Sequence pictures, symbols, words  

Letter tiles or letter cards, clear simple pictures

1. Stick the chosen picture into a book.

2. Draw short lines under the picture to stand for the letters of the picture.

3. Help the child select letter tiles or alphabet cards to put on the lines. Can you do some of the letters and the child finishes off the last letter?

4. Can the child copy the letter tiles to write about the picture?

5. As the child becomes familiar with the activity make 2 word descriptions of pictures etc

Photos of child engaged in clear actions e.g. going into dinner, playing outside, reading a book

1. Look at a photo with the child and encourage the child to talk about it. Write down 3 or 4 words about the photo using words the child is very familiar with.

2. Print out child's descriptive words in large type on computer.

3. Cut the printed words up. Can the child sequence the words to match the photo and stick the words under the photo.

4. Encourage the child to draw a picture of the photo and to copy the matching descriptive print.

5. Select a photo and encourage the child to talk about it. You start the writing to describe the photo e.g the first word. Can the child finish off the writing? It may help to draw dots for the child to write over to begin with.

Photo copies of some favourite pictures

Photo copies of the pictures' matching print

1. Photo copy a page from a picture book and then cut off the print that refers to the picture. Make sure the print is big and bold and then cut up the individual words. (You may need to print out the words on the computer to make them clear)

2. Can the child:

a. Tell you about the picture

b. Select individual words from the choice of photo copied words to describe the selected picture

c. Put the selected words in the right order

d. Copy the words he/she has chosen underneath the relevant picture (provide rewards for this activity)

e. Provide any other words to talk about the picture and copy/stick/write these words under the picture.

A black and white picture to colour.

Colouring pens

1. Colour a picture with the child and talk about what you are doing.

2. Under the picture you write "This is a picture of...................' Can the child describe the picture using short phrases e.g. big shoes/dirty car/mum's bag.

3. Help the child to write these words. You may need to start the writing off or provide dots for some parts of the words for the child to write over or provide a written model for the child to copy. Or you may be able to write some of the word for the child and he/she can finish off the word.

Letter tiles and alphabet cards

1. Select drawings the child has done or encourage the child to draw a picture of an event or activity.

2. Can the child describe the picture using words and then print - give lots of help as above with print to copy, letter tiles to copy, dots to draw over, words half done for the child to finish off.

3. Give lots of rewards.

1. Can the child describe the picture using words and then printing the words on the computer? Give lots of help with print to copy, letter tiles to copy, words half done for the child to finish off etc.

2. Give lots of rewards.