Introducing vowel trigraphs ‘ire’, ‘ear’ and ‘ure’
To become a Word Wizard you need to learn magic spells!
The Word Wizard Phonics & Handwriting schemes are designed for teachers, tutors and parents to use without needing specialist training. Free planning examples can be found at thinky.xyz
Features of the phonics scheme include:
exploring letter shapes
exploring letter sounds
building spoken vocabulary and grammar
continuous progressive consolidation
The Advanced Sets build upon children’s knowledge of basic phonics and introduce additional ways of spelling.
These are typically taught to children after they have learned their basic consonants and short vowels and have learned to write their lowercase letters (details of relevant resources for these earlier stages are listed at the bottom).
Every letter shape has been deconstructed for children to trace with their Word Wands (or magic pointing fingers).
Each new letter is placed into a word alongside letters that children have previously learned. This ensures children are continuously consolidating their learning and helps them understand the relationship between letters and words.
Each new word includes a symbol and a definition to help prompt discussions about how words can be used in spoken language. Supporting children to develop their spoken vocabulary and grammar in this way helps ensure they can use phonics as an effective reading strategy.
Children can develop their fine motor skills by cutting and pasting letters into words with the Word Maker sheets and they can work with friends to create Word Lines and better understand how letters form words.
Included in this resource:
Explore sounds with mouth shapes
Variations of letter shapes for print and handwriting
Examples of words that can be made using phonemes that have been previously taught
Discussion prompts about using words in spoken sentences
Sentence Line activity
Letter Sound and Shape sheets
Flashcards with sound symbols
Word Maker sheets
~~~~ Other Resources ~~~~
Word Wizard Phonics Expected Sets: Introducing consonants, short vowels and some long vowels
Phonics Consolidation 1-6: Extended consolidation for basic phonemes
Phonics Consolidation 7-10: Extended consolidation for basic phonemes
Phonics Monitoring & Assessment: including individual and class tracking
Monster Punctuation Level 1 Sentence Writing: Demarcating Sentences
Introducing Written Sentences
The Punctuation Monsters help you understand written sentences with easy to understand step-by-step guidance including:
the role of space (finger spacing)
forming complete sentences (and ordering words within them)
using punctuation to mark the beginning and end of sentences
and additional guidance for:
writing multiple sentences
capital letters for the personal pronoun ‘I’
capital letters for names
capital letters for place names
capital letters for days and months
Have a go at forming sentences with the editable challenges including unpunctuated sentences to rewrite.
Complete the 30 page writing workbook featuring sentence writing challenges, cut and paste sentences and draw your own punctuation monsters.
Cut out the Sentence Line sheets, choose a word or punctuation mark and then have a go at organising yourselves into the order of a sentence.
Design your own punctuation monster.
Includes the** Level 1 Sentence Writing certificate**.
Includes versions for US-English and British-English
Set of 19 posters featuring the punctuation monsters and a description of their personality (based on their corresponding punctuation mark). A fun way to introduce punctuation marks and their shapes.
Includes versions for US-English and British-English
Introducing & Monitoring Fine Motor Pencil Skills
Use the five different sheets to introduce children to basic writing shapes.
The sheets can be revisited at a later stage to monitor children’s progress. Useful as an initial introduction to pencil skills for all children and for additional support and interventions.
The shapes used are taken from the Word Wizard handwriting schemes which break every written letter into simplified shapes that can later be combined to write letters.
Using Apostrophes
The Punctuation Monsters help you learn to use apostrophes in sentences. Featuring easy to understand step-by-step guidance including:
how to use an apostrophe for missing letters (omission)
how to use an apostrophe for singular possession
how to use an apostrophe for plural possession
Have a go at forming sentences with the editable challenges including unpunctuated sentences to rewrite.
Complete the 16 page writing workbook featuring sentence writing challenges, cut and paste sentences and draw your own punctuation monsters.
Design your own punctuation monster.
Includes the** Level 5 Sentence Writing certificate.**
Introducing consonant blends: qu.nk and the phonemes: x.ng
To become a Word Wizard you need to learn magic spells!
The Word Wizard Phonics & Handwriting schemes are designed for teachers, tutors and parents to use without needing specialist training. Free planning examples can be found at thinky.xyz
Features of the phonics scheme include:
exploring letter shapes
exploring letter sounds
building spoken vocabulary and grammar
continuous progressive consolidation
Every letter shape has been deconstructed for children to trace with their Word Wands (or magic pointing fingers).
