Many pupils struggle with a low working memory, or may lack general knowledge, which makes access to texts and the learning a real challenge. This set of 5 “brain gym” sequences will be fun to do, but will also work on thinking skills, memory and vocabulary development. These are pitched at key stages 2 and 3.

The W in my WRITER sequence is Work on Words. For various reasons, such as too much content clogging up the curriculum, there may be a tendency to neglect this area. Many pupils battle against a vocabulary gap and lack confidence with spelling, so this stage is essential in supporting the learning to follow. These 22 activities provide a variety of ways for pupils to interact and engage with words to build confidence. The feedback from teachers using them has been great. They can be printed off and laminated or made into slides for the whiteboard. Once pupils know the activities, they make a ready-made carousel.

A set of cards ideal for learning and recycling spelling skills. Great for spelling skills and vocabulary development. Once the set is downloaded, the fun begins! Teach you pupils several games with the cards and they will be able to learn and play independently. Some ideas for games are included. Ideal for starters and start of day / transition times. The cards refer to the year 3 / 4 curriculum but, in my experience, it is essential that older pupils review prior learning, and my year 6 classes don’t find the words easy. As with all my resources, they are being used in classrooms daily and making an impact.

Both Spellectricity Games. See individual game descriptions. Both sets of cards together will increase the capacity for differentiation.

Download the game and see the impact. I use this all the time and it is fantastic for getting pupils to think, discuss, break down words, blend sounds, build on their phonics, develop vocabulary and think about the meaning of words in context. Brilliant in guided groups or as a whole-class team game.

There’s a lot here. A comprehensive toolkit of activities and thinking tasks. In the bundle: 22 Thinking Spelling A3 activities, ideal for laminates or slides. 2 sets of spelling cards and games, based on the National Curriculum spelling appendices. Suitable for years 3 - 9 A PDF of spelling and thinking activities for whole-class starters / start of day tasks or guided groups. Looking for Patterns activities. I would urge caution with any approach that is too obsessed with spelling rules. However, we do need to cover the curriculum, and these activities, from my days as a Local Authority consultant, present 41 “rules” and invite pupils to explore and challenge them. See further descriptions in my shop.

The more years I spend in the classroom, the more I realise how much of a barrier a low working memory can be to some pupils. So, practice is required. These fun activities really help and this type of skill should be used regularly., complemented by rich speaking and listening opportunities.

A set of cards ideal for learning and recycling spelling skills. Great for spelling skills and vocabulary development. Once the set is downloaded, the fun begins! Teach you pupils several games with the cards and they will be able to learn and play independently. Some ideas for games are included. Ideal for starters and start of day / transition times. The cards refer to the year 5/6 curriculum but, in my experience, it is essential that older pupils review prior learning, and key stage 3 pupils won’t find the words too easy. As with all my resources, they are being used in classrooms daily and making an impact.

Mark is an associate of Thinking Matters. These snappy thinking tasks are a great way to build the grey matter. Better thinking, better learning.

Makes a great laminated scaffold for a talk task. Ideal for getting pupils to think independently about their learning.

Since becoming an associate of Thinking Matters, I have been converted to the power of thinking maps. These are so effective at scaffolding thinking, sequencing ideas or establishing a sense of “the whole” before a piece of writing. Easily adapted for tasks across the curriculum, for reading tasks, thinking tasks and as part of a teaching sequence for writing.

In my WRITER sequence, the I stands for Investigating Writing Choices Together. This is a great stage to experiment with grammar for different effects in pairs and groups. The wheels are perfect for this: try out some different choices, then evaluate them. This is great preparation for pupils when they try out their individual choices later in the sequence. It is recommended that the wheels are laminated and could be used with a spinner in the middle to make a game, or as a dice game, with pupils moving around the wheel.

Download the cards and create a fantastic game, which contains all the skills required for pupils to build confidence with their words. Pupils will love the game, but will also have to work together, discuss, listen, break words into bits, thinking about meanings and use the words in sentences. I use this all the time, and it is highly recommended.

This writing project would be perfect for years 5 and 6 because it embeds age-appropriate grammar tasks into fun writing opportunities with a strong sense of audience and purpose. Please note the Sussex CCC competition is no longer live, but the pupils are sure to enjoy the activities.