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Mommy Speech Therapy - Thoughts on speech & language development

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The speech and articulation worksheets as well as the other downloads on this page have been created by Heidi Hanks, M.S.CCC-SLP, and are property of Mommy Speech Therapy. These speech and articulation worksheets are free to download as support material to the related articles found on this site, and they are intended for use in your home or therapy setting to help your child. Please do not sell these or post them anywhere else. If you have any questions on how to use the articulation worksheets, please read my post The Process of Articulation Therapy for additional information. Good Luck, remember to be patient and make it fun!

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Helpful documents and activities for you to download to help you work with your child in different areas of their speech

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Normally at this time of year in therapy, it can be hard to keep the kids attention spans on track. Having a free app that builds skills can be one way to stay on track with addressing specific skills. Here, you will find free apps for occupational therapy that can be used as a supplemental activity or as a quick activity in between other occupational therapy activities. Add them to your line-up of occupational therapy teletherapy activities. Others may want to use these apps for therapy breaks or as a reward at the end of the session. Still others may find the occupational therapy apps perfect for home occupational therapy programs or ways to keep kids busy while parents are working from home. Whatever your need, these educational games and special education supports can be a powerful tool in distance learning and learning at home.

Free Apps for Occupational Therapy

The free apps below are broken down into targeted skill area. I'm adding apps for handwriting and letter formation, visual motor skills, executive functioning skills, and other areas. Some of these apps are IOS apps and others are Android apps. The apps that are available for Android on Google Play may be accessed through a Google account on a desktop and then accessed through the Google play app or via a Google account on an Apple device. Here is more information on how to access Google Play apps on an Apple device.

I tried to locate only free apps in this resource. There are many great apps for occupational therapy out there, but I wanted to cover all the bases when it comes to OT interventions with free apps that can meet the needs for free!

Another great idea for using free technology in occupational therapy includes using these Alexa skills in occupational therapy.

Free Apps for Visual Motor Skills

All About Shapes- This free app is available on IOS and is a shape drawing app. Users can draw and identify shapes.

Vision Tap- This free IOS app is a great one for addressing visual processing and visual efficiency skills. Visual tracking, visual scanning, and oculo-motor skills are challenged with this one!

Broom, Broom- This free IOS app allows children to draw paths for the vehicles in the game to drive on, building eye-hand coordination, motor planning, visual memory, and precision of fine motor skills.

Visual Memory is a free app available on Google Play. The game is designed to develop visual memory and improve attention. Users can find the image that appears at each level.

Piko's Blocks- this free IOS app really challenges the visual spatial skills for older kids.

Memory Game is another free app on Google Play. The game is just like the classic concentration game, helping users to build visual memory skills.

Learning with Wally is an Android app available on Google Play. The visual discrimination app challenges users to discriminate between differences, recognize, and attend to details in visual forms, including pictures, letters, words and sentences.

Sorting and Learning Game 4 Kids- This app is available on Google Play and challenges users to categorize and match themed objects while helping to build visual attention, visual memory, and focus with a concentration on visual perception.

Visual Attention Therapy Life is an app available on Google Play. The free app allows users to address and build visual scanning, visual memory, and visual attention. It also helps rehab professionals to assess for neglect and provide more efficient and effective therapy for attention deficits.

Sensory Baby Toddler Learning- This Google Play app is great for younger kids as they work on cause and effect and develop hand eye coordination skills.

Connecting Dots is Fun- This free IOS app allows users to work on visual perceptual skills such as visual discrimination, form constancy, figure-ground and visual processing skills of tracking and scanning. Users create dot-to-dot activities in the app.

Alphabet Puzzles For Toddlers- This Google Play app helps younger children work on letter identification and letter recognition. The letter learning app is a great app for preschoolers or toddlers. The visual perceptual app allows children to address form constancy, visual discrimination, figure ground, and other visual perceptual skills.

iMazing- In this free IOS app, users can complete maze activities while challenging visual perception and visual motor skills.
Skill Game- This free app is available on Android. The game allows users to draw lines to connect numbers while building eye-hand cordination, precision, motor planning, visual memory, and more.

On the Line- This IOS app is great for working on visual motor skills using a stylus.

Squiggles- This free app is a great one to work on pre-writing skills. Users can draw lines and figures and watch as they become animated.

Handwriting Free Apps

ITrace is a handwriting app that does have a price for the main version, however, there is a free version available with some activities. Users can trace letters, numbers, words, and shapes while working on visual motor skills and letter formation.

Writing Wizard- This app is available on Google Play and allows users to trace letters along a visual guide. There are various fonts available and size can be adjusted for different ages.

Writing Wizard-Cursive- This handwriting app is created by the makers of the regualar, print version of Writing Wizard. Users can practice letter formation in cursive.

Start Dot- This app addresses letter formation using visual, auditory, and movement cues. These prompts fade to address accuracy and independence.

Ollie's Handwriting and Phonics- This free app allows users to trace and copy individual letters and words on the app's chalkboard wall.

Write ABC - Learn Alphabets Games for Kids- This handwriting app is available on Google Play. The app helps younger children work on letter formation using visual cues for starting points and ending points.

Sand Draw- This free Google Play app provides a sandy beach for kids to practice writing letters, words, or phrases in. Use it to practice spelling words for a fun twist.

Snap Type- While this app has a paid version, the free version also allows users to create digital versions of worksheets. Students can take a picture of their worksheets, or import worksheets from anywhere on their device. They can then use their Android device keyboard to add text to these documents. When complete, students can print, email.

