Raising standards in KS1 and Special Needs: helping every child to succeed.
I have taught systematic phonics to all ages and abilities for over 30 years. My teaching degree was in Environmental Studies and I hate to see science reduced to box-ticking when there is so much to discover about the wonderful world we live in.
So, I produce Phonic resources that meet the real needs of children and teachers, along with science resources to engage children in learning about the natural world.
Raising standards in KS1 and Special Needs: helping every child to succeed.
I have taught systematic phonics to all ages and abilities for over 30 years. My teaching degree was in Environmental Studies and I hate to see science reduced to box-ticking when there is so much to discover about the wonderful world we live in.
So, I produce Phonic resources that meet the real needs of children and teachers, along with science resources to engage children in learning about the natural world.
This is a pack of 20 AR phonic spelling puzzles to help children to spell words with the phonic digraph AR.
Aims/objectives for these AR Spelling Puzzles
To help children to understand that 'ar together make one new sound.
Who can use these AR spelling puzzles?
Any child needing help to hear the letters AR as one sound in words. They can be used in the Early Years (Pre-K and K) or for Early intervention, or for Special Needs.
They can be used with all Government approved Phonic Prgorammes, including Letters and sounds/Revised (Phase 3), RWI and Jolly Phonics.
Full instructions are included in the download.
How can these puzzles be used?
Use for independent work in - great for private tutors and home education.
Use with small groups.
Use in Literacy centres.
Use how they can best serve your purposes!
Tell us how you have used them!
Find AR worksheets here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12807870
Find an AR Reading Game here
This is a pack of 12 ‘or’ digraph, phonic worksheets.
These ‘OR’ Phonic Worksheets can be used with very young children, although I made them for children who have processing difficulties and need more systematic teaching.
They are:
highly systematic
have a limited amount on each page as these pupils tire easily.
Pupils should be confident blending with consonant blends (Phase 4 Letters and Sounds for example) and know the digraph AR.
I use ‘Sound-it-out boxes’ for new words, where digraphs are grouped together to give the child the visual reminder to make one sound.
The worksheets include activities to:
Develop blending and segmenting
Give needed repetition to to develop word recognition
Develop phonemic awareness - much needed by early learners
Tracking activities - to see and recognise the new sound in words
Comprehension activities
Writing practice
Reading of longer passages
Fluency triangles
Lots of repetition builds confidence and success! Help a struggling reader today.
You will find it hard to find such a comprehensive programme of systematic phonic instruction for a special needs child for such a price.
This is one of a series. See also:
ar Phonic Worksheets
ar Phonic Game
A simple first ‘learn to write’ book teaching letter formation linked to beginning sounds for young children.
Pictures to colour in, linked with the initial sound of the letter being taught.
At the end of each page is a question the parent/teacher can use to stimulate further thought as to other things that begin with that sound, so linking phonics with the handwriting.
A5 size.
This document is set to print as a booklet. Please ensure that your printer is set to flip on the short edge.
An A5 booklet containing 21 fun, pre-writing patterns for the young learner or special needs child. Take animals and insects for a walk, finish trees, copy patterns and more.
Sure to delight young children as they start to use a pencil.
This document has been set to print as a booklet - please set your printer to flip on the short edge.
A pack of resources to help you teach ‘ck’.
It can be used with any phonic programme, including Letters and Sounds, Read, Write, Inc. and Jolly Phonics.
Suitable for all children but especially those who have special needs or need a slower pace.
(Optional) First watch the free video lesson, (included int he download) then do the activities to reinforce the new sound.
Suitable for use with all phonic programmes including Read, Write Inc…
A great little pack for classroom, home education, private tutoring and special needs/catch-up work.
Ideal to send home for parents to support learning at home.
Pack includes:
How to teach the sound ‘ck’ Lesson Notes
ck flashcard
ck word flashcards
Sentences to read
Speed reading practice sheet
ck Worksheet
Assessment worksheet - help to know what further work needs to be done
Short reading book to practice cvc and ck words.
2 ck games - a matching pictures to words game and a board game for 2 players.
Written by an early years specialist teacher with 30 years experience of teaching systematic phonics to all abilities, especially special needs.
