Traditional tale - The Lady and the Lion. Rather similar tales by the Brothers Grimm have been used for reference. Retold at three levels: simple plus symbol-support of Widgit/PCS symbols; early reading (RA 6-8y) with illustrations; longer version (RA 10-11y) to read aloud, with many opportunities for spoken language tasks. Additional activities: colouring; read / match caption to picture and sequence the story; writing frame booklet with 12 pictures as prompts; tessellations. With Guide.

Supplied with notes about a way to work on the concept of size comparison. Illustrated with PCS or Widgit symbols. Work from real objects through matching pictures up to using general knowledge and the ability to think abstractly to sequence non-matching pictures and then text.

Notes about how we deliver the message rather than what the message is. Language learning is integral to teaching.

5 pages of cartoons with a selection of verb possibilities to use instead of ‘said’. A writing column requires an event and some actual speech in a bubble. My other resources which link to this are (1) Match Speech Bubbles to Pics, (2) Punctuation – Mark the End of Sentences; and (3) Punctuation II – Putting in the Speech Marks.

Symbols (c) Widgit Software 2010. These pages show some of the words that underpin talking about quantity, position, comparing, placing, arranging and so on. They all need to be practised with many different objects to ensure generalisation. Remember to stress first in a row is always on the left. This is critical to the understanding of instructions in maths and other areas. (First in the queue, however, depends on which way the queue is going. It's hard talking maths words!) Index in sheet order and alphabetical order.

Symbols (c) Widgit Software 2010. Match, sort, group, choose, associate, exclude. Four examples of many basic categories. Additional set includes some early history and other topics. An ideas map outlines the development of language skills in this area for children in Preschool and Foundation and four books detail graded activities you can carry out with these cards or other card sets (e.g. topic pictures). Useful for children with or without language delay/disorder. Could also be used for EAL work.

Symbols (c) Widgit Software 2010. Two files of verbs.

4-picture sequences illustrated with PCS or Widgit symbols. One picture is omitted from each sequence and the gap is intended to promote discussion and inference. The missing pictures are included for later use. Can be used for writing missing links and/or whole stories.

Symbols (c) Widgit Software 2010. Print on A4 for your vocabulary folder: illustrated vocabulary page with WORDS FOR HALLOWEEN AND BONFIRE NIGHT. For word activities: RHYMES FOR HALLOWEEN WORDS – a cut and stick activity matching onset-rime words. Illustrated vocabulary page of VERBS AND ADJECTIVES ABOUT FIREWORKS could be reference for spellings or discussion. All useful for EAL too.

Traditional tale - Little Red Riding Hood. A fairy tale retold at three levels: simple plus symbol-support of Widgit/PCS symbols, early reading with illustrations, longer version to read aloud with many opportunities for spoken language tasks. Additional activities: colouring, read / match caption to picture and sequence.

A Danish Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale (AKA The princess and the pea / The princess on the pea). Retold at three levels: simple plus symbol-support of Widgit/PCS symbols, early reading with illustrations, and a version as a poem to read aloud (or for readers with RA 10-11y). Additional activities: colouring, read / match caption to picture and sequence.

Symbols (c) Widgit Software 2010. Some silly re-makes of nursery rhymes with symbol support to read, predict, and then cut up and match.

Illustrated with PCS or Widgit symbols. Use of symbol support makes meanings clearer. Activities for teaching/discussion and then working alone. Also helpful for EAL work.

A set of ClipArt pictures and word cards. The activity is to ask questions in a barrier game and select word cards to match the replies and build sentences. Other suggested activities plus thoughts about asking questions orally or with worksheets to target different developmental levels. Two files. Mat with word cards made with Widgit’s CIP.

Illustrated pirate vocabulary, games, create a narrative using pirate-related verbs with irregular past tense forms/ 3 pages of varied worksheets, story about pirates and minibeasts theme/ grid for coordinates.

A page of pictures with and without labels (also provided as text only) to place according to word function: verbs, nouns or adjectives. They are all words - but what sort of words? Designed using Widgit Communicate Ideas and CIP and illustrated with PCS or Widgit symbols.

Traditional tale – The Magic Horse. A tale originally called The Ebony Horse from 1001 Arabian Nights. Retold at three levels: plus symbol-support of Widgit/PCS symbols; early reading with illustrations; longer version (RA 11y approx.) to read aloud, with many opportunities for spoken language tasks. Additional activities: colouring; read / match caption to picture and sequence the story; Write-about outline booklet with 8 pictures as prompts; tessellations. With Guide.

Symbols (c) Widgit Software 2010. Four of the many words which cover cognitive concepts and confuse lots of children. Pair meaning two which go together, whole versus hole, half, and understanding that ‘the other one’ can refer to anything depending on the context! Print on A4 paper. The multi-page files can be printed 2-up. Could be used for EAL as well.

Four sets of worksheets fully illustrated with PCS and Widgit symbols so no text reading required. Practise saying the sentences, choosing the exception and crossing it out. Sets 2-4 require a blank to be filled with a category word as the sentences are spoken. Lots of vocabulary. Suitable for SEN and EAL language work.

Symbols (c) Widgit Software 2010. Two sets of dominos with verbs that occur with different prepositions as phrasal verbs. See guide for ideas.