Firework describing words

Bonfire Night writing frame for infants

Satpin 3 in a row game

Make your die from the SEN teacher site
or just use an old die and stick labels on it with the letters s,a,t,p,i,n

Pumpkin carving - learning opportunities

Last year I did some pumpkin carving with year ones and we had a really good session. There is so much learning in something as simple as carving a pumpkin. Here are some of the things I did.

Looked at the shape of the pumpkin
Felt how heavy it was.
Discussed the colour of it.
Where it came from, how it grew
Cut the top off and looked inside. Described what we saw.
Looked at the seeds and discussed drying and growing pumpkins for next year.
Talked about how you can roast seeds in the oven to eat them.
All had a smell of the pumpkin then discussed
All stuck our hands in and felt the seeds and slimy mess.
All had a go with a spoon at taking out the seeds and some of the flesh. Talked about how you can make the flesh into a soup or eat it cooked as a vegetable.
Got children to draw on a piece of paper a pumpkin and how they wanted the face to look....a little designing
Had a vote on what shape eyes to have. What shape nose and what shape mouth. I carved the features out .... we had triangle eyes, a rectangle nose.
I asked each child to get a paper towel each and they had to count out 10 seeds each to wrap in their towel to take home. They had to write their name on the paper towel. Some found the fine motor skills to pick up the seeds very tricky. They all counted intently. Talked about putting light in the pumpkin to make it glow either a candle or a torch.

A really good session and I am sure you can think of some other ideas. Feel free to comment below.

Number bonds to 10

Print these, stick back to back and then laminate for number bond practise.

Letters and Sounds phase 2 planning, week 4 for children with SEN

This is for next week so I won't be posting anymore until next weekend. I am giving my group a break from learning new sounds this week. We are just playing lots of games, practising blending, segmenting and getting our grapheme/phoneme correspondances really fast.

Week four planning

Guided reading with beginner readers

I have done guided reading for many years and found it to be very successful. Here is a basic format that I usually follow. I hope it is helpful.


Guided Reading with Beginner readers

Book Introduction

For very young children this part will be the longest. Keep hold of the book and discuss: They will need a lot of help initially to be able to attempt to read independently. This part will get less as they begin to read more.

1. The front cover
2. The title (how many words)
3. Draw round each word with your finger get children to do this
4. Read the title to the children by pointing at each word as you read or ask if any of them can read any of the words.
5. Talk about the picture on the cover, what do they think the book will be about? Relate it to their experience and ask lots of questions.
6. Picture walk – look at each page and discuss. Look at the words and discuss. How many words there are. Are there any words they know? Can they work out any of the words? Look at a word that can be blended easily and ask children for the sounds. Blend them together to read the word.

Strategy Check

1. Focus on phonics.
2. Make sure the children know to blend right through the word to try and work it out.
3. Do not allow guessing of words.
4. Tell the children what you are looking for when they read on their own. For example ‘I am looking to see if you point at each word as you read your book.’ 'I am looking to see if you say the sounds in the word and try to blend them together.’
5. Have a teaching objective, for example Show them how we make the ‘sh’ sound. Can they see this sound in their books? How do we read a word like ‘shop’? Practise together.


Independent reading

1. Children to read the book themselves, prompt, encourage and assist as necessary.
2. Make sure you focus on just one or two children during this part of the session and make notes about them.
3. Make notes on any problems that children may have, this will give you an idea for further teaching.

Return to text

1. Pick a teaching point. Did a child struggle on something in the book, was there a sound he/she didn’t know? If so then teach this to the group.
2. Discuss the story! Ask questions. Did they enjoy it? Which was their favourite part? Ask questions about how the characters would feel in that situation. Relate the book to their experience. Have they ever done that? What was it like?

Follow on activity

Is there something the children could do to expand their understanding of the book? Or to help their phonic knowledge?

Letters and Sounds planning, phase 2, week 2 for children with SEN

Here is week 2. It is important to mention that I won't be teaching tricky words for a while. I need my little group blending and segmenting cvc words and I don't want to confuse them with tricky words. You have to make your own decisions based on the children you teach.


Week Two Planning

I also use this assessment sheet which you may find useful.

CVC sound button cards

This is useful for class teaching or small group teaching. Fold the top over so the picture is hidden. Use the sound buttons to work out the word then show the children the picture. Are they right? I have made them in JPG format so you can make them as big as you want. Here are a few to be going on with. I will add more as I make them.

Keyboard - Learn to type

This is so useful for little ones (or big ones) learning to type.

Click here

Magnetic letters for interactive whiteboards

Fantastic resource for letters and sounds

Click here

Magnetic numbers for interactive whiteboard

I love this

Click here

Halloween Initial sounds match

satpin letters for letter formation

More to come later...

Autumn phase 2 mat

Print, laminate and use for practising letter formation.

More and Less

Difficult concept for some children. This is a nice little activity for the IWB.

Just click the title above

Letter sounds

This is a nice site for teaching alphabet sounds. The only problem is the letter 'Z' which is pronounced as Zee. American site!

Click here

Initial letter sound match game

This is a lovely little game for the IWB

Click here

The Mouse Club

This is a perfect site for little ones. Do explore it there are some lovely games, activities, music and stories...a lovely Christmas one!! Did I say that word?

Click here

Autumn writing frame