Attractive colouring sheet representing a hot air balloon with mum and child waving from basket. Supports fine motor control development, colour sense, floating concept, travel and transport topics, holidays, weather and more. **SEE ALSO: ** - BOAT ON SEA COLOURING SHEET - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/boat-on-sea-colouring-sheet-12096606

This 61-word, springtime story is easy to read. Newly independent readers will enjoy the little tale unaided, while those on the brink may need a little support as they sound out the words or make semi-informed guesses from the context. See my other stories for more confidence-building reading practice.

This funny 60-word story is easy to read. Newly independent readers will enjoy reading it alone, while those on the brink will benefit from adult support as they sound out the words or make wise guesses. The text offers a wide range of phonics and familiar words, while keeping the reader engaged. See my other stories for more reading practice.

A woodland poem example, featuring description, presented over a colourful autumn wood photo. Writing frame also included. Repetition of the opening line also features in this simple format. **Offers a framework and idea spurs **for KS2 writers, and for KS1 verbal contributions. Warm-up: go outside to experience trees (and woods?) with all the senses. Then discuss - what did the children notice? What creatures might live there, and what are they like? How would the trees be in different seasons? What might they be like on Halloween night? Enact trees together, then pretend you’re walking through a wood, finding “treasures”. You’ll find more poem guides and poetry themes here at my TES shop.

This 60-word story is fun and simple to read. It tells the story of Waggy the dog’s happy lifestyle, from playing ball with his owner, Emma, to rolling in mud and chasing birds. Ideal for newly independent readers, and, with guidance, those on the verge of reading. Assorted phonics, spellings, grammar and punctuation included, and a range of simple, familiar vocabulary. See my other stories too, for variety.

A beautiful, calming snow scene to write on, following the snow’s gentle curves. The starter phrases invite describing words and similes.

This 48-word story is fun and simple to read, with large, clear text and supportive illustrations. Ideal for newly independent readers and those on the brink, with one-to-one support. See my other stories in the series - all about Jack, his life and friends, e.g. https://www.tes.com/resources/search/?authorId=23864398&q=at the zoo&shop=katewilliams_poetry Note - there are no pictures of hero Jack. Readers are free to imagine him as they like - like them perhaps.

This short, simple story is fun to read. Ideal for newly independent and emergent readers. The zoo animals that Jack sees are vividly described in a few, simple words. The funny monkey offers humour too. Plenty to discuss and follow up. There’s also a little space at the bottom for an extra illustration. See my other simple stories too, for variety.

This is a simple, 53-word story for young readers and almost-readers. It’s fun and meaningful to read, with supportive illustrations. The central character, Jack, features in other stories in the series too. The story features the dentist’s chair, and its exciting movements up and down. In the story, the dentist inspects Jack’s teeth and mends one, and Jack thanks him. This little reading resource is engaging and relevant to children’s lives. It also encourages tooth care and dental visits. See my other simple stories in the series, e.g. Ball in the Tree: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/story-ball-in-the-tree-simple-reading-12493185

“Lockdown” is the word for this acrostic poem idea, with a line of suggestions for each letter down the page. Teacher tips are provided at the bottom of this one-sheet resource, with advice for preparing students for the task with wide-reaching discussion, for ensuring privacy in case of sensitive issues, and for follow-on artwork. Literacy, PSHE and current affairs are all addressed in this resource, with scope for taking in different directions through follow-on activities. The coronavirus pandemic and lockdown experiences will be prominent in students’ minds, so this literacy activity offers an outlet for processing feelings and thoughts on the subject, while also stretching literacy and poetic skills.

A colourful phonics writing sheet, with wording: “lots of lego”, in large, clear, pale blue letters for over-writing, and a line below for copying again. 3 Lego pieces to colour in below, and a photo of Lego above. Attractive, engaging activity for EYFS + Y1, bringing meaning to letters and their sounds and developing handwriting skills. Many other fun phonics sheets in my catalogue too.

This phonics writing sheet offers the words ‘tap, pot, lid’ in pale colours for writing over, with extra initial letters for practice. The homely, hand-drawn pictures of these familiar objects will engage children and give meaning to the phonics and letters they’re learning. The pictures can be coloured in. Help children sound out the words before and after writing over them, to ensure they understand and recognise them. If interested, have many other phonics writing sheets to browse in this catalogue.

Recipe for a Night Sky is a published poem by this author, offered here as a source of inspiration and example of a recipe poem. Supports Halloween celebrations as well as poetry appreciation, reading and writing. Published in ‘The School Magazine’, Australia. Copyright Kate Williams, author of this catalogue.

This 14-line poem inspires confidence in beating Covid and its effects. It points out that, while tiring, it’s inspiring - making us stir and think outside the box, warning the virus to be prepared for a battering. Offers support for students suffering from mental health issues at this time, and opens doors to discussion, writing and general artistic expression. Recommended for Year 6 upwards. Written by this author - a published poet.

This is a funny, crazy rhyme about face masks, for a little light relief in Coronavirus times. While taking a humorous look at our masks, and how they can come in handy for non-health purposes too, this three-verse, rhyming poem will also develop children’s sense of rhythm, rhyme and poetic form, stretching vocabulary and ideas, too. It also has great scope for actions and performance, and offers welcome cheer and fun for students and teachers alike at this time. Written by the author - a published children’s poet.

Simple, cheerful writing sheet. Pale coloured letters to write over, and some to copy below too. Two short sentences: the sun is hot it is happy Smiley sun and smiley face pictures add to the merriment. Children can also add a face and/or sun in the spaces. I have many other phonics sheets in this catalogue.

This simple, two-verse rhyme celebrates the colour red, listing some attractive and exciting red items. The tips below include ideas for more red things to prompt for, besides other developments. The rhyme introduces children to rhythm, rhyme and the concept of poetry, also stretching vocabulary and developing colour awareness. It can be chanted, clapped to a tambourine or drum beat, and even set to music with a simple tune. The items mentioned can also be shaped with hands or, in some cases, enacted. There is also a cheerful, lively tone to the rhyme, supporting mental wellbeing. Rhythm and rhyme themselves offer a pleasing, reassuring sense of security and order, so this resource also supports PSHE.

This simple, two-verse rhyme about traffic and pedestrians in a busy street provides wide scope for variation and action, stretching vocabulary, dramatic expression, sound awareness, and creativity. The tips below the verses offer handy prompts and ideas for embellishment and development. Children will develop language skills, including vocabulary-building and dramatic expression. The rhyme also teaches rhythm and rhyme, introducing the concept of poetry. It has a cheerful, upbeat tone, and also encourages physical movement, supporting mental and physical wellbeing. Its theme supports awareness of the outside world, social behaviour and even touches on carbon footprint issues - so there’s plenty to discuss here! If you have a percussion or musical instrument to hand, you could take the rhyme even further by setting it to music.

Letters and their sounds, c, d, e and f, are presented in pale letters for writing over, alongside pictures of items starting with those letters: c - car, d - dinosaur, e - elephant, f - fish and frog. There are no words to read, just letters and their associated pictures, helping children make meaningful links between phonics and their uses. The dinosaur can be coloured in, adding to the fun of this attractive sheet. For more, see my many other phonics sheets, including one for a, b, c and d. This one revisits the c and d, moving on to e and f too.

Traffic light pictures with “stop” and “go” to copy below on red and green lines. Traffic light pictures to colour in. A fun and meaningful activity to bring phonics alive and encourage reading and writing. Colour differentiation also promoted, besides handwriting, fine motor skills, road safety awareness and transport-related topic studies.