What your child will learn in Year 1 English?

In their English lessons in Year 1, your child will learn the spelling, grammar and punctuation rules they need to write clearly. They will start to write their own simple stories and non-fiction texts and learn how to hold a pencil. They will be introduced to a wide range of texts that will develop their vocabulary.

There are lots of simple things you can do to support your child’s English skills:

1. Practising phonics with your child as much as possible – all your child’s English skills are underpinned by their reading skills. Make sure you pronounce the sounds correctly.

2. Read to your child as often as you can, or listen to books read aloud. This will increase their vocabulary and comprehension skills, particularly if you talk about the book. Get your child to follow a story you are reading with their eyes – this will help them to absorb grammar, punctuation and spelling rules without realising it.

3. Practise spellings. Play games with your child to help them learn their weekly spelling words. You could play hangman, make up silly sentences for your child to write, ‘hide’ the spelling words in a string of letters, play pairs using two word cards for each word, or make a set of bingo cards for the words.

4. Create writing opportunities, such as writing notes or lists. Tell stories together and draw some of them with captions. Make mini-books with pictures and labels on a topic (for example superheroes) that your child loves. Support your child to tell simple stories out loud.

5. Use interesting vocabulary when talking to your child. Try to use precise nouns and descriptive adjectives.

6. Encourage your child to talk as much as possible. Gently correct their grammar as they talk.

7. Make time for handwriting practise – create lots of opportunity to get those good habits in place – including forming letters and holding the pencil.

And that’s it for our guide to Year 1 English! We wish you and your little Year 1 all the best, and are super excited for you to engage with the course!

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