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If you haven't noticed I love using paint! Why use a 'boring' pencil when you can use paint and choose your favourite colour! Children generally come to school knowing about number. They might know the numeral but they may not know what it represents. This activity provides a fantastic opportunity for children to develop their understanding of one-to-one correspondence and cardinality. They can make five marks and then check: “Have I got five?” They begin to connect the amoun

Rhyming can be really useful in teaching children with dyslexia as it draws children's attention to the sound structure of spoken language. We know that rhyming can help struggling reading as it draws children's attention to the sound structure of spoken language. Rhyming can provide a relatively low-pressure way of playing with sounds before asking children to manipulate individual phonemes. Here are some activities I use in my classroom. Give children rhyming word cards and

Learning to read and write should be an experience that children actually enjoy. Especially when they are in Key Stage 1. They should explore and actively participate in learning. When literacy feels like play rather than a task, children are more likely to become confident and motivated learners. Here are my two favourite ways to make learning seem like playing. Which involve limited resources and time to set up! Painting instead of writing is a simple one. Painting helps fi

A classroom can become quieter when children know what to do next. Not because the lesson is passive, but because the resource speaks clearly enough for them to act. I was thinking about classroom resources that as a teacher I actually want. I find in the classroom so many activities are overly wordy. Children who are excellent mathematicians can't access the work as they stuggle reading the question! I love cooking and has always been an escape for me, yet so many adults str

Learning doesn't always have to happen sitting at a table with a pencil and worksheet! I teach children who find sitting at a table super hard! Yet so much of learning is sitting and listening. When I returned to work after maternity leave my mission was to make learning as active as possible without loads of planning! Outdoor learning gives children opportunities to move, touch, explore, create and experiment while developing the same core skills they are expected to learn i

Update on Recent Activities It's been a bit quiet on my end as I've returned to teaching full time, and it's been quite hectic. However, I wanted to share some updates: Charity Filing Beyond Spelling is filed as on official charity however are now facing a 28-week waitlist. Yet, the funds raised from my dance a thon is going to support children who cannot afford music lessons normally to take them at school. Bank Account The bank account is all set up ready to start sending m

Raising nearly £1,200 by dancing for 6.5 hours can create real opportunities for children. I am super excited to have kick-started the fundraising efforts for Beyond Spelling. I return to school this week and am super excited to start setting up some extra curricular opportunities for children who struggle academically in school. The power of fundraising through passion Spending over six hours dancing was tough as it was a little boring. Ultimately having it filmed was prett

On Saturday, I had the privilege of attending the premiere of What is Dyslexia?—and I left feeling inspired to continue on Beyond Spelling's mission. What “What is Dyslexia?” Got Exactly Right Because this film captures something I see every single day as a teacher, and something that sits at the very heart of why I started Beyond Spelling. Dyslexia is not a deficit. It is not a lack of intelligence. It is not something to be “fixed.” It is a different way of thinking and oft

Embracing Dyslexic Thinking for Career Success In a world that increasingly values diverse ways of thinking, dyslexic individuals are proving to be a unique asset in the workplace. I have been recently talking to Kate Griggs from Made by Dyslexia who has campained to show dyslexia as a strength. She highlights how dyslexic thinking can not only enhance personal growth but also future-proof careers in an ever-evolving job market. The Strengths of Dyslexic Thinking Dyslexic

The report An Unequal Playing Field highlights a powerful and uncomfortable truth: children’s access to opportunities beyond the classroom clubs, music, sport, tutoring remains deeply unequal. And those opportunities matter more than we often acknowledge. This government report is from 2019; yet what has changed in 7 years? The hidden curriculum: opportunity The report highlights why extra-curricular activities are not just “nice to have.” They build confidence, social skill

Phonics is great! As a Year 1 teacher I love teaching phonics and I'm successful at it. I find the lessons fun to plan and think the short 30 minute fast paced format keeps the lesson engaging for children. It is a really successful way of teaching children to read. Breaking down words into sounds (phonemes) and how they are written (graphemes) and teaching children to break down words into little pieces. I teach using letters and sounds and find the lessons well planned ou

The department of Education have noted this yet nothing is done to help children! https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmeduc/342/34205.htm I just had a fantastic call with Kay Carter from the Dyslexia Association about how the focus is phonics phonics phonics yet nothing is done to boost children's confidence in schools otherwise. She pointed me towards some other methods which we know help children to read, feel like they matter and are valued in the e