More information on fine motor skills for writing can be found here. A downloadable copy of this OT booklet on pencil grasp is here. Other ideas for games and activities to boost fine motor coordination and finger strength are here. Other downloadable resources are here. Daily posts will be collated under the Learning at Home… Continue reading Construction working
Tag: Early Years
Matching and sorting
Today's tip can incorporate drawing, cutting and sticking, sorting small-word toys, everyday items and garden finds... Adapt the concept to suit children’s ages and stages – simplify as necessary or make it more complex. As well as being a great mutisensory learning experience for dyslexic children or anyone with specififc learning difficulties, this type of… Continue reading Matching and sorting
Comparatively speaking
Today's idea is one that can be slotted in to almost any situation. Adapt the concept to suit children’s ages and stages – you might just chat, or you might follow up with measuring roughly, or later, accurately. You can use everyday objects to measure – step out distances, or use known quantities rather than… Continue reading Comparatively speaking
We’re going on a sound hunt!
For today's offering, an old favourite that works at home or out on a daily walk. Adapt the concept to suit children’s ages and stages – simplify as necessary or make it more complex. Older children can cope with more sophisticated language and less visually obvious targets. This helps build comprehension and vocabulary skills as… Continue reading We’re going on a sound hunt!
Sort it out
Each weekday during April, as we're all at home, I'm sharing ideas to help develop children's skills for learning through play. Today's offering combines helping out at home with following instructions. There's a healthy dose of maths on the side, too! Adapt the concept to suit children’s ages and stages – simplify as necessary or… Continue reading Sort it out
Word games
It's Wednesday, so we're working on word games in today's daily offering. Playing with alliteration (words starting with the same letter), onset and rime (the first sound and the bit that makes the rhyme) and rhythm (noticing the number of syllables, the length of the word) can help to build skills for spelling and to… Continue reading Word games
Stealth maths
To lighten the load on unaccustomed and/or unplanned home educators (and for anyone else who's interested) I'm sharing daily ideas to develop children's learning through play and everyday activities. As well as being fantastic for social skills, communication, sharing and turn-taking, games are a brilliant way to develop both understanding of mathematical concepts and the… Continue reading Stealth maths
Phonics fun
Yes, I did just put those two words together! If we make game of everyday language and build on the fun of early nursery rhymes and picture books, we really can take the pressure off when it comes to discerning sounds for spelling and writing later on. More ideas to help develop children's skills through… Continue reading Phonics fun
Crafty crafting
Today's daily tip is designed to help build strength and skills for writing, but there's not a pencil in sight! Don't feel you have to stick to handwriting exercises. There are many ways to develop the dexterity needed for accurate pencil control. More information on fine motor skills for writing can be found here. A… Continue reading Crafty crafting
Letters and sounds
A downloadable infographic and downloadable resources to promote alphabet skills
5 maths games
Reposted to coincide with the fifth day of twelvetide (12 festive days 2017-18) Just a bit of lighthearted support for mathematical development for use at home or at school. As usual, this can be downloaded for printing. There's a link at the bottom of the page. It’s completely free, but please credit Sarah Gillie -… Continue reading 5 maths games
Number facts
Originally published to coincide with twelvetide (12 festive days 2017-18) Just a bit of lighthearted support for mathematical development for use at home or at school. As with all my infographics, this one can be downloaded for printing. There's a link at the bottom of the page. It’s completely free, but please credit Sarah Gillie… Continue reading Number facts
Old fashioned counting rhymes
Reposted to coincide with twelvetide (12 festive days 2017-18) Just a bit of lighthearted support for mathematical development for use at home or at school. I've written about how number rhymes can support early maths development here. As usual, the infographic can be downloaded for printing. There's a link at the bottom of the page.… Continue reading Old fashioned counting rhymes
Tools to tackle spelling
Infographic with tips on tackling spelling
5 phonics games
5 games and activities to develop phonics skills
Early number skills
Many very young children start to show an interest with quantity and other mathematical concepts such as shape quite early in their exploration of the world. Counting in everyday situations As parents, or adults caring for babies and toddlers, we may tend to count e.g. each spoonful eaten when feeding, or the number of trees… Continue reading Early number skills
8 ideas to promote listening skills
Listening skills, like any others, often need to be explicitly taught.
Sensory Needs
A look at sensory perception originally created and posted to mark Autism Hour 2017.
Why does he do that?
via Daily Prompt: Sympathy Sometimes, a parent will quietly ask their child's class teacher or another parent if what they see in their child is 'normal'. Other times, a teacher might ask their student's previous teacher whether a particular conduct or difficulty is typical for that chid, or they might seek the advice of a… Continue reading Why does he do that?
Colour Blind Awareness Day
How much do you know about colour blindness?
Beacons Unique 