Fine Motor Free Apps

Dot to dot Game - Connect the dots ABC Kids Games- This free app is great for toddlers, preschoolers, or young children working on precision, dexterity, and fine motor work. the app addresses letter and number formation.

Tiny Roads- This free app allows children to connect objects while working on precision and finger isolation.

Montessori Fine Motor Skills Game School Numbers- This fine motor app helps users work on eye-hand coordination, precision, and finger isolation while working on numbers, letters, and shapes.

Free Apps for Executive Functioning Skills

CogniFit Brain Fitness- This Google Play app uses memory games, puzzles, reasoning games, educational games, and learning games to train memory, attention, concentration, executive functions, reasoning, planning, mental agility, coordination and many other essential mental skills.

Lumosity: Brain Training- This free executive functioning skills app uses games to exercise memory, attention, speed, flexibility and problem-solving.

Memory Games: Brain Training- This executive functioning skills app uses memory and logic games to improve memory, attention and concentration.

Alarmy- This free alarm app allows users to set alarms for attention building, and scheduling.

The Google Tasks app- This free app creates checklists and sublists and allows users to add details about the areas that users need need to focus on in order to accomplish tasks. The app helps users to stay on track with due dates and notifications.

The 30/30 app- This free app helps with executive functioning skills such as starting tasks, staying organized, and prioritization in tasks. This app is useful to address procrastination and motivation on bigger tasks or projects.

Forest- This app helps with procrastination, productivity, and motivation.

Study Bunny- This free productivity app helps students pay attention and focus on studying and larger school projects or tasks.

Habitica- This task completion app allows users to track habits, and add gamification to tasks to build motivation and help with productivity.

HabitNow- This free habit tracker app helps users to track habits and build habits to improve productivity and time management. This is a great app for scheduled activities or daily tasks such as chores or morning/evening routines.

Brain N-Back- This working memory app helps to train working memory.

Clockwork Brain Training- This memory training app helps with working memory and concentration through games and puzzles.

Self-regulation Free Apps

Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame- This self-regulation app uses a fun Sesame Street monster to help little ones calm down and solve everyday challenges. Available in English and Spanish, the coping tools app helps your child learn Sesame's "Breathe, Think, Do" strategy for problem-solving.

Trigger Stop: Sensory and Emotional Check-In- This free self-regulation app is available on Google Play so they can identify and communicate sensations and emotions or feelings in the body so they can express them in a healthy way.

EmoPaint - Paint your emotions! is a free self-regulation app available for IOS in the Apple Store or Google Play. The paint app allows users to represent emotions or bodily sensations through art, by painting them interactively on the screen.

Moodflow: Self-care made easy!- keeps track of your emotions, moods, thoughts and general well-being with a self-rating system, emotional language, and a system that allows for identification of how coping strategies help with emotional regulation.

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Free Apps for Occupational Therapy - The OT Toolbox

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Normally at this time of year in therapy, it can be hard to keep the kids attention spans on track. Having a free app that builds skills can be one way to stay on track with addressing specific skills.

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Occupational Therapy Resource Pack for Primary Schools - Cork North Lee Oct 2014(1)

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Easy, actionable, and functional Occupational Therapy activities and interventions. OT resources and information to help kids thrive.

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TheLearningStation - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes

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Shake Your Sillies Out ♫ Brain Breaks Songs for Kids ♫ Kids Action Songs by The Learning Station

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Preschool Learn to Dance: Can You Plant a Bean

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Ep 139 | Animal walks to calm kids & develop gross motor skills | Sensory diet  | Reena Singh

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Do the Bear Walk (Gross motor/Balance/Coordination/Self Regulation/ Brain Break)

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Starting the Day for Kids with Autism: SENSORY CIRCUITS 1

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Specialist therapies - Oak National Academy

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Free online specialist therapy video lessons and resources

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Specialist therapies - Oak National Academy

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Free online specialist therapy video lessons and resources

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Let us help you live a life you love. Find tools to help you have fun and make the most out of each and every day.

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Here is a collection of 40 fine motor skills activities for young children that are easy to set up and promote a whole range of skills. They're creative, open-ended, appropriate and varied with ideas for practising motor skills through art, sensory play and simple manipulative games, and there are so many to choose from!

One of the most important ways we can help our children while playing with them at home or in a childcare/ classroom setting is through setting up simple activities that help to develop fine motor skills. Young children need to be able to hold and use scissors and pencils appropriately before using them in a classroom context. We cannot expect them to be able to write if they haven't yet developed the strength needed in their hands and fingers.

There are plenty of easy ways to strengthen these muscles, practise co-ordination and develop hand:eye co-ordination using simple, everyday materials and a bit of creative fun! Here are 40 that we have done over the past few years with babies to 5 year olds. There are a million variations you could make from each of these to cater for your own child's particular interests and learning dispositions. Use these as a springboard and pin it for future reference too!

