This 61-word, springtime story is easy to read. Newly independent readers will enjoy the little tale unaided, while those on the brink may need a little support as they sound out the words or make semi-informed guesses from the context. See my other stories for more confidence-building reading practice.

This funny 60-word story is easy to read. Newly independent readers will enjoy reading it alone, while those on the brink will benefit from adult support as they sound out the words or make wise guesses. The text offers a wide range of phonics and familiar words, while keeping the reader engaged. See my other stories for more reading practice.

A woodland poem example, featuring description, presented over a colourful autumn wood photo. Writing frame also included. Repetition of the opening line also features in this simple format. **Offers a framework and idea spurs **for KS2 writers, and for KS1 verbal contributions. Warm-up: go outside to experience trees (and woods?) with all the senses. Then discuss - what did the children notice? What creatures might live there, and what are they like? How would the trees be in different seasons? What might they be like on Halloween night? Enact trees together, then pretend you’re walking through a wood, finding “treasures”. You’ll find more poem guides and poetry themes here at my TES shop.

A beautiful, calming snow scene to write on, following the snow’s gentle curves. The starter phrases invite describing words and similes.

This 48-word story is fun and simple to read, with large, clear text and supportive illustrations. Ideal for newly independent readers and those on the brink, with one-to-one support. See my other stories in the series - all about Jack, his life and friends, e.g. https://www.tes.com/resources/search/?authorId=23864398&q=at the zoo&shop=katewilliams_poetry Note - there are no pictures of hero Jack. Readers are free to imagine him as they like - like them perhaps.

This short, simple story is fun to read. Ideal for newly independent and emergent readers. The zoo animals that Jack sees are vividly described in a few, simple words. The funny monkey offers humour too. Plenty to discuss and follow up. There’s also a little space at the bottom for an extra illustration. See my other simple stories too, for variety.

A colourful phonics writing sheet, with wording: “lots of lego”, in large, clear, pale blue letters for over-writing, and a line below for copying again. 3 Lego pieces to colour in below, and a photo of Lego above. Attractive, engaging activity for EYFS + Y1, bringing meaning to letters and their sounds and developing handwriting skills. Many other fun phonics sheets in my catalogue too.

This phonics writing sheet offers the words ‘tap, pot, lid’ in pale colours for writing over, with extra initial letters for practice. The homely, hand-drawn pictures of these familiar objects will engage children and give meaning to the phonics and letters they’re learning. The pictures can be coloured in. Help children sound out the words before and after writing over them, to ensure they understand and recognise them. If interested, have many other phonics writing sheets to browse in this catalogue.

Simple, cheerful writing sheet. Pale coloured letters to write over, and some to copy below too. Two short sentences: the sun is hot it is happy Smiley sun and smiley face pictures add to the merriment. Children can also add a face and/or sun in the spaces. I have many other phonics sheets in this catalogue.

This simple, two-verse rhyme about traffic and pedestrians in a busy street provides wide scope for variation and action, stretching vocabulary, dramatic expression, sound awareness, and creativity. The tips below the verses offer handy prompts and ideas for embellishment and development. Children will develop language skills, including vocabulary-building and dramatic expression. The rhyme also teaches rhythm and rhyme, introducing the concept of poetry. It has a cheerful, upbeat tone, and also encourages physical movement, supporting mental and physical wellbeing. Its theme supports awareness of the outside world, social behaviour and even touches on carbon footprint issues - so there’s plenty to discuss here! If you have a percussion or musical instrument to hand, you could take the rhyme even further by setting it to music.

Traffic light pictures with “stop” and “go” to copy below on red and green lines. Traffic light pictures to colour in. A fun and meaningful activity to bring phonics alive and encourage reading and writing. Colour differentiation also promoted, besides handwriting, fine motor skills, road safety awareness and transport-related topic studies.

A fresh, beautiful spring picture display comprising 7 pictures, showing spring flowers, blossom, robin, nest eggs, butterfly, and a home-produced scene of toy spring animals. Purpose: to inspire seasonal teaching and learning. Use as spurs for creative writing, artwork, nature study, colours teaching and discussion. They also offer cheer, comfort and hope.

