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 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
Find out what happens in spring with this delightful, 44-slide PowerPoint.
Young children will be delighted by the original photos portraying all aspects of spring.
From lengthening days, to plants, to baby animals this Spring PowerPoint will give the teacher plenty of stimulating material to explore many different aspects of spring. There is so much to learn!
Aspects of spring covered in the Spring PowerPoint include:
•Length of day
•Weather
•flowers
•leaves
•Seeds growing
•Pollination
•Baby animals
•Birds
•Frogs
•Butterflies
Full narration notes are provided
No sounds but there is a little writing on most slides, but fuller notes are provided for teachers on an accompanying PDF.
The teacher can enlarge upon the notes, bring in personal anecdotes, or remind the children of lessons already learned, so helping the children to relate what they are learning to their own experiences.
See beautiful flowers, cute lambs, a bird in her nest, blossom trees and more.
Learn something about the fascinating life of insects and how they help the flowers by pollinating them.
If you like this PowerPoint, please tell others!
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!
31 ‘ng’ fully differentiated worksheets, for use with any phonic programme, catering for the needs of the average class and special needs.
Written for those at the early stages of phonics, e.g.: Letters and Sounds Phase 3 and Read Write Inc, Set 1 Special Friends and for catch up work, extra practice, ESL/EFL and special needs.
The worksheets give practice in:
Reading and spelling ‘ng’ words
Tracking the ‘ng’ sound in words and sentences
Proofreading
Comprehension
rhymes
Writing sentences using ‘ng’ 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 (except on two stated worksheets where ‘th’ and ‘ck’ are used in higher level worksheets)
Two worksheets for most activities: one without consonant blend words, and one with consonant blend words.
Suitable for Special Needs/intervention work/homework.
A complete lesson to help children to learn about the seasonal changes in an Apple Tree that lead to the formation of apples.
Includes
Lesson Plan
2 differentated worksheets to show life-cycle of an apple tree through winter, spring, summer and autumn
Supporting resources: flashcards for 4 key words, original photos, 1 page four mini photos, one for each of the four seasons.
Suggested to be used with our PowerPoint on the same subject:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12752722
Buy as a bundle and save!
This powerPoint about Light and Dark can help children to begin to understand the relationship between all living things and the sun; our need of light and the sun. This PowerPoint can help pupils learn or revise some aspects of the Y1/Y2 curriculum providing continuity of learning, and setting the context for Y3 work.
Simply explained, children will learn:
Darkness is the absence of light
The sun is the main source of light on Planet Earth
Reminds pupils never to look directly at the sun
The sun provides warmth too - or Earth would be very cold
Why plants need the sun: to make food to help them reproduce
Creatures of the day (the need for survival)
Shadows - how they are formed
Plants and animals that prefer the shade and why (the need for survival)
Creatures of the night
Nocturnal (the need for survival)
KS1 children can also learn:
To name some common animals
Why certain creatures/plants come out in the daytime/night time
Why plants need light
The basic needs of animals for survival
This PowerPoint is silent but comes with full narration notes, both under each slide for use in Presenter View, or as a PDF.
Why not follow this up with our Seasons PowerPoint?
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12761222
This 57-slide PowerPoint takes KS1 children through the seasons, starting with summer.
They will:
Learn what changes to look out for across the four seasons
Learn that days get shorter and longer throughout the year
How this affects the weather
How the seasons/weather affect us: what we wear/what we do
How the seasons affect plants and animals
Bright photos and simple explanation makes it accessible to all abilities in the class and will engage even reluctant learners.
Simple text for children to read on each slide. More information is provided for the teacher to read, if desired, in PDF form or under each slide.
Simply click when ready to progress to the next slide. All animations occur automatically.
Why not follow it with our Light and Dark PowerPoint?
Light and Dark PowerPoint: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12761117
You may also be interested in:
All About Autumn PowerPoint: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12422557
Autumn Leaves PowerPoint: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12398686
Conkers Life-cycle PowerPoint:https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12401942
Frogs Life-cycle PowerPoint: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12410937
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
18 weather-related worksheets and puzzles covering 6 areas of weather:
•What is the weather like today?
•Hot and Cold
•What shall I wear today?
•It’s Windy
•It’s Raining
•General Weather
3 Worksheets for each:
1 easy activity for younger children/lower ability,
2 word searches, 1 easy and 1 harder.