[ Herbal play dough with natural materials to explore]

My personal favourite tool for developing all fine motor skills is the humble ball of homemade play dough. It can be used in SO many ways by adding other combinations of materials to it, and automatically strengthens little hands as they roll, squeeze, twist and build with it. Here is a whole post about the benefits of playing with play dough and a handy guide to starting out with building your own play dough tool kit. Of course, baking with real dough is another wonderful way to play and learn simultaneously!
The many benefits of play dough (and a tool kit)
Other activities we have loved have included exploring sensory play materials, transporting small parts, threading beads, hands-on art projects, cutting and sticking, tearing and scrunching papers, opening and closing fastenings and countless others. Here is a selection of some of those favourites, all of which can be adapted for different age groups and abilities.
Threading with beads onto pipe cleaners Threading, posting and slotting toys for babies and toddlers Poking straws into holes Pasta necklaces Monster play dough Weaving around cardboard Fairy sparkle playdough Pipe cleaners and colanders Beads on spaghetti Hair rollers sticky construction First sewing basket Edible fingerpainting Making marks in fairy dust Decorating play dough eggs Mark making and scooping in lavender sensory salt Building 3D models Sorting and pattern making with shells Patterning with lego Lid posting game Snipping and doodling sticky stained glass windows Whisking up coloured sensory soap Salt dough alphabet modelling Pebble sorting Stacking cups Play dough cupcakes Foam and water window art

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40 Fine Motor Skills Activities - The Imagination Tree

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Here is a collection of 40 fine motor skills activities for young children that are easy to set up and promote a whole range of basic learning skills.

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Here are ideas for improving fine motor skills in Pre-K/ Preschool children. Find additional fine motor activities here.

Find more fine motor ideas on the Fine Motor Skills Resource Page

Fine Motor Skills is one of the main areas I sought to improve in my Pre-K classroom this past year (2008-09). I think fine motor is an area which is often overlooked, yet it is so important. Fine motor skills are the foundation children need before they learn handwriting, in order to have proper pencil grasp and control of a writing instrument.

My goals were to increase the fine motor materials available in our classroom environment, and to plan activities and materials that are interesting and fun so that children would be motivated to use them and would choose them during their free choice time. Most of these activities use "found materials" that can be borrowed, donated, or purchased inexpensively, rather than commercially produced and sold in an educational catalog. Below are several of the fine motor skills activities my class did this year. A few of these ideas were borrowed from Montessori (and I've noted those below).

Water Drops with Suction Cups

The little suction cups on the bottom of these bathtub shapes become mini bowls when turned upside down and used in this activity. (These were purchased at the Dollar Tree.) Children use a finger grasp to squeeze one drop of colored water into each little bowl on the dish. [Idea borrowed from Montessori]

Beads with Suction Cups

These are the same bathtub shapes as in the above activity. Children use their thumb and forefinger to grasp each little bead and place it on a bowl on the shape. The beads are pony beads purchased from a craft store. [Idea borrowed from Montessori]

Clothesline

Children use their fine motor muscles to squeeze the clothespins to clip each piece of clothing to the clothesline. I tied a piece of thick string to the handles of a wooden tray to make the clothesline, and used mini clothespins (although the regular sized clothespins can be used as well). The clothes are Barbie doll clothes purchased at a dollar store. As an alternative, you could cut out shapes of shirts and pants from felt.

Clothespins on a Box

Children squeeze the clothespins and clip them to the sides of the box. To make the activity more interesting, I wrote letters on dot stickers and placed the dot stickers around the sides of the boxes. I wrote letters on the clothespins so the children would match the letters on the clothespins to the letters on the boxes. Other skills could be used, e.g. colors, numbers, beginning sounds. This is similar to activities where children clip clothespins to a paper plate or cardstock circle; however, in my experience, those were flimsy and awkward to use, which is why I like the box better. Any sturdy box could be used (shoe box, postal box). The boxes in this picture were stacking gift boxes that held chocolate covered nuts (a Christmas gift), and they worked out perfectly.

Nuts & Bolts

These larger nuts and bolts can be purchased individually at hardware stores. The cost is usually no more than $0.40 to $0.50 each. Children use their fingers, hands, and wrists, coordinating both hands while grasping and twisting the metal nuts onto the bolts.

Sewing/Lacing Cards

These can be purchased or made with poster board and a hole puncher. Use shoe laces or plastic lacing. Tie one end of the lace to one hole of the card. Children lace the string through each hole. These can be made to match different themes or holidays.

Plate Sewing

Tie lengths of yarn to plastic yarn needles, and knot the end. Children "sew" the yarn on a styrofoam plate by pushing the needle in and out through the plate.

Stringing Cut Straws

Cut plastic drinking straws into small pieces, about 1-inch. (Cutting the straws is another great fine motor activity for kids.) Tie yarn to a plastic needle, or use plastic laces, and knot the end. Children string the straws onto the yarn or lace.

Stringing Beads

Children string pony beads onto pipe cleaners.

Bean Gluing

Children draw a simple picture on a piece of construction paper with a pencil. They trace the pencil lines with glue and glue the beans onto the design. Gripping the beans with their fingers is good fine motor practice.

Seeds and Tweezers

Children pick up different types of seeds with tweezers and sort them by type into the cups.

Unifix Cubes or Interlock Cubes

Children push the cubes with their hands to hook them together. Unifix cubes connect on one end and can make a long "train". Interlock Cubes connect on different sides and can make different things, for example the dogs the children were making in the photo.

Mosaic

In advance, cut construction paper into 1-inch long strips. Children "snip" the strips into smaller pieces and glue them onto their paper to make a mosaic. This activity is great for children who are not yet skilled with scissors, but need cutting practice because they can snip the paper with one cut.

Eyedropper Art

Children use eyedroppers to drop liquid watercolor onto a coffee filter or paper towel. (I use Colorations Liquid Watercolor from Discount School Supply.) If liquid watercolor is not available, you can color water with food color. Also see my blog post for adapting this activity for holidays or themes.