Teachers - see our ‘ck’ worksheets in our worksheet pack for Phases 3 and 4 of Letters and sounds, where we cover ‘ck’ words with and without a consonant blend. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12009694
A complete lesson to teach ch and sh of Phase 3 Letters and Sounds.
Suitable for use with all phonic programmes including Read, Write Inc…
A great little pack for classroom, home use and special needs catch-up work .
Handy teaching hints/plan included.
Pack includes:
Ch and Sh lesson videos (FREE)
ch and sh flashcards
ch and sh word flashcards
Sentences to read
Speed reading practice sheets for both sounds
ch and sh Worksheets
Assessment sheets for both sounds - help to know what further work needs to be done
Short reading book to practice cvc and ck words.
ch/sh game - a matching pictures to sounds - either for individual matching or to play as a game for two players.
These phonic ‘Learn to Write’ letter tracing sheets for Special needs children have been developed to accompany the learning of the initial sounds, to help the child who does not yet have the ability to write unaided begin to become familiar with letter shapes and correct letter formation.
The physical act of writing letters while learning initial sounds is important because the movement of the hand to write, alongside seeing the letters and saying their sounds helps to make the learning process multi-sensory, which in turn ensures that more children, including those with special needs, become successful readers and writers.
The sheets are placed in alphabetical order, but can be used in any order, according to the phonic scheme you are using.
Do ensure that the child has plenty of free drawing practice alongside the use of these sheets so that the child develops sufficient pencil control to move on to independent writing.
This is a pack of 12 ‘ar’ digraph, phonic worksheets.
They were written for children who need a slower pace and more instruction but will equally suit the young child learning phonics.
They can be used with any systematic phonic programme - including RWI, Jolly Phonics and Letters and Sounds, or Reading Made Simple.
They are designed to be used as a workbook, but can be used individually as needed.
They take the child from aurally hearing the new sound in word, to gradually reading and writing words with the ‘ar’ sound.
They particularly suit those with dyslexia, or suspected dyslexia, who have failed with other approaches to learning phonics.
They are highly systematic, and have a limited amount on each page as young/special needs pupils tire easily.
These ‘ar’ phonic worksheets work on my ‘sound-it-out’ principal for special needs: See it! Sound-it-out! Write it! Thye utilise ‘sound-it-out’ boxes (Orton Gillingham style) to group sounds in each word to visually guide the pupil to sound out the new words.
Lots of repetition builds confidence and success and culminates in the reading of two passages, with reading comprehension activities alongside.
For more help, see Reading Made Simple, a 100% FREE systematic Reading and Writing programme for all ages and abilities.
This book is one of a series. See also:
or Phonic Worksheets
ee Phonic Worksheets
a-e Phonic Worksheets
This pack of 32 FUN CK Worksheets will help every pupil in your class successfully read and spell words ending in CK. These sheets take the pupil from hearing the new sounds in words (developing phonemic awareness) to reading and spelling CK ending words.
ESL/EFL/Special needs: The simple design of these CK worksheets ensures they are accessible to all students. From sound-it-out-boxes to aid early readers to engaging no-prep games to reinforce learning there is plenty here for all your class.
Fully differentiated: cater for the less able while stretching the more able - you won’t have any unchallenged children in your CK lesson. choose the worksheets that are right for each child.
Most worksheets are provided at 2 levels: one without a consonant blend and one with.
The worksheets assume no knowledge of other digraphs.
They can be used with any good, systematic programme of phonic instruction including all popular programmes, such as Read, Write Inc, Letters and Sounds and Jolly Phonics.
Multiple activities to keep pupils engaged while providing ample practice.
Please see the preview to see the complete set.
Suitable for:
Classwork
homework to practice work given in class
Intervention
A pack of 40 ‘L Blends’ Phonic Worksheets - differentiated so plenty for all abilities.
These phonic worksheets are for any pupil of any age, including those with a special need.
The worksheets cover:
bl; cl; fl; gl; pl; sl.
There is a selection of varied tasks for each blend and then a mix of activities to help children read and spell L-blend words with a short vowel sound.