This attractive seaside sheet links letters and their sounds to pictures of familiar items starting with those letters: s - sea, f - fish, b - boat. Children will naturally sound out the words, without the bother of working their way through all the letters in them. This will bring meaning and interest to the sounds. The letters are pale, for writing over, with an extra set below the seaside colouring picture. VIDEO inspiration, with poem about shells: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wkeZ8K6iCfcFQneZ9 For similar sheets, see my other phonics sheets (most are recent uploads) at my shop.

Robin writing sheets in 4 grades (4 sheets, 1 file), with teacher’s guide, for young, emergent writers - Reception to Yr 2. Descriptive language and imagery are invited, plus words for flying (gliding, flapping, darting?), and for the sky. Pictures to colour, hand-drawn by author. Topics addressed: garden birds, flight, movement, spring, animals, colour and more. The Guide gives word suggestions for each line, for quick reference when providing examples to the children.

Castle writing and vocabulary-stretching fun is offered in this attractive picture-writing frame. Independent and emergent writers will love thinking up words, similes and phrases to fill the ten gaps in and around this atmospheric photo of historic Caerphilly Castle, Wales. The GUIDE sheet supplies teachers with handy ideas for words and similes to give as prompts and examples, at all levels. The gap-free version of the picture, also included, will inspire pupils to think up their own words too. Uses: poetry-writing preparation, vocabulary stretching, writing confidence, castle topic enhancement, story-writing starter and more. Also useful as a gap-filler, any time, any class from around Yr 2-6. See my other topical pictures with word gaps too.

Pond picture for colouring and writing, with lines for five describing words and a longer line below for a simile. Also a spare curvy line for an extra thought. Lots of idea-triggering details in the picture, with space for more contributions. You could prompt for: splashy, green, busy, smooth, reflecting, wet, sprinkly, brown, muddy, fun, peaceful, deep, quiet, ploppy, cool or calm, perhaps, and as smooth as silk, velvet, milk, ink, skin, feathers or satin, perhaps. See also harder and easier versions, and colouring-only pond for Early Years, and Pond Writing + Colouring Bundle for all. This resource supports outdoor projects, writing skill development, creativity, colouring skills and nature appreciation.

Literacy boost, celebrating nature. Beautiful butterfly image with 10 gaps for words + space below for similes, with Guide Sheet / Word + Simile Bank for teacher reference. Clear picture also provided, for inspiration. A fun, meaningful activity that engages children instantly, stretching vocabulary, firing ideas for creative writing, and enthusing them in butterflies and the natural world. Supports Literacy and Nature topics together. Other themes in this gap-filling picture series so far: Dragons, Space, Meadow (free), Sea and Under Sea. Jungle + more coming soon.

Beautiful pictures linking with ‘b’ and ‘s’ letters to write over: bee, butterfly, spider, snail, bat, bird and snake. Early years and KS1 children will enjoy identifying the creatures, saying the words and writing over the softely coloured letters that they start with - b and s. An attractive, engaging way to help children connect letters to words and real things. Brings meaning to phonics.

Shells writing + colouring sheet, with link to supporting, inspiring video. Shells can be… describing words are invited around the shell pictures on this attractive sheet. Similes also called for: as … as …, and one for the sea on the wavy line - The sea is as sparkly as… SUPPORTING VIDEO: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wkeZ8K6iCfcFQneZ9 See my easier version here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/shells-can-be-illustrated-writing-frame-guide-sheet-12099487

A punchy, 4-verse rhyme about shells, with guidance notes for presentation and development, for use with young children. Can be chanted with hand gestures, with scope for more verses using children’s volunteered alternative describing words for shells. Supports speaking and listening skills, drama, presentation, self-confidence, seaside topics and more. The four rhyming verses describe sea shells in different ways, drawing attention to different types and their varying features, and the beauty and jewel-like quality of underwater shells, too. Video: Here’s me talking about shells, showing some, and reciting the poem, at a make-believe seaside: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wkeZ8K6iCfcFQneZ9 . Here’s a writing/colouring sheet to follow on with: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/shells-can-be-illustrated-writing-frame-guide-sheet-12099487