Paper Clips

The children in my class are always wanting to use paper clips because they see me use them, so I set up this activity in the fine motor center. I cut squares of colored construction paper and placed them on the tray along with colored paper clips. Children stack the papers (all of the same color) and clip them with the matching colored paper clip. This was challenging for some children to manipulate the paper clip, but they loved doing it, and it gave them an opportunity to use paper clips with permission.

Dot to Dot

I printed out the Geoboard Dot Paper from the Math Their Way website for this activity (I used the size on the second page). I added Pip Squeak markers, which are great for young children because they are short. Children draw lines with the markers to connect the dots on the paper.

Toothpick Punch

To do this activity, cut squares of construction paper (I cut mine 6×6 inches). Draw a numeral, letter, or simple shape with a Sharpie. I placed a stack of these papers in the fine motor center, along with toothpicks and a carpet square. Children place the paper on the carpet square and use the toothpick to punch holes all along the black lines. When they are done, they can hold their paper up to the light and see the light shining through the holes. Kids enjoy it and it's great fine motor practice!

Pinching Sand

Sand art is a great fine motor activity because children can pinch the sand with their fingers to apply it to their art work. Provide a simple outline (or have the children draw one), a small bowl of white glue, a small bowl of colored sand, and a "glue brush". I buy the cheap paintbrushes with stiff bristles that are sold in a package for $1 at dollar stores. These brushes are not a good enough quality for painting, but they make great glue brushes. Children paint the glue on their paper with the brush, pinch some sand with their fingers, and sprinkle it over the glue. Place a pan, tray, or paper plate on the table for children to shake off the excess sand.

Insect Wrapping

Children wrap the plastic insects with pieces of white yarn ("spider webs"). When they are finished wrapping all of the insects, they unwrap them and place the yarn back in the bowl. We do this activity during a study of bugs and spiders.

Birds Eating Worms

Cut pipe cleaners into smaller pieces and shape them to make several "worms". Place the worms on a brown carpet square (this represents the dirt). Children use a clothespin as a bird beak and catch the worms with their beak. As they catch worms, they place them in a basket until all of the worms have been collected.

Marbles and Melon Scoops

Children scoop the marbles with melon scoops and place them in the ice cube tray. This ice cube tray was found at a kitchen discount store. Also posted at Fine Motor in the Sensory Table. See my blog post for a Halloween adaption to this activity.

Pouring

Children pour something from one bottle to another. I started out having them pour popcorn seeds. They can later try pouring sand, and then water.

Color Mixing

Children mix primary-colored water to make secondary colors. The bucket in the middle is for dumping the water when finished, or to start over. Also posted on the Sensory Table page.

Knobbed Puzzles

Children exercise the fingers used for a pencil grasp when picking up puzzle pieces that have knobs or pegs.

Legos

A bit obvious, but should not be forgotten.

Play Dough

An old stand-by. Also see my webpage for more play dough activities.

Peg Boards

Another old stand-by.

Additional Fine Motor Posts

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Here are ideas for improving fine motor skills in Pre-K/ Preschool children. Find additional fine motor activities here. Find more fine motor ideas on the

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Wordwall - Create better lessons quicker

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Correct: Famous , Early , Decide, Calendar , Bath , Accident , Pretty , Would , Frightened , Through , Morning , Together , Course , Different , Babies , Incorrect: Dog , Cat , Apple , Banana , Pea , Like , Top, Bottom, Does, To, Too, Pen, Pencil , Always , Sun, Cub, Saw, Conscience , Debate , Prediction , Visualise , Spraoi ,

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Correct: Famous , Early , Decide, Calendar , Bath , Accident , Pretty , Would , Frightened , Through , Morning , Together , Course , Different , Babies , Incorrect: Dog , Cat , Apple , Banana , Pea , Like , Top, Bottom, Does, To, Too, Pen, Pencil , Always , Sun, Cub, Saw, Conscience , Debate , Prediction , Visualise , Spraoi ,

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Selection of excellent educational maths and literacy games, organised by topic and age group - Topmarks

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Fun Reading Games for Kids

Check out these fun reading comprehension games for kids. Find an awesome range of free English activities and practice exercises that are perfect for students.

Learn about poetry, non fiction book publishing, map directions and how to use a dictionary while improving your reading comprehension. Enjoy the following educational games for children and have fun learning English online.

Following Directions

Complete a number of different challenges related to reading directions, following instructions and understanding map routes.

Read the instructions and find the shortest possible route on the interactive map. Move between the park, school, café and other locations as you complete the tasks.

Poetry Activity

Answer questions related to a variety of poetry verses. Read the verses carefully and think about the mood of the poem and what is being described.

Learn about metaphors, similes, alliteration, rhyming and other important English terms that are often used in poetry.

Non Fiction Books

Design an appropriate layout for a toy catalogue, news story or children's book. Think about the kind of title, text and picture that will best inform your readers and match your chosen topic.

Enjoy this great learning activity for kids and have fun learning English online.

Using a Dictionary

Get hints and tips from the word machine to help label products found inside boxes. Use the dictionary to find words that best fit the descriptions you are given.

Search through the alphabet, complete the challenges and have fun with this great reading comprehension game for kids.

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Fun Reading Comprehension Games for Kids - Free Activities & Practice Exercises Online

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Fun Reading Games for Kids Check out these fun reading comprehension games for kids. Find an awesome range of free English activities and practice exercises that are perfect for students. Learn about poetry, non fiction book publishing, map directions and how to use a dictionary while improving your reading comprehension.