See it! Sound-it-out! Write it! is my powerful 3-step process.
These L belnds worksheets are intended to be used in a multisensory capacity so needed by young children, in which the child sees the sound/word, feels the sound with the mouth parts, and then traces/writes it.
My ‘sound-it-out’ boxes help to visually group sounds in words, guiding the pupil’s attention to the sounds to help them to sound out effectively.
These structured worksheets take the pupil through the following stages:
Hear the L Blend in familiar words (to familiarise the child with the sound)
Write the L Blend (writing adds a multisensory dimension so needed by these pupils)
Sort words by initial consonant (hearing and writing)
Decoding words with initial L-Blends
Writing/spelling words with the initial L-Blend
Reading sentences containing initial L-Blend words
Reading longer passages containing initial L-Blend words
Suitable for use with any recognised phonic programme, inc RWI, and Letters and Sounds.
Here are 12, FREE to download, Consonant Blends decodable, phonic reading books to support the blending of consonant blends words with a short vowel sound, for the very earliest stages of learning to read with phonics, WITH MATCHING WORKBOOKS to consolidate learning.
Suitable for use with all phonic programmes.
These books follow our FREE CVC words reading books, and are followed by our Graded Decodable readers, introducing common digraphs.
Together they form a FREE phonic reading scheme. Give your child a head start in reading, or help your struggling reader to succeed!
Suitable for home-education, parents, teachers, private tutors and all else who need them!
The focus is purely on sounding out with only the key words
** I, and no, go, to**
being gradually introduced.
Pictures are minimal to encourage the child to gain meaning from the text and not to guess.
Phonic words are introduced and then met again in subsequent readers, to help develop confidence and fluency.
The highly structured nature of these books helps every child to succeed.
The stories are based around farmer Tom with his animals, his wife, his son Sam and daughter, Pam, dog Jiff and the cat.
Highly suitable for special needs children who have failed with other programmes.
Many parents have told me they wished they had found these books sooner, or had found them at all, as they would have been ideal for their struggling reader.
They have been thoroughly tested by my current pupils all of whom are boys. Even my nine-year old boy pupil loves them.
Teachers can find my consonant blends worksheets here:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12653569
This is a graded, phonic reading proramme consisting of 22 books introducing the sounds: ck,oo, ee, sh, ch, th, ng, ing, ar fro beginner readers with phonics.
They form their own phonic reading programme which can be used where other programmes have failed.
These books continue on from either the Decodable CVC Readers for Older Pupils, or from my Basic CVC readers pack.
If your child has been left behind in school, or is not making progress in reading, then try Reading Made Simple. It will teach the same things as your child’s school phonic programme but in a more structured way.
For best effect, use alongside my FREE Spelling/writing programme, Reading Made Simple.
Words Lists can be found here.
Each book is thoroughly decodable using taught phonic skills only. Sight words are introduced in a structured manner.
This part of the programme follows on from our CVC Words Reading Books and Workbooks and our Consonant Blends Reading books.
A set of matching workbooks for each sound is provided to help each child to progress soundly.
Special Features of these graded phonic reading books:
As each new phonic sound is introduced, words from that phonic family are practiced and words met in previous readers revised, while new words from phonic sound families already taught are gradually introduced.
Because of this highly structured nature they are suitable for all children to enable good progress , but particularly for those who are struggling to learn to read.
The books should be read in sound order as above.
They only use the sight words: he, we, me, be, she, so, give, have, says. they, are
The pictures are minimal and do not encourage guessing so that meaning has to be gleaned from the text.
Each book tells a simple story with humour where possible
They have been tried on tested on many children now, including some with profound difficulties.
Matching workbooks consolidate and revise learning.
Vocabulary repeats so aiding reading fluency and building security and confidence.
They are based on the latest research and evidence based methods.
If your child is struggling to learn to read for whatever reason, these books can help.
Who are the graded phonic reading books for?
Young learners
Special needs learners
Those with dyslexia, or a processing difficulty of any kind.
They can be used by parents, classrooom assistants, schools (where state rules allow teachers to choose their own phonic scheme) and private tutors.
They can be used with Letters and Sounds Phases 3 and 4, and RWI Speed Set 2.
