Hi, welcome to my shop. I have been a primary teacher for 34 years and have a wide range of experience in different roles. I have been a senior leader in schools and most recently a SENDCO for 10 years. I am posting resources that I think will be helpful for SENDCOs, class teachers or even parents and home educators. I am new to this - so please do send reviews to help me improve - or requests if there is something you think I might be able to create that you would find helpful.
Hi, welcome to my shop. I have been a primary teacher for 34 years and have a wide range of experience in different roles. I have been a senior leader in schools and most recently a SENDCO for 10 years. I am posting resources that I think will be helpful for SENDCOs, class teachers or even parents and home educators. I am new to this - so please do send reviews to help me improve - or requests if there is something you think I might be able to create that you would find helpful.
This booklet includes a sequenced and comprehensive resource to cover the KS2 History study of the Stone Age and Prehistoric period in Britain.
This booklet covers:
• Chronology
• Ice Age animals
• Stone Age settlement
• Development of farming
• Study of Stonehenge
• Beginning of use of metal and the Bronze Age
• Cave art and early writing
• Sources of evidence
• Dangers in the Stone Age
• 2 Review activities
It is presented in booklet form to be an inclusive resource for students at lower key stage two. Many secondary schools use booklets to sequence and scaffold learning for students, but this approach is less common in primary schools. I was interested in how this format might be used to make history more accessible and to ensure that it is history rather than writing that is being developed.
All the information is recorded for students, and they are encouraged to interact with it to develop recall and understanding. There is a very limited requirement to record in writing – other methods have been used so that the historical thinking is key rather than writing skills.
Working through the booklet does require literacy skills in that there is a level of reading required. This may be something that a teaching assistant can work on with a student who needs support – but it is also recognised that often this support is not available for subjects such as history. Therefore, the reading level has been managed so that an alternative way of using the booklet would be with peer support. Pairing a students of differing literacy skills would allow for peer support. Both students will be able to record in the same way so there will be no obvious difference in outcome which is positive for self-esteem – but the additional independent reading experience and challenge will be positive for the student who is the stronger reader in the partnership.
Rather than buy an activity guide for each novel that you study – how about trying one booklet of activities that you can apply to any novel?
Whole class novel study is now one of the main ways in which reading is taught through guided reading and comprehension work. This booklet is designed to give teachers a range of activities that they can use alongside these lessons. They can be applied to which ever novel is being studied and used to give students a scaffolded way of recording the thinking and learning that they have done in lessons.
There are:
• 12 Character study activity pages
• 12 Setting study activity pages
• 12 Vocabulary study pages
• 8 Plot and Chapter study activity pages
• 10 Whole Book study activity pages
The activities very in the amount of formal written recording needed to allow for adapted provision addressing the same learning. There are also structure strip based pages to provide scaffolding support for more developed written work for those students that need this.
This is a simple record card that can be used to implement a behaviour plan with a specific student.
It includes:
target setting
a timetable tracking record
record of any agreed reward
a weekly review
next steps plan
It can easily be printed on A4 and folded to make a simple card that can be kept in class or taken to different classes by the student.
These comic strips are designed to provide a scaffold for developing the speech and language skills needed for some of the conversations that students often need to take part in at school. There are lots of resources out there for general conversation skills about general topics but not often it can be those everyday conversations with friends and staff at school that it would help to work on.
Situations covered include:
• Morning greeting.
• Difficult playtimes.
• Planning a task with a peer.
• Sharing news with an adult.
• Asking to join a game or activity.
• Asking for help with learning.
• When I am not happy with a friend.
• When I have done something wrong.
There are also 2 blanks so that students can develop their own scenarios relevant to their experience.
In each strip, it was planned that the student in the striped shirt would be the focus student – there are some strips with a peer and others with an adult to work on developing skills for talking with both.
Students benefit from role playing the scenarios using the comic strip as a scaffold or basis for a script.
At the end of the pack there is also a poster to remind students of the features of good conversation skills.