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Reading, English Games for 7-11 Years - Topmarks

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Selection of excellent educational maths and literacy games, organised by topic and age group - Topmarks

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Reading Games | Free Educational Computer Reading Games for Elementary Students | RoomRecess.com

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Free educational online readibng games for children. Our games reinforce reading skills that are vital to elementary students.

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Snow White | Fairy Tales | Musical | + Compilation | PINKFONG Story Time for Children

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The Vowel Family | Super Phonics | Pinkfong Songs for Children

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Storyboard That: Free Online Storyboard Creator

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Storyboard That: Create free storyboards online with ease. Design visuals, comics, and graphic organizers. Try it now and start creating!

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TheLearningStation - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes

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The 7 Days of the Week Song ♫ 7 Days of the Week ♫ Kids Songs by The Learning Station

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Simply take any photo, draw a line to make a mouth, and record your voice. Then share your Pix with friends and family as silly greetings, playful messages, creative cards, or even fancy book reports. And best of all, it's FREE! AGES: 6-12.

"ChatterPix Kids" does not collect any personal information or include sharing features.

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Simply take any photo, draw a line to make a mouth, and record your voice. Then share your Pix with friends and family as silly greetings, playful messages, creative cards, or even fancy book reports. And best of all, it's FREE! AGES: 6-12. "ChatterPix Kids" does not collect any personal information or include sharing features.

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Writing Repeater - handwriting demonstration tool

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This tool lets you replay your handwriting and stores it for later.

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Free Resources to Teach Your Child to Read

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© Copyright 1997 - 2023 Audible, Inc Conditions of Use…

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At Starfall, children have fun while they learn. Educational games, movies, books, songs, and more for PreK and Kindergarten learners.

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Learning to read with phonics? Click the '+' for advice.

Learning to read with phonics

If you live in England, your child will learn to read using phonics. Their school is very likely to use either the Letters and Sounds phonics framework or the Read Write Inc. programme. Check with your school if you're not sure which one they use.

Using Letters and Sounds?

If your child is using Letters and Sounds, you can find this list of eBooks by Letters and Sounds Phases useful. Bear in mind the following:

If you don't know your child's Phase, you can check with your school. As a guide, most Reception children will be on Phases 1-4 and most Year 1 children will be on Phases 4-5. Beyond Phase 5, your child will be able to decode most books.

In Letters and Sounds, there are 'sets' within the Phases - so your child might not know all the sounds in every book within their Phase.

Some series contain occasional 'tricky words' that your child can't decode using phonics. Use the inside front cover notes to teach your child these words before they start the book.

Find out more about Letters and Sounds >

Using Read Write Inc. Phonics?
If your child is being taught to read using the Read Write Inc. programme, you can find books suitable for them by clicking on the 'Levels' menu below and using the 'Read Write Inc.' filter to select the right level.

Find more support and resources for Read Write Inc. in our parents' guide to Read Write Inc. >

Looking for printed books for phonics practice at home?

Not reading to practise phonics?

Sharing books and independent reading

If your child is reading simply for enjoyment, comprehension, or practice, just browse the library or use any of the other filters. You can check which level is right for your child with this simple test from Read with Oxford.

Reading for pleasure

Are you a teacher? Find out about the Oxford Owl for School eBook library.

More available on Oxford Owl for School

Schools who are registered with Oxford Owl can provide pupils with access to an additional 30 Oxford Primary eBooks, plus a separate library of 50 Read Write Inc. titles all for free using a class login associated with their Oxford Owl for School.
How to set up a class login >

If you need more eBooks, Oxford Owl for School has introduced a new annual subscription of up to 550 titles. For more information, please visit the OUP website.

Are you looking for your class login?

Accessing your class eBook library from home

The class log in link has moved. If your teacher has given you login details to use your class library at home, please use the log in link at the very top of this page and select 'Students'.

sign up log in

Songbirds

Levelled phonics books from the fabulous Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo.

Read Write Inc. Phonics

A step-by-step phonics programme to support reading. Learn at home with Read Write Inc. Phonics

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Free eBook library | Oxford Owl from Oxford University Press

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Browse our library of free children's eBooks to read with your child including Oxford Reading Tree adventures with Biff, Chip and Kipper.

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Selection of excellent educational maths and literacy games, organised by topic and age group - Topmarks

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Tricky Words - also called irregular, high-frequency words - are hard-to-read words which often occur in early children's books. Try sounding out these words with the standard basic sounds and you won't get: 'the' and 'was' and 'are'. If you want to further understand the science behind them, you can read more about their explicit, systematic teaching.

At home, my daughter and I use Phonics Hero's tricky words games (parents can grab a free 7-day trial) but we've also invented lots of multi-sensory tricky word activities to practice them. In this blog post, I am going to share my top tips and favourite tricky words activities for teaching children to read these irregular words at home.

Tip 1: Make sure the adult knows them first!

If you've signed up for a 7-day trial and are in Australia or Hong Kong use this list; for the rest of the world, use this one. You need to do a mini assessment: show the sheet to your child and have them read the tricky words, stop when you have a 'bank' of 3-6 unknown tricky words.

My daughter didn't know five, so I wrote them out on cards and we use them to play games and reinforce through the day.

Tip 2: Pepper Tricky Words Activities Throughout the Day

There isn't a silver bullet to learning these words but exposure and repetition is key. You need to pepper them through your day - it helps your child instantly identify them. Some ideas:

Find them in books

As you read stories, point out the tricky words then progress to pausing and having your child read them.