Full instructions, including a suggested lesson plan and hints for hearing a child read are included.
You can help a struggling reader today.
This is a pack of 12 ‘a-e’ split digraph, phonic worksheets, including flashcards and a phonic game.
Theses worksheets were written for children who need a slower pace and more instruction but will equally suit the young child learning phonics.
They can be used with any systematic phonic programme - including RWI, Jolly Phonics and Letters and Sounds, or Reading Made Simple.
They are designed to be used as a workbook, but can be used individually as needed.
They take the child from aurally hearing the new sound in word, to gradually reading and writing words with the ‘a-e’ sound.
They particularly suit those with dyslexia, or suspected dyslexia, who have failed with other approaches to learning phonics.
They are highly systematic, and have a limited amount on each page as young/special needs pupils tire easily.
These ‘a-e’ phonic worksheets work on my ‘sound-it-out’ principal for special needs: See it! Sound-it-out! Write it! Thye utilise ‘sound-it-out’ boxes (Orton Gillingham style) to group sounds in each word to visually guide the pupil to sound out the new words.
Lots of repetition builds confidence and success and culminates in the reading of two passages, with reading comprehension activities alongside.
For more help, see Reading Made Simple, a 100% FREE systematic Reading and Writing programme for all ages and abilities.
This book is one of a series. See also:
or Phonic Worksheets
ee Phonic Worksheets
22 ‘ck’ fully differentiated worksheets, for use with any phonic programme. Written for those just beginning to blend, e.g Letters and sounds Phases 2 -4 and RWI Speed Set 1, Special friends. These worksheets cater for the needs of the average class and special needs.
The worksheets give practice in:
Reading and spelling ck words
Tracking the ck sound in words and sentences
Proofreading
Comprehension
Writing sentences using ck words.
These worksheets are simple, but effective. For use by teachers and private tutors.
Find activities suitable for all abilities
Assume no knowledge of other digraphs
Two worksheets for most activities: one without consonant blend words, and one with consonant blend words.
Suitable for Special Needs/intervention work/homework.
If you have already purchased our big book of Phases 3 and 4 worksheets for Letters and Sounds, you may have a few of these sheets, but this pack contains mainly new/changed material.
Here is a super bumper pack of 32 pages of lined, spring-themed writing paper for young children (5 to 8).
Everything you could need to make writing attractive this spring!
Original hand-drawn pictures.
Wide-ruled
Full and half page layouts
A variety of themes; choose from:
Daffodils
Bluebells
Rabbits
Butterflies
Lambs
Bees
A mix of black and white and colour - with most designs in both.
Reward good writing with a coloured frame - and watch the children grow ten feet taller!
Five phonic games to help pupils read and spell words with consonant blends (short vowel sound only). Suitable for use with Read, Write Inc.
Make Phonics learning fun and help it to stick!
These games have all been written by a special needs teacher, who knows exactly where children get stuck and what is needed to help them progress. The children will not know they are learning!
These games work wonderfully to help disillusioned readers succeed, but great for helping all children Pre K to 2nd grade and older special needs pupils.
Great for book bags, for use by classroom assistants and for the home-school.
Supplied in pdf format, all ready coloured in. Just print and play! These games are very simple to play but very effective. Full instructions provided and tips on how to help your child/ren.
See our Games for teaching Initial Sounds and CVC words too!
Six phonic simple games to help children learn to blend and segment cvc words.
Suitable for use with Read, Write Inc. Learning to blend with set 1 sounds.
These games work wonderfully to help disillusioned readers succeed, but great for helping all children Pre K to 2nd grade and older special needs pupils.
These games have all been written by a special needs teacher, who knows exactly where children get stuck and what is needed to help them progress. The children will not know they are learning!
Make Phonics learning fun and help it to stick!
Perfect for teaching assistants, to send home in book bags and for the home-school.
Supplied in pdf format, all ready coloured in. Just print and play! These games are very simple, but effective. All you need is in the pack. Full instructions provided and tips on how to help your child/ren. Laminating them will help them to last longer, but iw not necessary.