More frequently, mainstream schools are finding that they are having to make provision for students with significant special educational needs including those who are learning at the level of the engagement model and not yet able to access subject specific learning at a pre-Key Stage level.
This pack provides some resources, ideas, planning and assessment/ recording ideas that might be helpful in this situation.
Contents:
• Two engagement model record sheets with prompts to help staff focus their observations and reflect on appropriate next steps for students.
• 3 activity planning boards for now/ next; now/next/then and making choices to support activity planning with students.
• A daily programme plan that recognises the learning that a student will be doing within their experience in school – staff can tick the aspects that have been experienced that day so that there is a record if that is helpful or required to evidence progress.
• 2 sensory circuits that can be used at the start of the day or when a student needs to refocus.
• A start of the day plan to help structure that routine and a blank version to be personalised as required.
• Activity ideas for aspects of learning that this student may need as a parallel provision and reasonable adaptation to their curriculum provision and programme:
*Sensory activities – to build engagement at a level they can interact with effectively.
*Attention grabbing activities – to develop intentional engagement with the environment, others, and activity.
*Mirroring activities – used as part of an intensive interaction approach to build an understanding of cause and effect of actions. Please be sensitive to student reactions when using these.
*Language development activities – to develop early-stage communication and interaction.
• A weekly planning sheet to record parallel provision.
• A completed example of the weekly planning sheet to give some idea of how it might be used.
• A learning passport that can be created as part of person-centred planning. It also will help with communication and consistency of approach within the setting. It can be helpful to involve parents in completing this.
• A risk assessment that can be completed with parents and staff if the student’s presentation includes some behaviours that are challenging to respond to safely.
Need a quick and easy intervention to support student to learn tables - This booklet is designed to support a student to develop recall of tables through a focused daily minute of recall. The booklet has a pre and post assessment as well as record space to track daily progress.
Some students need to use a structured approach to get number facts into their long-term memory – they do not seem to keep them there just by regular use in maths lessons. This booklet can be used to support this process.
On each page is a grid with items to prompt the student to say a tables fact. Each day they should count how many oral responses they can give in a minute – and record that on the sheet. The aim is to be able to recall a few more each day.
The precision teaching approach works best if the student can do an activity using the content of the page they are currently working on for a few minutes ( 5 to 10) before they do the one-minute timed activity. There are lots of interactive maths sites online e.g. Topmarks: teaching resources, interactive resources, worksheets, homework, exam and revision help – and this is a great way to give student this opportunity in a way that they can do independently.
At the end of the booklet is a tables square for reference and some ideas for extension activities.
It is often recommended that schools implement an approach based on zones of regulation with students to support them in developing better self-regulation skills. This booklet has 3 versions of a 4-zone chart to help students identify how they are feeling. The first is the usual style of poster with feelings zones and suggested strategies that might help if you are feeling that way.
However, often the students who most need this approach are those who struggle to identify and name their feelings. They are also those who are presenting with the most challenging dis-regulated behaviours in school. To help those students – there are two further posters which have an additional layer of information. They list what the student might be doing because of their feelings to help make it easier for them to be guided to select appropriate strategies.
The booklet also includes a range of other resources that can be used in implementing a supported self-regulation approach. It includes:
Zones of self-regulation poster – standard version.
Zones of self-regulation poster – detailed version.
Zones of self-regulation poster – short, detailed version.
Zones of self-regulation bookmarks.
Zones of self-regulation – simple and visual strategy chart.
Zones of self-regulation – lanyard cards/ pocket cards.
Zones of self-regulation planning sheet.
Zones of self-regulation : tracking my week.
Zones of self-regulation strategy sheet.
Red Zone time out cards to use as a silent signal when students are in this zone.
Zones of self-regulation pyramid template.
Calming activity cards.
Movement break cards.
Links to further information and resources.