Look for them in junk mail or magazines

Decorate your house with them

A teacher friend of mine sticks them all around the house so she can quiz her little boy throughout the day.

Tricky (Pass)words

My daughter's love of passwords and, in particular, the password to my iPhone (cue her unlocking it to send random texts to people!) inspired one of her new favourite tricky words activities.

Here's how it works: Instead of numbers, we wrote tricky words into our passcode template and stuck it to the inside of the living room door. In order to open the door, she has to 'key in' our passcode, or series of tricky words. Three days later, she still loves it (and scolds me for opening the door without putting in the passcode!) and has learned the tricky words 'all' and 'her'.

Here's a printable Tricky Word Passcode sheet for you to insert the target words into and fill up with known words for extra practice.

Supersoaker Phonics

Bath-time is great for a no-mess reading activity!

Before running the bath, write tricky words or phonemes on the tiles with a whiteboard marker and grab a water blaster (or large syringe from any pharmacy). Little ones say each word or sound aloud as they 'shoot' their target!

Play Phonics Hero

Practice tricky word reading and spelling with Phonics Hero. Each level will teach between 3-6 words and there are more than 130 games over 12 levels to practice with. The reading and spelling tricky words games are indicated by these icons:

Tip 3: Use Everyday Games With an Added Tricky Word Element

We've started using tricky words in games such as Noughts and Crosses (AKA Tic-Tac-Toe) or Hangman.

You can also double the sets of tricky words and play 'Pairs' or 'Snap'.

Tip 4: Make Your Tricky Word Activities Multi-sensory!

Make some noise!

We broke out the pots and pans and my daughter started composing with the tricky words. If your ears can bear it, here's a video:

Get your hands dirty (as you wash up)!

As you cook, clean or garden, you might use the bubbles, mud or flour to trace, land on or erase the words.

Tip 5: Play Teacher and Student

Kids love pointing out when the grown-ups have got it wrong and it's a great test to see if they've learned the tricky words. As my teacher friend shows here, she and her son take turns reading the words and he awards them each a point for the correct answer (of course, mummy gets it wrong all the time - so your child gets double the practice).

Do you have a great tip or trick for teaching tricky words that you don't see here? Share it in the comments!

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Tricky Words Activities for Home | Phonics Hero

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Fun, simple tricky words activities you can sprinkle throughout your child's day and help them master those tricky words at home!

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Have you tried making fluffy slime yet? This one is a must try! The texture is so fun to play with. Kids will love stretching and squishing this fluffy slime. And we have to say, we think this is the best fluffy slime recipe you will try.

RELATED: How to Make Slime with Contact Solution

We made this recipe with unicorn colors - pink, teal and purple. We love how colorful and pretty it looks too! And if you want a sparkly unicorn slime be sure to see this unicorn slime recipe.

Fluffy slime is really just regular slime made with shaving cream added. The amount of shaving cream you add will change the texture and consistency of the slime. The more you add, the "fluffier" it will be. If you just want it to be a little fluffy, then this recipe will walk you through how much shaving cream to use. The fun part about making slime is experimenting with different amounts to see how the slime forms.

If you want to make sure your slime turns out - be sure to read the instructions carefully. The type of contact lens solution you need and glue is very important! Substituting these ingredients for other brands may result in your slime not working. We also do not recommend substituting the brands we recommend.

Fluffy Slime Recipe

If you're looking for a general slime recipe, our base slime recipe can be found here: How to Make Slime With Contact Solution. We like to use contact lens solution instead of pure borax in our slime recipes. We recommend you try this basic recipe to start if you haven't made slime before. It is easier to make than fluffy slime and will give you an idea on how much you need to knead and work the slime for it to form.

Fluffy slime is a lot of fun for kids to play with - however we recommend adult supervision and that adults should make the slime. See more safety tips at the bottom of this post before making your slime.

Once you have your fluffy slime made, have fun stretching and squishing it. Fluffy slime will leave indentations when you press on it which regular slime won't do as easily. It's a bit harder to stretch as it gives a fluffy consistency instead.

How Long Does Slime Last?

The fluffiness will only last a day. So if you do plan on storing it for future use, just note that the shaving cream settles and the next day it won't be as fluffy. You can still continue to play with it after the first day but it will turn into a consistency more like regular slime. Store in an air tight container and it should last at least 1 week.

Fluffy Slime Ingredients

If you want a large batch - triple the below recipe. Or make 3 batches with 3 different colors like we did and turn your slime into Unicorn Fluffy Slime!
Per batch:

2/3 cup of Elmer's White Glue - we like to buy this gallon size of white glue as it's a lot cheaper and you can continue to use it to make more batches.

Note: we made this with Elmer's white glue. Do not substitute with other glue as the make-up may not be the same and the recipe may not work

2-3 cups Shaving Cream - note: do not use shave gel.

1.5 Tablespoons Contact Lens Solution - *Important: your brand of contact lens solution must have boric acid and sodium borate in the ingredient list. This is what interacts with the glue to form the slime. We recommend only using Renu fresh or Equate brand. Do not substitute with other brands.

SEE: How to Make Slime With Contact Solution for more tips making slime with contact lens solution.

Liquid Food Coloring - comes with all kinds of vibrant pinks, purples and blues.

Watch the Video Tutorial

How to Make Fluffy Slime
1. Add your white glue to a bowl.

