Each month we will be highlighting a #MashoftheMonth. This will focus on a tool or application within Purple Mash and how it can be used within the classroom to support learning across the curriculum. During the month, if you share how you have used #MashoftheMonth, you will then be entered into a draw to win a 2Simple Goody Bag!

February’s #MashoftheMonth is 2Email. 2Email has a new look and is bursting with even more powerful features. Many schools used 2Email to keep in touch with students during lockdowns, but we thought we would highlight different ways that 2Email could be used in school that you may find useful.

Included within the 2Email update is an updated interface for both Age 5-7 and Age 7-11 with the ability now as well to create folder and sub- folders to help with the organisation of 2Email. This brings 2Email in line with most email clients and will not only help teachers if using 2Email as their main communication tool, but also help pupils learn and understand why organisation of emails and grouping them is important.

We have also enhanced the online safety features of 2Email, teachers are now able to get email alerts to your email address that is tied to your Purple Mash login. When a child reports an inappropriate email, by clicking ‘report to teacher’, you will receive an alert sent to your email address wherever you are logging into Purple Mash or not. You can take action by reviewing the email and entire transcripts between recipients and senders. The video below gives an overview of updates.

NB: this video was created by one of our fantastic PD colleagues in the UK. There are references to KS1 (Age 5-7) and KS2 (Age 7-11) and their current lockdown. The team other there are doing an amazing job supporting UK schools!)

Some schools are using a morning 2Email to outline the plan for the day for their students and attaching any documents that are needed for the day. Teachers can view the sent email and see which students have viewed the email and can do a quick check to see who has engaged with remote learning that day and ensuring that students are logged in. It can also be used in the same way at the end of the day in a similar way as a whole class feedback and to say what is coming.

Another great feature of 2Email is called 2Respond. This tool contains activities that children can use to practise their emailing skills. An email simulation from one of the Purple Mash Practice Users (fictitious character) will send them an email with a question or request. Additionally, when teachers compose an email to children, they can change the sender from themselves to one of the Purple Mash Practice Users. After responding to the initial email from a simulation, children will receive follow-up emails containing more tasks relating to the first email. These tasks include emails from historical characters including Rosa Parks and Issac Newton, characters such as the Tooth Fairy and helping Santa and also 2Resond activities relating to online safety and maths problems. As a teacher you can see all the 2Respond Email contents so that you can preview what emails the children will receive. While most 2Respond pre-made activities can be accessed directly via a student (don't need to be set as a 2Do), some can only be set as a 2Do. These include most of the Online Safety Simulations. We have done this as we feel it is important for teachers to make a judgment about the appropriateness of their content for their cohort.

Another brilliant feature is that you are also able to create your own 2Respond activities within 2Email, you are able to choose a character from a list or create your own. You are able to create a chain then within 2Email that you would like the children to respond to, with the ability to attach pictures and work. This would make a fabulous activity linked to any area of the curriculum but some ideas to get you started could include:

• Safer Internet day – there are a range of 2Responds that could be used and edited to see how students respond to Spam messages or asking for personal information
• Emails from a character in your current book asking for advice or help
• Maths themed emails asking children to solve a range of problems
• Linking to your History topic with a character asking for advice on what action they should take next
• Science – an email chain looking at an experiment and results received.

You probably have other ways that you are using 2Email in a creative way in class at the moment, we would love to see how you are using, please share on either our Twitter or Facebook pages with the #MashoftheMonth to be in with the chance of winning a 2Simple Goody bag.