Literacy

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

Literacy

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

Literacy

As libraries reopen, the Summer Reading Challenge begins

Local libraries across the UK have begun to reopen as lockdown restrictions, triggered by the pandemic, gradually relax. With this in mind, I began to gather up our library books (those I’d borrowed for Daisy, and my own), ready to return them when I had an opportunity. As I collected the books together, I reflected… Continue reading As libraries reopen, the Summer Reading Challenge begins

Literacy

World Book Day; Sharing a story “The Tiger Who Came To Tea”

Today Daisy is sharing one of her favourite stories, dressed up as Sophie from Judith Kerr's classic The Tiger Who Came To Tea. The Tiger Who Came To Tea  was first published in 1968.  Judith Kerr said that she made this story up as a bedtime story and she told it again and again to… Continue reading World Book Day; Sharing a story “The Tiger Who Came To Tea”

Literacy

World Book Day 2020; theme to ‘share a million stories’; Thursday 5th March

Did you know that this year it's World Book Day 2020 on March 5th? The theme for World Book Day 2020 is to share a million stories and encourages us to share stories from breakfast to bedtime.  The official World Book Day 2020 website has resources for this year's 'sharing stories' theme and ideas for… Continue reading World Book Day 2020; theme to ‘share a million stories’; Thursday 5th March

Literacy

Matching, Sorting and Language Skills, playing with a set of Usborne snap cards

It was back in January last year that I wrote my blog Using Usborne Snap cards for matching, sorting and language skills and described Daisy's enjoyment using these Usborne cards.  We packed the cards away, ready for this Christmas, hoping to play more games and Christmas Snap with Daisy. This Christmas time we put these… Continue reading Matching, Sorting and Language Skills, playing with a set of Usborne snap cards

Literacy

Grandparents and YouTube; a great combination to help preschoolers learn new words

Research shows that pre-school children have a vocabulary of around 1,000 words by the time they are three and they will continue to learn another 500 - 600 words by the time they are four years old. Recently I had been sitting on the floor with Daisy while she played with her mixed collection of… Continue reading Grandparents and YouTube; a great combination to help preschoolers learn new words

Literacy

Using Story Sacks to bring Story Books to Life

Back in May, I wrote a blog about 50 years of The Very Hungry Caterpillar  and described a visit to the local library with Daisy where we selected some books and a Story Sack to borrow from the library.  While Daisy is now familiar with borrowing library books, The Very Hungry Caterpillar was her first… Continue reading Using Story Sacks to bring Story Books to Life