2. Add you water and baking soda and then mix.

3. Add your shaving cream and mix.

4. Add your food coloring until you are satisfied with the color. Mix.

5. Now slowly add in your contact solution.
** Important: your brand of contact lens solution must have boric acid and sodium borate in the ingredient list. This is what interacts with the glue to form the slime. If slime does not form it is typically due to the contact lens solution not having these ingredients. Check your label and see the recommended brands above in our ingredient list.

We like to add in 1 tablespoon, knead for 5 minutes and then add in the 1/2 tablespoon after kneading for some time. The slime will be very sticky when you're kneading - and that's normal!

The first tablespoon you add will let you start to knead it. And the last 1/2 tablespoon will bring the stickiness down and it shouldn't be sticking as much to your hands.

Note- fluffy slime is MESSY when you're making it. It is normal that it will stick to your hands as you're kneading.

If you find it still too sticky - add some baby oil or lotion to your hands. You can also add more contact solution if it's still too sticky, just a little bit at a time. If you add too much contact solution the slime may become too hard and won't be as stretchy to play with.

Now repeat the above recipe for each color you'd like to make. Note: Once you mix the colors together they will eventually mix into one color like play dough does. So you can keep them separately or mix and see what happens! If you make all 3 colors it may turn to gray so if you want to end up with purple just mix the pink and purple together.

Now you're done and you can play with it!

The slime will keep for at least a week in an air tight container. As mentioned above, you'll lose the fluffiness factor after the first day, but it is still fun to play with!
Print off the full slime recipe here:
Slime Safety & Precautions

Note: Making slime is a science experiment and safety precautions should still be made when creating slime. By making this slime, you agree to our site terms which you can read here.

Adults should handle any chemicals and products

Adults should make the slime

Always read and follow the labels of products used. If contact lens solution is accidentally ingested, seek medical attention immediately.

This project is not suitable for children under 4.

Slime should not be placed in the mouth. Always wash hands before and after playing with the slime.

If you notice any skin irritation, discontinue use immediately. If you have sensitive skin, wear gloves while making and playing with the slime.

Slime is a science experiment and should be made and played with in moderation. Do not allow children to make their own slime and do not play with slime for an extended period of time.

Try these other slime recipes:
See these other fun slime recipes!

Unicorn Glitter Slime - this is so fun and pretty!

Galaxy Slime - fun to learn about galaxies and mix up some slime for sensory play!

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This fluffy slime recipe is easy and fun to make! No borax and made with contact solution and shaving cream.

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Multiplication

Auto-Scored Quizzes

Expanded reporting features

Mobile friendly

Picture hint option

Large equation input box

Automatically scored and timed

Enter answer with keyboard or touch pad

MULTIPLICATION Equation Family Quizzes

(All equation for the fact group)

MULTIPLICATION Up Through Quizzes

(All equation UP THROUGH the fact group)

The "up-through" quizzes for the tens, elevens, and twelves do not include all of the equations. They include the top 40 equations.

Quiz Navigator - Take a customized quiz with all of the equations up through the fact you choose below.

Shaded Facts are Repeats

(Self-correcting quizzes for the tens, elevens, and twelves are in development.)

Membership Makes Auto-Scoring Quizzes even MORE AMAZING

Quizzes tracked for easy reporting

Quiz filtering to spot patterns

Growth, accuracy, and fluency reports

All ads removed so quizzes display full screen

Learn More about Membership

More Membership Features

Intuitive Dashboard

Amazing Lessons

Memory Activities

"Smart" Games

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Test yourself on any of the multiplication facts in the times tables on Multiplication.com. Answer the questions at your own pace and see how you did at the end of the quiz.

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Interactive Clock | Analog Clock | Digital | Movable | Teaching Clock | Visnos

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Visnos interactive clock. Simple tool to teach telling the time using a colorful classroom analog clock. Show equivalent digital clock time. Learn about hours, minutes, and seconds step by step. Simply click and drag the movable hands. The clock can also be used to teach about fractions and angles.

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Math and Games for Kids, Teachers and Parents. Math lessons and fun games for kindergarten to sixth grade, plus quizzes, brain teasers and more.

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Learn to Count up to 10 with Underwater Counting Maths Game

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A fun learning to count maths game for early years children by Topmarks. Find the treasure by counting the underwater creatures. Two difficulty levels - counting up to 5 or up to 10.

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QR CODE

Scan this on mobiles and tablets to quickly open this web page.

Daily 10 is a primary maths resource for primary teachers which covers addition, subtraction, ordering, partitioning, digit values (place value), rounding, multiplication, division, doubles, halves and fractions. It has been designed primarily for use on an interactive whiteboard. The aim is to help teachers deliver 10 maths questions many which can be used for mental maths practise.

Sets of questions can be timed or untimed and the activities are ideal for starter and plenary sessions. They are graded in levels of difficulty which match year group levels in England's National Curriculum Maths requirements. This means the resource is suitable for children from 5 to 11 years of age.

AGE

5-11 Years

SUBJECTS

Maths Number Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division Ordering Place Value Rounding Fractions

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Daily 10 - Mental Maths Challenge - Topmarks

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Daily 10 is a primary maths resource for teachers of Years 1 to 6. It asks ten random questions on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, ordering, partitioning, digit values and more. Ideal for use on a IWB and as a starter or plenary activity.

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Here is a chance to play a version of the classic Countdown Game.

The challenge is to use the numbers available and the four standard operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) to hit the target.

Start by choosing any six cards. The top row always contains the numbers 25, 50, 75 and 100, and the bottom row contains the numbers 1 to 10. Alternatively you could click on "Quickstart". Then click on "Generate new target" and the computer will choose a target.