Each new letter is placed into a word alongside letters that children have previously learned. This ensures children are continuously consolidating their learning and helps them understand the relationship between letters and words.
Each new word includes a symbol and a definition to help prompt discussions about how words can be used in spoken language. Supporting children to develop their spoken vocabulary and grammar in this way helps ensure they can use phonics as an effective reading strategy.
Children can develop their fine motor skills by cutting and pasting letters into words with the Word Maker sheets and they can work with friends to create Word Lines and better understand how letters form words.
Included in this resource:
Explore sounds with mouth shapes
Breakdown of the letter shapes
Variations of letter shapes for print and handwriting
Examples of words that can be made using phonemes that have been previously taught
Discussion prompts about using words in spoken sentences
Word Line activity
Letter Sound and Shape sheets
Flashcards with sound symbols
Word Maker sheets
This is Set 7 of the Expected Level and would normally be used with children at the beginning stages of learning to read.
The scheme is designed to complement the Word Wizard Handwriting schemes (available in cursive, lowercase print and uppercase). Additional phonics resources are available for the Advanced stages and consolidation.
Comprehensive and simple to use progress and monitoring resources to quickly identify children’s development and gaps in learning.
Use the resources at the beginning of children’s learning to identify a baseline and then repeat periodically to monitor progress.
Includes:
Read Sheet: Quickly cover every phoneme and word on a single sheet
Individual Child Progress Sheet
Class Tracking Sheets
Personal writing book
Personal Progress Record
Flashcards for all assessment phonemes and words
Can be adapted for use alongside other phonics schemes and will work perfectly for those following the Word Wizard Phonics scheme.
Ideal for using during consolidation weeks alongside Phonics Boost Pack 1 and Phonics Boost Pack 2.
Introducing Phonemes a.m.t.s.d
To become a Word Wizard you need to learn magic spells!
The Word Wizard Phonics & Handwriting schemes are designed for teachers, tutors and parents to use without needing specialist training. Free planning examples can be found at thinky.xyz
Features of the phonics scheme include:
exploring letter shapes
exploring letter sounds
building spoken vocabulary and grammar
continuous progressive consolidation
Every letter shape has been deconstructed for children to trace with their Word Wands (or magic pointing fingers).
Each new letter is placed into a word alongside letters that children have previously learned. This ensures children are continuously consolidating their learning and helps them understand the relationship between letters and words.
Each new word includes a symbol and a definition to help prompt discussions about how words can be used in spoken language. Supporting children to develop their spoken vocabulary and grammar in this way helps ensure they can use phonics as an effective reading strategy.
Children can develop their fine motor skills by cutting and pasting letters into words with the Word Maker sheets and they can work with friends to create Word Lines and better understand how letters form words.
Included in this resource:
Explore sounds with mouth shapes
Breakdown of the letter shapes
Variations of letter shapes for print and handwriting
Examples of words that can be made using phonemes that have been previously taught
Discussion prompts about using words in spoken sentences
Word Line activity
Letter Sound and Shape sheets
Flashcards with sound symbols
Word Maker sheets
This is Set 1 of the Expected Level and would normally be used with children at the beginning stages of learning to read.
The scheme is designed to complement the Word Wizard Handwriting schemes (available in cursive, lowercase print and uppercase). Additional phonics resources are available for the Advanced stages and consolidation.
Learn to write sentences with the Punctuation Monsters!
Includes:
Level 4: writing sentences with **colons & commas **in Lists
Level 5: writing sentences with apostrophes
Level 6: writing sentences with inverted commas
Usage of apostrophes includes:
how to use an apostrophe for missing letters (omission)
how to use an apostrophe for singular possession
how to use an apostrophe for plural possession
Each level includes:
step-by-step guidance with editable challenges
a writing workbook featuring sentence writing challenges, cut and paste sentences and draw your own punctuation monsters
Design a punctuation monster
A sentence writing certificate
Includes:
29 illustrated writing challenges (as individual activity sheets and editable class powerpoints)
5 step-by-step introductory powerpoints
certificates and additional activities.
Includes versions for US-English and British-English.
A bundle for beginner sentences is available here.
This free phonics display sheet features the 100 most frequently used English language words including phonetic words and exception words.
The Word Tree is taken from the ‘Speaks Write’ book which includes a Phonics Dictionary.
Part of the Word Wizard Phonics resources.
Lettering guides for each of the Word Wizard handwriting schemes including cursive, lowercase print, uppercase and numbers.
