See and Learn
First Sentences
- Activities
See and Learn First Sentences
See and Learn First Sentences is the fourth
step in the See and Learn Language and Reading
programme.
About this step
The four activities in See and Learn First Sentences teach your child to
read an additional 16 words (introduced in
See and Learn More Word Pictures) and use reading to support children in understanding and using simple sentences containing three 'key' words. This step also
introduces two See and Learn characters, Ben and
Emma.
The reading activities encourage your child to
develop 'sight' reading of 16 new written words
(and, if needed, review 8 written words already
introduced in
See and Learn First Written Words).
These words are then used in a variety of sentences
with three 'key' content words. This step teaches
words in groups of four, using written word cards
and picture cards.
Four books illustrate a variety
of three 'key' word sentences, using both the words
that your child learned to read in
See and Learn First Written Words and the words he/she will learn
to read in this step.
Sixteen sentence cards with
matching photos will help your child get extra
practise reading, understanding, and producing
sentences with three 'key' content words. The types
of sentences illustrated reflect the types of three
word sentences that are typical at this stage of
language development.
The written words are used as a visual support for
learning to join three 'key' words together. The
reading activities always include sharing books to
provide extra opportunities for you to model three
'key' word sentences to your child, encouraging
him/her to understand and use three 'key' word
sentences.
When to start this step
See and Learn First Sentences is designed
for use with children who have completed both
See and Learn First Written Words and
See and Learn More Word Pictures and/or
children who can understand a range of phrases/short
sentences with two 'key' content words.
See and Learn First Sentences continues to
use reading as a support to language development. It
also encourages your child to develop their
understanding and use of sentences containing three
'key' content words.
This step can be used in a supportive way if your
child is not yet reading independently. 'Reading'
the sentences together is a useful way for your
child to develop language and reading skills through
watching, listening and imitating you.
How do children learn to read written words?
See and Learn First Sentences is based on
what we know about how children learn to read
written words. Learning to read written words opens
a gateway for learning about the world and can
provide a great source of pleasure for all children.
Children will be better prepared for learning to
read if they have had enjoyable experiences with
books. Sharing books with an adult is important for
developing children's attention skills and for their
language development.
Children usually learn to read written words in a
typical pattern:
- First, they begin to recognise a small number of familiar words,
often beginning with their name. They recognise the word as a whole,
rather like a picture or shape - this is generally called 'sight'
reading. The activities in See and Learn First Sentences
encourage your child to develop 'sight' reading of 16 new words (and 8
review words)
- Later on, they develop an awareness of the individual letters
and groups of letters in words, and how they represent different sounds.
This skill can be used to read new words.
It is also important that children understand
the meaning of the words and sentences that they are
able to read. This is called 'reading for meaning'.
Find out more about language development...
Activities
See and Learn First Sentences consists of four activities:
- Matching Words
- Selecting Words
- Naming Words
- Matching Sentences to Pictures
Find out more about
these activities...
Vocabulary
See and Learn First Sentences helps children learn
to read 16 new words
through a series of activities based on reading
sentences containing three
'key' words. The pack also includes
8 review words from the
See and Learn First Written Words pack, as
these words are used in the three 'key' word
sentences.
Getting started with this step
Before starting any of the activities in this step you need to: