Maths is full of patterns, as is the world around us. An understanding of simple patterns will later develop into children’s understanding of numbers and how the number system works! It is crucial to let young children experience patterns in many different ways. It should be multisensory – they should paint patterns, dance them, sing …
Most everyday people don’t know what the term ‘heuristic play’ means. However, almost everybody will witness it at some times in their lives. It is something that has always existed, and seems really natural and simple. But what, in a simple answer, is heuristic play? Heuristic play is exploring a range of objects in different …
Counting backwards is a really important skill. It starts off simply with counting songs and rote counting, but much later on develops into subtraction and other types of calculating. But how do you teach backward counting? Start to teach counting backwards with simple songs that practice the skill in a simple way. Use a variety …
There is quite a lot of technical language surrounding phonics that sometimes can be a barrier to parents and even some teachers understanding how to teach it. The aim of this article is to completely demystify one of the most common words you may hear bandied around when you hear people talk about phonics – …
There are quite a few unusual terms bandied around in phonics, and these often muddy the waters and make it harder for parents and often teachers to understand how to teach it. The word ‘blending’ is definitely something you will hear a lot, but what exactly is it? Blending in phonics is combining broken up …
Your pre-schooler hates writing? Honestly, this is completely natural, and most researchers would even say normal. At this age many children are not ready physically to attempt mark-making, and starting them too quickly can sometimes do more harm than good. Having said this, there are some things you can do to speed along the process …
Developing fine motor skills in children is incredibly important. Everyone understands the impact this will have on early writing, but this is only a tiny portion of the full picture. Fine motor skills are a central part of our lives. By developing their fine motor control, children are able to access other things to become …
Having taught maths for ten years to children from the age of 3-5, I have found that one of the most crucial early math skills is ordering numbers. It is a foundation block of learning, on which many other skills are then built. It is also something all of us use in our daily lives …
Understanding positional words is quite a long process. It takes most children a while to first comprehend the terms, and then longer again to start to use the words themselves. Having worked as a preschool teacher for many years, I have lots of tricks and games up my sleeve to get them going with this …
I reckon I must have tried out at least a hundred memory games with the children I have taught over the last ten years. At least one hundred, but maybe more! However, out of all those games, the following 22 really stood out. These are the ones children will ask for time and again, and …