Looking back through September’s posts I am reminded that we spent nearly a week of the past month in a heatwave, and another week suffering with colds, which I suppose explains why September felt like a bit of a long slog at times. Good news: no heatwaves likely in October. Bad news: We’re definitely in cold and flu season. We’ll be eating lots of Vitamin C-rich foods and washing our hands!
Here are the resources we used most and enjoyed the best over the past month. My children are 5 and 7 but many of these resources are also good for children older and younger.
Books/Audiobooks
Henry Huggins series (Amazon link for ease, but no, I did not pay £56 for 6 paperback books!)
Ramona series
Into the Jungle (reading age 7-10, my 7-year old is enjoying it as an audiobook)
Huckleberry Finn (Usborne Young Reading Series 3. See this post for examples of what Series 1, 2, and 3 look like)
Amazing Evolution (highly recommend this as a science book you will return to for years)
Various Daisy/Jack Beechwhistle stories (big font, quick to read, make the children laugh)
Maths
Subtracting Reverses maths investigation from Math for Love
Number Hive (free printables for a fun maths game. Different versions develop different maths skills. Register to access.)
Maths Games for Less Able Learners (aimed at 7-11 year olds but therefore also good for younger children who are more confident, and just for practising the basics)
Literacy
Common exception word/spelling lists for Year 1, Year 2, Years 3 and 4 (and here’s Years 5 and 6 if you have older children)
Jolly Phonics books (we are using Pupil Books 1, 2, and 3. Available in print or cursive letters. Personally I don’t think you need the Teacher’s Book. There are a few ‘listen and write’ dictation exercises in Book 3 for which I just made up a short sentence.)
TV
Yellowstone documentary (pairs well with Bringing Back the Wolves book)
Visits in London
Bow Street Police Museum (fun for young children because you get to see inside prison cells, but I imagine older children would get more out of it, particularly if studying the 18th and 19th centuries. Personally I thought the children’s trail was very well done, which is often not the case. The Museum are trying to find a way to host home ed groups as they are getting more and more requests for this. They are running an interactive storytelling activity during October half term, 21st, 27th, 28th October, which looks really fun. Booking essential. It’s very small - a complete antidote to the gargantuan South Kensington museums.)
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Thank you again for these resource lists! I'll be making use of those spelling words with my sons.
You may have spoken too soon about an October heatwave...! Super suggestions as always -- thank you.