Buy a scrap book, something that’s special, paste in everything
you both do and add some photos and a bit of a diary yourself. I
have done this and years later my children love to re read them.
Finish the session with some drawing. It is a fun and easy way to
keep up the physical writing skills. For younger children, drawing
is the most important pre writing skill.
Spelling: For a child who finds spelling difficult, use a basic
spelling list. Do 3 or 4 words each day and have your child write
each word 3 times, chant them, and then test them.
If memorising words is a trial, or even if they enjoy it, use a
basic word list. Write each new word on a piece of paper or coloured
card, the more special the better! Play games: can you give me the
word that says “the”, can you sit on the word that says “there”
and eventually turn them all over and say “turn over a word and
tell me what it says”. Learned words can be stamped, or stuck into
the scrap book. And the rest of the words collected in a special
place.
Handwriting: It is fun to practice this in diary format. Ask the
child what they enjoyed about yesterday, then you write it as neatly
as you can and they copy it. Or better still make out a template of
letters and use it for the child to refer to. Always do hand writing
on special paper and encourage the child to decorate it afterwards.
Keep it short and simple and make it fun.
Numeracy skills: write numbers and learn them, just like letters
and words.
Count every day.
Set simple sums, and as before decorate them. Or find a fun way
to work through the times tables with some sort of goal for
achievement.
Create a self book. Help your child to make a book about
themselves, cover it and put a name and a photo on the front.
