Parent’s Quick GuideA plain-English refresher on the grammar your child learns at primary school: word classes, sentences, punctuation and homophones, with tips and games.How to Teach Phonics at Home: A Simple Guide for ParentsTeach phonics at home with confidence: letter sounds, blending, segmenting and tricky words in a clear order, plus quick daily activities and free games.How to Improve Your Child’s Writing: Tips for ParentsPractical ways to improve your child’s writing at home, from neat handwriting habits to better sentences, spelling and punctuation, with free games.How to Teach Grammar at Home: Games and RoutinesSimple routines and games for teaching grammar at home through talk, reading and writing, so sentence skills, punctuation and word classes really stick.How to Build Your Child’s Vocabulary: 9 Ways That WorkNine practical ways to grow your child’s vocabulary at home, from rich talk and reading aloud to word families, word games and choosing words to teach.Reading Games for Kids: Fun Ideas for Home and OnlineFun reading games for ages 4 to 11, sorted by skill: sound games, word building, sight words, fluency and understanding, plus free online word games.
🏡 Family life & learning habits
Best Educational Games by Age: Ages 3 to 12A parent’s guide to choosing educational games for ages 3 to 12, with what children typically learn at each stage and free games to match.How Much Screen Time Is OK for Learning Games?A balanced guide to screen time for educational games: what major health bodies suggest, how to judge quality, and tips for healthy family habits.How to Build a Homework Routine That Actually WorksSet up a calm homework routine for primary-age children: the best time and place, how long it should take, how much to help and what to do about battles.Learning Games for Preschoolers: Fun Ideas for Ages 3 to 5Simple learning games for preschoolers aged 3 to 5 that build counting, letters, shapes and memory, with everyday play ideas and a few free online games.School Holiday Learning Ideas: Keep Skills Sharp the Fun WayEasy school holiday learning ideas that keep reading and maths skills ticking over without spoiling the break, with a simple weekly plan and free games.Signs Your Child Needs a Tutor (and When They Don’t)Common signs a child could benefit from a tutor, what to try at home first, and how to tell a short wobble from a learning gap that needs extra support.How to Choose a Tutor: Questions to Ask and Red FlagsWhat to look for in a tutor, the questions to ask before you book, red flags to avoid, and how to weigh up online and in-person tutoring for your child.Car and Travel Learning Games for KidsFun, no-equipment learning games for car trips, flights and waiting rooms, from number spotting and word chains to quick quizzes for ages 4 to 12.How to Motivate a Child to Learn (Without Bribes)How to build lasting motivation to learn: offer choice, praise effort and strategy, set small goals, and use rewards and streaks wisely so they help.Getting Ready for a New School Year: A Parent ChecklistA practical checklist for starting a new school year: refresh key skills, reset sleep and routines, ease worries and set up homework habits that last.How to Teach a Child to Read: A Step-by-Step GuideTeach your child to read in clear stages, from hearing sounds in words and learning letters to blending, tricky words and smooth, confident reading.How to Help a Struggling Reader at HomePractical ways to help a child who finds reading hard: spot where it breaks down, pick the right books, protect confidence and know when to seek advice.How to Teach Counting and Number Sense (Ages 3 to 6)Help children aged 3 to 6 count with real understanding: one number per object, knowing how many, spotting small groups, comparing and first number bonds.How to Teach Skip Counting: 2s, 5s, 10s and BeyondTeach skip counting in a sensible order, from 10s, 2s and 5s to 3s and 4s, with objects, a hundred chart, movement and songs, then link it to times tables.Growth Mindset for Kids: A Practical Guide for ParentsWhat a growth mindset really means for children, the everyday words and habits that build it, common myths to avoid and simple activities to try at home.How to Help With Homework Without Doing It for ThemCoaching techniques for homework help: questions to ask, how to give hints instead of answers, what to do when your child is stuck and when to step back.Learning Activities for 5 Year Olds: Easy Ideas at HomeSimple, playful learning activities for 5 year olds covering early reading, writing, numbers, shapes, science and fine motor skills, plus a sample week.The Best Free Educational Websites for Kids: An Honest GuideThe best free educational websites and apps for kids aged 3–12, what each is good for, what is really free, and how to choose. Written by tutors.
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