Use for a topic on weather, or as early finisher activities at any time of the year.
The harder words searches were originally written for a class of Y3 children so can be used with that age group too.
These worksheets are included in the Weather Project Pack but are listed here separately for those who only want the 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.
A first introduction to addition and subtraction for Reception children, or special needs. 32 pages.
Starting with completing the sets the workbook takes the pupil through, gradually replacing words with signs and pictures with numbers, so building confidence.
Once the concepts are secure we add further activities such as:
adding and subtracting with number lines
‘How many more’ problems
Find the difference
Adding doubles
This is old fashioned maths teaching that has been proven for years to work.
Reinforces classwork
Easy for parents to use
Start at the beginning and work through.
[(See also count 0 to 5]https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/free-count-0-to-5-number-workbook-for-reception-12270654) and
[(Count 6 to 10]https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/free-count-6-to-10-number-book-for-reception-12270636)
and Count 0 to 10.
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
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.
Our CVC Words Read and Reveal books are perfect for those just starting to blend.
Read the word on one page, turn over to reveal the picture and check that you are right!
Children love the visual feedback and it boosts their confidence no end when they find out that they can really read!
7 booklets, each with 7 words, grouped into sound families, and 7 pictures:
ap words
at words
an words
ip/in words
op/og words
Mixed shore vowel ‘e’ words
Mixed short vowel ‘u’ words
For use with all UK approved phonics programmes.
Prints on 2 pages of A4 double-sided - flip on the long edge.
Simply trim to A5, and staple.
Great to use in class, or to send home in book bags.
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
10 birds to colour.
Hand-drawn originals.
Suitable for ages 5 +.
Help children to learn:
to identify different birds,
to appreciate their differing colourings and structures
to sort birds
Ideas for use:
Colouring for early finishers - much Science can be learned from colouring birds, so this would not be a ‘busy’ activity.
Once a bird has been coloured, more could be found out about it. This could lead to research, factual writing, as well as Science work as the bird’s characteristics are studied.
If different children take a different bird, then they can share what they have learned and comparisons can be made.
Not for use as Clip Art.
This 41-slide Powerpoint about Blackbirds will help children to use the local environment throughout the year to explore and answer questions about animals in their habitat.
The Power Point teaches children:
To recognise Blackbirds
What they eat
Where they live
How they move
How they are suited to their environment…
How they nest
and more!
It includes two brief video clips.
Full narration notes are provided both under each slide (use in presentation mode for best effect) or in transcript (pdf).
Our Blackbirds PowerPoint will help you to teach the following section of the National curriculum for Science:
Y1: Animals, including humans
Statutory requirements:
identify and name a variety of common animals including…birds.
identify and name a variety of common animals that are… carnivores.
Non-statutory guidance:
Pupils should use the local environment throughout the year to explore and answer questions about animals in their habitat.
Pupils should become familiar with names of birds - in this case, Blackbirds
Year 2:
Living things and their habitats:
identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other
identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including micro-habitats
describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals,
Animals, including humans
Statutory requirements:
Notice that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults
Non-statutory guidance:
Pupils should be introduced to the basic needs of animals for survival…
They should also be introduced to the processes of reproduction and growth
The PowerPoint will engage all pupils (tried and tested) and help to bring science alive - away from mere box ticking! Helping you to raise the next generation of adults who know our world and understand what it really needs to sustain it.
10, newly upgraded phonics digraphs games: easy to make, easy to play, minimum prep. Games to help children get to grips with the digraphs:
sh ch ck ee oo ar or
Match words to pictures
Pictures to digraphs
Find the missing letters
Find the right ending
Suitable for all ages and abilities. Ideal for use with SEND pupils with or without a speech delay, for whom they were originally designed. Suitable for home or school use.
1 intervention work or use by private tutors.
Most of these games can be used as Literacy center activities/individual activities as well as being played by two players.
They are useful tools for assessment.
They can be used alongside our digraph phonics worksheets:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/phonics-practice-worksheets-phases-3-and-4-12009694
See our other games:
Initial Sounds Games: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/initial-sounds-games-print-cut-and-play-11998349
CVC word Games https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/phonic-games-to-teach-cvc-words-11998365
CVCC word Games https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/phonic-games-to-teach-cvcc-words-for-reception-yr-1-and-special-needs-11998391