Teaching Assistant Facebook Group

I have just set up a Teaching Assistant Facebook group. If you are a TA or working in school supporting children then you are very welcome. Please go to the link and click 'Join'
Look forward to chatting to you!

Teaching Assistant Support and chat group

Phonics planning

On my 'phonics blog' I am writing a whole series of planning sessions aimed at children with SEN or children who are falling behind. Each day I am adding a lesson. You can access all the lessons so far by looking on this link.

Phonics for fidgets with felix is on facebook

Please visit the page and give it a like to get regular updates

Click here PHONICS FOR FIDGETS

Phonics for fidgets with Felix

I have been working on a separate blog for phonics. This blog is aimed at very beginning readers and has lots of practical, simple activities for children. It can be used at home with your child or in a class situation. It can be used by teachers or teaching assistants.

Click here to go to the blog. Follow the blog by email, this is situated on the right hand side of the blog a little way down.

Getting to know you game

This is a getting to know you game. It is intended as a group activity and is a great warm up. Children can discuss feelings and practice social skills by asking questions and giving eye contact to the person they are speaking to.

Download: Warming up group game

Download: Warming up group game 2

Please see

Social skills taking turns intervention

Social skills non verbal communication game

Social skills listening intervention

Social skills – how to be a friend workbook

My self care plan

I saw this idea on Pinterest and loved the idea. I completely adapted the sheet to fit in with ELSA work. I think working on one of these is so beneficial to all children. It makes them think about physical activity, what they eat, who are the people in their lives who they can trust? They can think and discuss with you their hopes and dreams, how they can relax, how they can be a good friend etc.

I would work on one section at a time. There are loads of worksheets here which can be downloaded to go more in depth with for example eating and physical exercise.

I just did a little research and found that physical activity for example has the following benefits and I am sure there are many more:

• improves mood
• improves social skills
• improves well being
• improves teamwork
• encourages healthy competition
• improves motor control
• reduces stress and anxiety
• improves fitness
• reduces obesity
• improves confidence
• Improves self-regulation of emotions

Encouraging physical activity has got to be a good thing!

Download: Self care plan

Would you rather?

This is a fab game to play with children to get to know them better. You can download the game from my website. Click here

Monster emotions posters

Download Monster emotion posters from here.

Animals are good for children

Click here for free resources to teach children about animal welfare.

Superhero emotion fans

Please visit this link to download a set of feelings fans

Make a pattern

This is a sheet of hearts and the challenge is to make patterns. Now this could be with colours, patterns, numbers, letters, drawings, animals or anything the child chooses.
Patterns are great for Maths. If a child can make and see patterns then they will find Maths easier.

Click here to download the sheet 

Practical and creative learning for kids

This is a new FACEBOOK page where I will be posting ideas for practical learning. If you have a Facebook account them please give the page a 'like'.

Number recognition and fine motor skills

Another fab activity for counting and number recognition using pipe cleaners and small beads. Lots of practice with find motor skills too. Check out this link

Here you can push on the brighter children with a simple addition problem

Ordering activity

Fabulous idea for children to order numbers. Write the numbers on lolly sticks and layout a long sausage of play dough or plasticine. Check out this link.

Place value

Love this Maths activity to show place value. Please check out this link to find out more

Christmas Crafts

Some great Christmas crafts for you to start on Monday. These posts were some of the most popular on the Facebook page. Please visit the page and 'Like' if you want regular updates on crafts. I have tried to give credit to each post where possible. If you recognise something that is yours then please feel free to contact me so I can credit you.

Triangular Christmas tree cards made with a variety of colours and patterns.

Carol singers made with tubes, old socks to make the hats and small pieces of sheet music

Snowman names

A kindness tree (each hand has an act of kindness on it)  - Thank you to a friend for allowing me to share this.

Christmas tree biscuits

Fingerprint Robin

Folded fan Christmas trees

Papier mache snowpeople

Little box templates lots

Lots and lots of printables for Christmas - colouring sheets, templates and games

My melted snowman

Danish heart

Sun catchers

Threaded paper plate

Simple snowman card

Snowman cupcakes

Lolly stick snowman

Maths activity

Christmas shaped pizza

Hand print Christmas tree

Punched Christmas trees out of paintstrips

No link for this one but if you recognise it as being yours please contact me and I will credit you.

 

Star for the window using kite fold - very simple

Decorated bauble biscuits

Reindeer lollypop

Tree made out of equilateral triangles (everyone can make their own to join together)

Thumb print card - no link unfortunately to credit this picture



Twig Christmas tree

A Christmas tree made out of paper chains - no link for this one

Paper chain made out of sheet music

Made from printing on bubble wrap

Rice crispie ornament

Snowy tree

Santa card - no link for this but looks very simple

Advent calendar snowman - the nose moves round on a split pin

Paper doily snowman

Christmas lights

Christmas trees

Reindeer dust

Thumbprint Christmas cards

Suncatcher baubles

Handprint animals

Reindeer out of a triangle

Santa bread

Chocolate spoons

Okra printing

Christmas tree biscuits with stained glass

Salt dough hand ornament - no link to this but instructions are clear

Set up a photo booth in your classroom with these props

Heart Christmas tree

Family handprint Christmas tree

Handprint snowmen

Fingerprint candy cane

Button ornament cards

Handprint nativity. Poem on the back: " I used my hand to make a manger, a place for Jesus to lay. I'll use my heart so full of love, as a place for Jesus to stay."

Mistletoes

Snowman out of circles

Candy canes