It is often recommended that schools implement an approach based on zones of regulation with students to support them in developing better self-regulation skills. This poster set has 3 versions of a 4-zone chart to help students identify how they are feeling. The first is the usual style of poster with feelings zones and suggested strategies that might help if you are feeling that way.
However, often the students who most need this approach are those who struggle to identify and name their feelings. They are also those who are presenting with the most challenging dis-regulated behaviours in school. To help those students – there are two further posters which have an additional layer of information. They list what the student might be doing because of their feelings to help make it easier for them to be guided to select appropriate strategies.
Take a look at the booklet in my shop if you would like more resources and support to implement supported self-regulation.
This printable booklet is designed to provide a range of activities that can be done on a visit to a local park area. They cover geography field work objectives as well as science and art learning objectives. There is a range of learning activities to help you have a full day.
The pages included are:
• Signs of the season
• Living things checklist
• Timeline of my visit
• Sketch map of the park
• Count and graph who is using the park
• Quadrat survey of specific locations in the park
• Found art activity
• Colour matching activity
• Reflection activity
The file is presented as a PDF to ensure formatting is maintained. You can print one booklet per child – or per group for your visit and leave out or add pages as required.
Some of the activities would also allow you to address field work activities in your school grounds and you could do them in both locations for a comparison study.
Ever wished that students were looking at a plan as they wrote their story to help keep them on track. This structure strip will give them a ‘story mountain’ style structure to follow.
These structure strips are designed to be stuck on the left-hand side of a student’s page to provide a clear guide as they write. They give a guide to the paragraph structure of the text and what to write in each paragraph. They can be used to help students generate a plan as well as to support them when they write the final text.
If used in an I do, We do, You do writing progression – these can scaffold the process for students. Not having to remember what to include, can free up working memory for a greater sentence and word level focus during the writing process.
They are available in PDF format to avoid formatting issues. There are 3 of each strip on a page to allow for quick copying of them if being used for class support.
An accessible way for students to show the phonics knowledge they have learned and begin to engage with blending sounds together into cvc words. They are presented with visual cue and then two written options that they can select from using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The written words have sound buttons underneath to use as a teaching aid. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
This presentation has 5 sections – one for each vowel as a medial sound and there are 6 items in each section giving 30 cvc words to work on overall. Students could work on just one section or complete the whole activity. The activity could be done independently. It can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the visual cue and then either the student reads the written choices – or if an adult is voicing them to do so as separate sounds that the student then blends to say or know the word.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats. It would also make a game that can be used in group or class sessions.
These structure strips are designed to be stuck on the left-hand side of a student’s page to provide a clear guide as they write. They give a guide to the paragraph structure of the text and what to write in each paragraph. They can be used to help students generate a plan as well as to support them when they write the final text.
The text types included are:
Science Investigation Report
Famous Scientist Report
Geography Country Report
Geography Process Explanation
History Event Report
History Significant Person Report
Art Famous Artist Report
Music Famous Composition Report
If used in an I do, We do, You do writing progression – these can scaffold the process for students. Not having to remember what to include, can free up working memory for a greater sentence and word level focus during the writing process.
They are available in PDF format to avoid formatting issues as images have been included to give some limited dual coding to help student understand what is required. There are 3 of each strip on a page to allow for quick copying of them if being used for class support.
This is a fully editable PowerPoint presentation that you can personalise for use in your school – but designed to needs as little updating daily as possible. These start of the day slides include:
• Share the plan for the day.
• Soft start/ Registration activities:
• Reading for pleasure
• Target Time - prompting students working on personal targets/ intervention booklets etc to spend some time on these
• Finish First – prompting students with tasks they have not completed to get these done in this time. Staff may leave books/ work out for students ready.
• Daily challenge activity – which can be updated with minimal editing. This box is highlighted to make it easy to pick out.
• Me-time moment – a calming and self-regulation activity for each day.
• Random Act of Kindness – a prompt to do something positive for your peers each day.
These structure strips are designed to be stuck on the left-hand side of a student’s page to provide a clear guide as they write each non-fiction text type. The give a guide to the paragraph structure of the text and what to write in each paragraph. They can be used to help students generate a plan as well as to support them when they write the final text.
