How to Boost Reading and Writing Through Play: Fun Literacy-Based Activities for Children

by Georgina Durrant, Christopher Barnes (Illustrator)

Overview

Even if children know their phonics and ABC's inside out and can read every book in their book bag, why is it still so difficult to get them to want to read and write? How do we begin to get our children excited about literacy? The answer might surprise you...let them play!

Featuring 40 engaging play-based activities, this book makes literacy so fun that children won't notice they're also actively developing reading and writing skills. From blow painting words to making paper chain sentences, each activity can be done using household items and they are adaptable for children of any age and ability, making learning accessible for all.

With charming black and white line illustrations to depict each activity, this is a great way to connect with children while helping to build their literacy skills at the same time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781839974571
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	11/21/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Georgina Durrant is a former teacher/Special Educational Needs Coordinator and Director of Cheshire SEN Tutor LTD. She founded the award-winning SEN Resources Blog www.senresourcesblog.com to share activities, advice and recommendations for parents and teachers of children with Special Educational Needs and disabilities. She writes a monthly column for Nursery World Magazine and hosts Twinkl Resources' Special Educational Needs Podcast 'SEND in the experts with Georgina Durrant'. Her parenting and education advice has been featured in the Independent, Guardian and Telegraph. Her first book 100 Ways Your Child Can Learn Through Play was published in 2021.

Table of Contents

Foreword Theo Paphitis 9

Acknowledgments 11

Preface 13

Introduction 17

Chapter 1 Sensory Ways 31

1 Word Water Balloon Pop 33

2 Blow Paint Words 34

3 Nature Collage Words 35

4 Sensory Paint Bag Words 36

5 Ice Writing 37

6 Clingfilm Easel Writing 38

7 String The Sentence 39

8 Rainbow Chocolate Tray 40

9 Musical Spelling 41

10 Quill Writing 42

Chapter 2 Imaginative Play Ways 43

11 Toy Museum 45

12 Spy Letters 46

13 Pet Show 47

14 Driving Down Masking Tape Boulevard 48

15 Wanted Teddy Poster 49

16 Word Fishing 50

17 Let's Go To The Opticians 51

18 Witch's Potion Recipe 52

19 Salt Dough Sentence Archaeology Part 1 - Writing 53

20 Salt Dough Sentence Archaeology Part 2 - Reading 54

21 Let's Be Photographers 55

Chapter 3 Crafty Ways 57

22 Paper Chain Sentences 59

23 Letter In A Bottle 60

24 Spelling Wands 61

25 Tape Art Graffiti 62

26 Sentence Sticks 63

27 Marvellous Macaroni Monsters 64

28 Pet Passports 65

29 Cardboard Computer 66

Chapter 4 Active Ways 67

30 Hoopla 69

31 Walk The Alphabet 70

32 Sticky Note Reaction Speed Wall 71

33 Hop The Word 72

34 Chalk Word Base 73

35 Word Pong 74

36 Verb Balls 75

37 Nature Scavenger Hunt 76

38 Find It, Write It, Keep It 77

39 Reading Writing Relay 78

40 Torch Word Search 79

Chapter 5 Everyday Hacks 81

Useful Resources and Recommended Reading 101

Index 105

Editorial Reviews

When I was reading this book, what struck me immediately was the sheer depth of Georgina's knowledge on how to support reluctant readers. Since being lucky enough to have 'early access' to this book, I have found myself recommending it to other professionals, parents and carers alike!

Dr Helen Ross

This is a unique and seemingly never-ending supply of fun filled ideas to develop our children as readers and writers. Durrant has cleverly provided us with the go-to manual for those who wish to enthuse and empower children in their literacy journey.

Chris Dyson- Headteacher Parklands Primary School and Author of ‘Parklands: A School Built

The best kind of books offer the reader an adventure within its pages and the best kind of adventure is one that leads to something new. Georgina has skilfully created a wealth of fantastic fresh ideas that act like a much-needed map guiding us towards a deeper understanding of who The Unique Child truly is and how play with all its magic can show them the joyful gift of being a reader and a writer.

childhood advocate and author of "Can I Go And Pla Greg Bottrill

Play is at the heart of science, the arts, engineering, architecture - in short the world we live in. We all learn through play. Yet, for some reason play gets downgraded as trivial. Perhaps that's because we love it. This book puts play where it belongs: at the heart of our lives.

Writer and broadcaster Michael Rosen

Well done Georgina, another brilliant book for playful parents! It's so refreshing to see lots of ways to practise those essential early reading and writing skills in fun and active ways! This will be such a helpful guide for so many of us wanting to give our children the best start in life.

Claire Russell founder of playHOORAY!