You can only use each card once in your solution, and it is always possible to find a solution.

You may like to explore different levels of the game using the Settings menu (the purple cog).

Once you've had a go, click on "Show solutions" to show some possible ways in which the target can be reached.

You may also like

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md number operations and calculation methods

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Here is a chance to play a version of the classic Countdown Game.

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QR CODE

Scan this on mobiles and tablets to quickly open this web page.

Symmetry Matching is a maths game which involves mirroring an image along a line of symmetry. Options include pictures, shapes and randomly generated patterns.

The pictures and patterns have vertical lines of symmetry while the shapes include both vertical and horizontal lines of symmetry. The randomly generated patterns is the most difficult option.

For further practise on symmetry you can try our Symmetry Sorting game.

AGE

4-8 Years

SUBJECTS

Maths Shapes Symmetry

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Symmetry Matching - Reflective Symmetry Game

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Symmetry Matching is a maths game where children complete an image by adding its mirror image along a line of symmetry. It includes matching objects, shapes and patterns. Tablet-friendly.

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QR CODE

Scan this on mobiles and tablets to quickly open this web page.

Caterpillar Ordering is an interactive ordering and sequencing numbers game, which would complement a minibeasts topic in the classroom.

This maths game has different levels which can be matched to mathematical ability level.

The drag and drop activities help children to order numbers, beginning at a basic level and progressing to more challenging exercises ordering decimal and negative numbers. The sequencing activities help children to recognise number sequences and reinforce their knowledge of multiples.

AGE

5-11 Years

SUBJECTS

Maths Ordering Sequencing Odd and Even

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Caterpillar Ordering - An Ordering and Sequencing Game

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A super game for ordering numbers and for number sequences. You can order numbers up to 100 and complete sequences counting on and back in multiples up to 10.

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Welcome to Corbettmaths Primary! Home to 1000's of maths resources: Videos, Worksheets, Primary 5-a-day, Primary Study Cards and much more.

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QR CODE

Scan this on mobiles and tablets to quickly open this web page.

Our Chinese Dragon Game is designed to fit into a Chinese New Year topic. It is an ordering and sequencing numbers game based on the Chinese New Year dragon theme. Check out our Chinese New Year teaching resources and activities.

This maths game has different levels which can be matched to mathematical ability level.

The drag and drop activities help children to order numbers, beginning at a basic level and progressing to more challenging exercises ordering decimal and negative numbers. The sequencing activities help children to recognise number sequences and reinforce their knowledge of multiples.

AGE

5-11 Years

SUBJECTS

Maths Ordering Sequencing Odd and Even

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Chinese Dragon Game - Ordering and Sequencing Numbers

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A super game for ordering numbers and for number sequences. You can order numbers up to 100 and complete sequences counting on and back in multiples up to 10.

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Learn to Count up to 10 with Underwater Counting Maths Game

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A fun learning to count maths game for early years children by Topmarks. Find the treasure by counting the underwater creatures. Two difficulty levels - counting up to 5 or up to 10.

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The Gingerbread Man Game - Counting, Matching and Ordering game

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Three fun counting, matching and ordering numbers games can help early years children learn to count objects and recognise numbers 1 to 10 and also number words to 10.

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Ladybird Spots - Counting, Matching and Ordering game

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Three fun counting, matching and ordering numbers games can help early years children learn to count objects and recognise numbers 1 to 10 and also number words to 10.

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QR CODE

Scan this on mobiles and tablets to quickly open this web page.

Shape Patterns is a sequencing game where you need to complete the pattern of different coloured 2D shapes. It is a multiple choice game with three levels of difficulty. It is excellent for shape recognition and for problem solving.

In the easier levels you need to continue the pattern, but in the more challenging level 3, you are presented with a sequence with the missing element in different positions. This level in particular, is an excellent problem solving activity.

As with all of our games, Shape Patterns works well on an interactive whiteboard.

AGE

3-8 Years

SUBJECTS

Maths Shapes Sequencing

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Shapes patterns is a free, shapes sequencing game where children need to complete a sequence of different coloured 2D shapes. For children from 3 to 8 years.

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QR CODE

Scan this on mobiles and tablets to quickly open this web page.

Let's Compare is an interactive comparison game which focuses on the comparative vocabulary of biggest, smallest, shortest, longest and tallest.

There are two themes: At the Beach and Animals. The game is linked to the measure strand of mathematics where sizes are compared by estimating length, height and width. The activity can be used as a whole class activity on an interactive whiteboard or on individual devices.

AGE

2-5 Years

SUBJECTS

Maths Measures

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Let's Compare - Early Years Size Comparison Game

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An interactive comparison game designed where early years children learn the comparative vocabulary of biggest, smallest, shortest, longest and tallest by comparing the sizes of objects and animals.

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There are so many opportunities for practising maths concepts at home and in the community.

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📚 READ ALOUD: ITS OK TO BE DIFFERENT By Sharon Purtill

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Coronavirus - COVID-19 : A Book For Children Story Read Aloud.

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AmberPlus was set up to give practical help to parents and carers of blind and partially sighted children with profound and multiple disabilities. We have specially designed 48 fun and colourful activity cards and 64 songs to help you engage with them.

Choose a level to get started

Try a random card Getting started?

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AmberPlus was set up to give practical help to parents and carers of blind and partially sighted children with profound and multiple disabilities. We have specially designed 48 fun and colourful activity cards and 64 songs to help you engage with them. Try a random card Getting started?