World Book Day is here and my granddaughter is dressing as a very special kitten. Here are some purr-feet resources so you can get in on the fun... Happy World Book Day 2022! I hope you’re making the most of all the excellent resources that are available for readers of all ages. This year for… Continue reading World Book Day: Tabby McTat & Samuel Sprat
Category: Literacy
Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.
World Book Day 2022: fun resources and useful links
World Book Day 2022 is drawing closer, and I’ve assembled some useful links and ideas to help you make the most of this special day My granddaughter Daisy has always enjoyed sitting down with a book. While she doesn’t need a special occasion to prompt her to read with me, she always enjoys World Book… Continue reading World Book Day 2022: fun resources and useful links
Fun Fridge Phonics: blending simple sounds and reading sentences
Building early reading skills can be simple and fun for children and carers alike. A set of magnetic letters and a fridge door leads to a lot of phonics blending fun... The kitchen is a great place for young children to learn. But those discoveries don’t have to be limited to fun food science, not… Continue reading Fun Fridge Phonics: blending simple sounds and reading sentences
Learning the uppercase alphabet
For most children, learning the alphabet is an experience that takes place over a long period of time and involves a lot of repetition and familiarisation across many different contexts. There is a lot to learn, from the names of the letters to their order, to the fact that there are lowercase and uppercase versions… Continue reading Learning the uppercase alphabet
Nurturing a love of books and reading
As preschool children grow, their leaps into independence become impossible to ignore. With her fifth birthday on the horizon, I’ve noticed that my granddaughter Daisy has become more content to play on her own for longer periods, where previously would insist on the participation of an adult playmate. While her parents cook, do chores, or… Continue reading Nurturing a love of books and reading
Teaching your child to write their name
I remember well the family conversations that were shared about possible names for our grandchild, Daisy. Now it’s impossible to imagine her having any other name! We’ve watched as she’s grown and have seen how she’s taken ownership of her name and become a ‘proper’ Daisy. Our children and grandchildren take their name and invariably… Continue reading Teaching your child to write their name
Happy World Book Day 2021!
Today is World Book Day! For this year's edition, my granddaughter Daisy is wearing a homemade outfit and is dressed as a character from one of her many favourite books: the Ladybird from the wonderful What the Ladybird Heard series of books by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks! There are some excellent activities to explore… Continue reading Happy World Book Day 2021!
All set for World Book Day 2021
World Book Day is always popular with my family. This annual event takes place at the beginning of March and my granddaughter Daisy always enjoys dressing as a book character on that day; in previous years her costumes have honoured The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr, The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson… Continue reading All set for World Book Day 2021
Using magnetic letters for remote phonics fun
The third UK lockdown has brought families and educators new challenges and new ways to do so many things. In fact, during a recent family video call I discovered a new activity to enjoy with my four-year-old granddaughter Daisy – one that is only possible when we’re not in the same room! Last year Daisy… Continue reading Using magnetic letters for remote phonics fun
How silly sounds prepare your child for phonics
A guest post by Grandpa Smith. As we look to support our preschool children in the very early stages of reading and writing, it can be easy to forget that the most enjoyable and natural preparation they can undertake will involve exploring sounds. I was driving back from the beach with Daisy recently when I… Continue reading How silly sounds prepare your child for phonics
Granny Smith's Diary 