User login
Leaves spaces between words in own writing 
Description:
Spaces between words - identify words as separate units.
| Early years skill: | Writing |
| Early years typical range: | 40-60+m |
| P-scales/Curriculum skill: | English Writing |
| P-scales/Curriculum level: | P8 |
| TAP skill: | Expressive Language |
| TAP level: | TAP48 |
| Pre/Nat. Curriculum Area: | not specified |
| Pre/Nat. Curiculum Standard: | not specified |
| Section: | Early Years (0-5yrs) info; Primary (5-11yrs) info |
| Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
|---|---|---|
| Counting the number of spoken words Packet of counters Board with six square boxes - in a horizontal grid Lists of short phrases and sentences e.g. from 'Sound Linkage' (P. Hatcher, available from www.amazon.co.uk ) p.21 help me (2) she shouted (2) I can't get down (4) | 1. Place the counters and board on the table. 2. Ask the child to tell you a word (any word at all) then together add more examples of single words 3. Tell the child that you will now say two or more words in a row, which they will have to repeat and count the number of words. 4. Ask child to repeat what you say. They push a counter into a box as they say each word. Model this as much as necessary - and give as much help as needed to begin with. | This can be done 1-1, in a pair or very small group. Progression: Give the correct number of counters for each phrase or sentence to start with - then try giving more counters than necessary (harder). Speak slowly to begin with then progress towards normal speaking speed. The child could begin to use fingers to count rather than the counters. This activity also helps children to improve their auditory memory as they have to remember and repeat the phrases. |
| Point to separate words in reading, noticing the spaces between the words A suitable text Optional - 'Magic finger' puppet or a small stick or ruler | Before this activity: If working 1 to 1 or with a small group, a link can be made with the activity ("counting the number of spoken words") above. As the adult reads the text aloud, the child can move a counter over each word on the page as it is spoken. This activity could be done while using a big book with the whole class and the 'target' child is asked to help the teacher by using a stick or ruler to point at each word as it is read aloud. Instead of using their finger the child could use a finger puppet, ruler or stick to help focus their attention on pointing. Older children could have a small sticker placed on their index finger nail. | |
| Write words as separate units Flat ice-lolly sticks - painted ice-lolly sticks (can be bought in supermarkets) - using a stick ensures that the spaces between the words are even. Or: If a child has smaller writing try using a smaller tool than an ice-lolly stick to place between words. | Also links to: "EW L1b write simple sentences" on www.commtap.org - (the daily sentence /cut up sentences). The cut up sentences could be done before this activity where the words as separate units are on separate pieces of card. The ice-lolly stick could be placed in between each card to emphasise the space. Keep the sentences short - and don't worry about the spelling - the teaching point is about the spaces between the words as the words are separate units. Follow-up activity - using ICT: Type the child's sentences into Word without spaces between the words. Ask the child to read their work and press the space bar in between the words to make the spaces. Print out the best copy. |
Google ads on this page are provided by Google Adsense - and their presence does not imply any endorsement by Commtap. Report a problem with an ad on this page. Log in (for free) to avoid seeing Google ads.