Contents:
Short vowel games: ‘a’, ‘e’/‘i’ and ‘o’/‘u’ (three games) - reading games
All vowels Game - a reading game
Missing Vowel Game - a spelling game
Final sound Game - a spelling game
This 34- page Y1 teaching resource pack, based on Blackbirds, will help children to use the local environment throughout the year to explore and answer questions about animals in their habitat. It can be used to teach both science and English: reading and writing non-fiction.
Contains:
Two lesson outlines (but material for more)
3 differentiated factual reading pages (print A 3 and fold into A4, or print 2x A4)
The story of Blackbirds nesting (4 A4 pages with text and drawings)
1 page mini black and white pictures of the nesting story for ordering/writing about)
2 colouring pages
3 differentiated Blackbird Facts worksheets
4 differentiated reading comprehension sheets (based on the factual reading pages and matched in ability
2 differentiated writing sheets for factual writing
5 Photographs
Helps children to ask questions and find answers, first through observation and then from other sources. Learn about
colour/identification
what Blackbirds eat
where they live,
how they move and
nesting behaviour.
The pack will:
Help you to fully embrace the non-statutory guidance for the Year 1 National Curriculum for Science as well as teaching the statutory requirements.
Bring Science alive and help you to deliver excellent lessons based on squirrels in the local environment.
Use with our 41-slide Blackbird PowerPoint!
Get more hints and tips about teaching your lesson at KS1 Nature:
https://ks1nature.weebly.com/science-lessons/blackbirds-a-complete-lesson-for-ks1
Designed to appeal to the Y1 child, gently introducing key vocabulary.
Written by an Environmental Education, Early Years specialist (ages 3 to 8) who understands how children learn.
Year 1: Science curriculum covered:
• identify and name a variety of common animals, including birds.
• describe and compare the structure of a variety of common animals (including birds).
Identify and name a variety of common animals that are …omnivores.
Once the Blackbird has been studied you can compare it to other birds, or even other animals in the local environment.
See our Squirrel Resources fro Y1 here:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12742537
Brought to you by KS1 Nature: Helping teachers teach science, naturally, through the local environment.
Six phonics games to help children learn initial sounds for use with Read Write Inc Learning Set 1 sounds or any phonic programme. You may think up others of your own using the materials given.
It contains games:
to help with ordering the alphabet,
learning initial sounds,
helping children with b/d confusion and
learning the vowel sounds.
Matching objects to letters
Easy to make and play!
These games are very versatile: they can be enlarged for whole class/small group use, or used by parents/classroom assistants on a one-to-one basis, or with a pair of children. They could even be sent home in book bags for the child to play with a parent, reinforcing classroom work.
They provide the teacher with ample assessment while working with the children.
The games are already coloured in. Just print, cut and play! All you need is in the pack. Full instructions provided and tips on how to help your child/ren.
These games work well with my Initial Sounds Worksheets - 70 differentiated phonic worksheets for all ages.
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-11998343
A simple but effective spelling programme for Phase 5 of Letters and Sounds teaching the new graphemes.
Help children become good spellers, and help struggling readers and spellers make progress.
Take one sound a week, study the word list and practice the new sound and the following week do a dictation for that sound. It is that SIMPLE!
Just a few minutes a day for 16 weeks!
This programme works because:
Each sound is studied for a whole week. This gives time for the new knowledge to be assimilated - time that the middle to lower ability groups desperately need to succeed and for whom most programmes go way too fast.
The child is NEVER asked to spell a word that has not yet been systematically taught. This develops confidence and works for ALL children regardless of ability. The programme is** truly systematic**.
Each dictation builds on the one before and is carefully worked out to revise the sounds.
There is no SPELLING TEST that the child can fail - the dictation is the test, while also teaching children to apply their new knowledge. The child finds his/her own errors and corrects them by using phonics. It WORKS!
Can be used with a whole class (where appropriate) or groups, or even individually by special needs teachers or TA’s.
Note: Progress is dependent on the quality of teaching.
Please ensure children can spell confidently words with the Phase 4 sounds before starting this programme.
Worksheets to go with this programme can be found here:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/phonic-worksheets-for-phase-5-of-letters-and-sounds-12456406