Darwin: Voyage of the Beagle Multi-Sensory Story
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Darwin: Voyage of the Beagle Multi-Sensory Story

Our Charles Darwin: Voyage of the Beagle multi-sensory story was Written for a Key Stage 4 class. To link with the cornerstones topic “Darwin’s Delight”. There is some quite complex vocabulary so this story fits into our stage 5 immersive storytelling band. I wrote this more for SLD pupils than PMLD but you can adapt…

All About Me – What Teaching This is an Essential Lesson for SEN

Why Teach “All About Me” Lessons In SEN one of the most important things is to get to know your pupil. All about me sessions are a generally accepted part of the process. These lessons are often done in September on a change of class or on the transition into school. I am a real…

Maths:  Multisensory Activities for Teaching Big and Small
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Maths: Multisensory Activities for Teaching Big and Small

Maths: Big and Small Big and Small These concepts are generally taught together but we also use them to describe objects without a comparative object. “wow that’s a big smile” “what a big yawn!”. In fact, we throw around size-related mathematical language with scant regard to accuracy. “I’ve made a huge mistake.” “You are a…

Mr Potato Head Scavenger Hunt

Mr Potato Head Scavenger Hunt

The Mr Potato Head scavenger hunt is a great accessible activity that can be set up for AAC (Augmentative and assertive communication). There are many other activities you can use Mr Potato Head for: Following Instructions Developing Fine Motor Skills Team work and interaction Emotions Playing with food Problem Solving Sequencing Senses (Worksheet available below)…

Spitfire: A VE Day Sensory Story
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Spitfire: A VE Day Sensory Story

Our Spitfire VE Day sensory story forms the third of a collection of sensory stories written to be delivered during the week of the VE day celebrations in May 2020. These have been written with a broader range of needs than some of our other stories. The vocabulary is a little more complex and the…

Sensory Templates For Early Literacy
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Sensory Templates For Early Literacy

The influence for these early literacy sensory templates is the book Find Colours by Tamara Shopsin and Jason Fulford. It features die-cut pages which you “colour” yourself by holding them over different surfaces that become the colours. Early Literacy Activities One of the challenging elements of special education is finding or creating motivating and engaging…

Scavenger Hunt Communication Boards
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Scavenger Hunt Communication Boards

This will be an ongoing post where I upload the scavenger hunt AAC communication boards and other activity sheets I make. I hope you find these useful and please share if you like them. We also have a post outlining 150 sensory learning activities you may be interested in. All the boards are fully editable…

150 EYFS & SEN Sensory Learning  Ideas
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150 EYFS & SEN Sensory Learning Ideas

Free, Simple Sensory Activities For EYFS or SEN There are many options for embedding effective sensory learning curriculums for children who cannot access worksheets and online teaching resources. Sensory learners need sensory learning ideas. Preferably simple and free ones. This list of 150 (ish) ideas should give you some ideas to try at home, EYFS…

Talking Phonics Flashcards: Carters Yard
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Talking Phonics Flashcards: Carters Yard

AR Phonics and SEND Developed by two teachers, who kindly sent me a pack to use at school these cards are pretty good as simple flashcards for use in your phonics lessons. Clear, well made and easy to use. However it is the innovative use of AR (Augmented reality) that brings these cards to life….

AAC Game: Squawk
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AAC Game: Squawk

AAC and Interaction Games There are many ways to inspire and motivate children to communicate. One way I have found effective is structuring a game/play session. It is important to enable reluctant communicators or those who rely on AAC to fully engage with their peers. AAC means Augmentative and Alternative Communication and can range from…

6 Ways Symbols Support Special Education Learning
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6 Ways Symbols Support Special Education Learning

Symbols can be used to support both receptive and expressive communication. They support word recognition in pre-readers and can be used in times of increased stress to communicate a need when word recall is impaired, for example showing an exit symbol for time out instead of having to ask or explain why.