The cursive scheme includes variations for some letters so that you can use whichever best suits your needs.
Stage 1 Story Writer is a pre-writing writing activity!
It’s intended to be used BEFORE children begin to develop their formal handwriting skills and shortly after they have started learning to read.
The activity involves children having a go at writing sentences as part of an overall story. They are not ‘taught’ to write but are instead asked to dive straight in and just give it a go.
The aim is to focus on handwriting as an enjoyable activity while providing a baseline for children’s writing skills. When the story has been completed children will be able to see the progress they have made having received only minimal guidance. This helps them to recognise how their skills develop and equips them with confidence prior to beginning their structured handwriting lessons.
Children can return to the characters in the story towards the end of the school year with the Stage 2 Story Writer activity which can be used to demonstrate the progress children have made across the school year.
Both resources provide a lasting memento for teachers (and children) and lots of evidence for teachers.
Guidance and examples for this resource is available here.
A fun activity for thinking about punctuation.
Fold up the questions and then select one at random. Players work out which punctuation mark applies to the question and then check their bingo sheet to see if they have it.
Play for a line and a full house!
Includes versions for US-English and British-English
Introducing Sentences with Simple Questions
The Punctuation Monsters help you learn to write questions with easy to understand step-by-step guidance including:
how to write a question mark
where to place a question mark
using words like ‘where’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ to begin questions
writing sentences with subject-verb inversion
Have a go at forming sentences with the editable challenges including unpunctuated sentences to rewrite.
Complete the 15 page writing workbook featuring sentence writing challenges, cut and paste sentences and draw your own punctuation monsters.
Cut out the Sentence Line sheets, choose a word or punctuation mark and then have a go at organising yourselves into the order of a sentence.
Design your own punctuation monster.
Includes the Level 2 Sentence Writing certificate.
Includes versions for US-English and British-English
Introducing Sentences with Exclamations
The Punctuation Monsters help you learn to write questions with easy to understand step-by-step guidance including:
how to write an exclamation mark
where to place an exclamation mark
using exclamations in sentences to express surprise, strong emotions, pain and amusement
writing exclamative sentences (beginning with ‘what’ or ‘how’)
using exclamations with statements
using exclamations with strong emotions
using exclamations with command sentences
Have a go at forming sentences with the **editable challenges **including:
unpunctuated sentences to rewrite.
Complete the 20 page writing workbook featuring sentence writing challenges, cut and paste sentences and draw your own punctuation monsters.
Cut out the** Sentence Line sheets**, choose a word or punctuation mark and then have a go at organising yourselves into the order of a sentence.
Design your own punctuation monster.
Have a go at creating an Exclamation Comic!
Includes the Level 3 Sentence Writing certificate.
Includes versions for US-English and British-English
Using Colons & Commas in Simple Lists
The Punctuation Monsters help you learn to use colons and commas in sentences with simple lists. Featuring easy to understand step-by-step guidance including:
how to write a colon
how to write a comma
where to place a colon when introducing a list
where to place a comma to separate items in a list
how to structure a list as a sentence
*If you wish to use a serial comma use the US-English version. *
Both the US-English and British-English versions are included with this resource.
Have a go at forming sentences with the editable challenges including unpunctuated sentences to rewrite.
Complete the 5 page writing workbook featuring sentence writing challenges, cut and paste sentences and draw your own punctuation monsters.
Design your own punctuation monster.
Includes the Level 4 Sentence Writing certificate.
Trace and colour the letter shapes
Fun activity featuring all of the consonant and short vowel phonemes taught to children at the Expected level for the Foundation Stage.
32 pages that can be collated as a personal workbook.
Includes the following phonemes:
a.m.t.s.d
i.n.o.p.g
c.k.u.b.ck
e.f.l.h.sh
r.j.v.y.w
th.z.ch
qu.x.nk.ng
An Adventure in Punctuation!
This illustrated story follows three Punctuation Monsters who find themselves investigating the mysterious disappearance of letters from local signposts.
Children can try to guess what each of the missing letters are and have a go at spotting the different types of punctuation marks used to create the illustrations (look closely).
The story features:
– Period (Full Stop in the British-English version)
– Question Mark
– Hyphen
– Apostrophe
Includes versions for US-English and British-English
Reading Together with your Child
Print this guide double-sided and then fold it and fold again to create a short guide packed with tips to help parents support their child’s reading development at home.
~~~~ Other Resources ~~~~
Word Wizard Phonics Expected Sets: Introducing consonants, short vowels and some long vowels