The text types included are:
Recount/Diary
News report
Instructions
Biography
Persuasive argument
Balanced argument
Explanation
Report
If used in an I do, We do, You do writing progression – these can scaffold the process for students. Not having to remember what to include, can free up working memory for a greater sentence and word level focus during the writing process.
They are available in PDF format to avoid formatting issues as images have been included to give some limited dual coding to help student understand what is required. There are 3 of each strip on a page to allow for quick copying of them if being used for class support.
This resource is a bank of 10 different recall activities. Use these to add some variety to the way you ask students to activate memory and prior learning at the start of lessons.
As well as a large copy of each activity that can be displayed on a board at the start of a lesson – there are pages with multiple smaller copies that can be printed to use in student’s books to record their learning.
Most are generic enough to use in almost any subject – but there are enough to allow you to pick the one that best fits the lesson that you are planning.
Inspired by reading of the work of writers such as Kate Jones – these were designed for Key Stage Two use but would also be appropriate at secondary.
Want an accessible way and interactive way for students to be able to engage with learning phonics.
This bundle has 4 interactive activities that cover all 26 single letter sounds – introduced in an order that will match the teaching sequence in many schools.
Students are presented with visual multiple-choice options that they can select using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
There a two and three option multiple choice activities for each set of letters. The activities could be done independently. They can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the sound for the letter/ grapheme and say the options for the student where the activity is being used for teaching. Where it might be used to assess what has been retained – the adult might not voice the sound but voicing the options for the student.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats.
An accessible way for students to show the phonics knowledge they have learned. They are presented with visual multiple-choice options that they can select using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
This presentation covers the fourth and final set of initial sounds students might learn – jlqvwyxz. It has 2 levels of challenge within the presentation. The first set of slides gives students 2 choices and from slide 26 there are 3 options to choose from. The activity could be done independently. It can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the sound for the letter/ grapheme and say the options for the student where the activity is being used for teaching. Where it might be used to assess what has been retained – the adult might not voice the sound but voicing the options for the student.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats.
An accessible way for students to show the phonics knowledge they have learned. They are presented with visual multiple-choice options that they can select using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
This presentation covers the third set of initial sounds students might learn – Mdgock. It has 2 levels of challenge within the presentation. The first set of slides gives students 2 choices and from slide 20 there are 3 options to choose from. The activity could be done independently. It can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the sound for the letter/ grapheme and say the options for the student where the activity is being used for teaching. Where it might be used to assess what has been retained – the adult might not voice the sound but voicing the options for the student.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats.
An accessible way for students to show the phonics knowledge they have learned. They are presented with visual multiple-choice options that they can select using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
This presentation covers the second set of initial sounds students might learn – eurbhf. It has 2 levels of challenge within the presentation. The first set of slides gives students 2 choices and from slide 20 there are 3 options to choose from. The activity could be done independently. It can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the sound for the letter/ grapheme and say the options for the student where the activity is being used for teaching. Where it might be used to assess what has been retained – the adult might not voice the sound but voicing the options for the student.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats.
An accessible way for students to show the phonics knowledge they have learned. They are presented with visual multiple-choice options that they can select using computer/laptop, touch screen or adapted input device. The presentation gives the student instant feedback and prompts them to retry any incorrect responses.
This presentation covers the initial sounds students learn – satpin. It has 2 levels of challenge within the presentation. The first set of slides gives students 2 choices and from slide 20 there are 3 options to choose from. The activity could be done independently. It can also be done with a supportive adult voicing elements for the student. I recommend voicing the sound for the letter/ grapheme and say the options for the student where the activity is being used for teaching. Where it might be used to assess what has been retained – the adult might not voice the sound but voicing the options for the student.
Whilst this was designed with making phonics accessible for SEND students in mind – it can also be used with any student learning phonics who engages well with interactive formats.