Resources for G&T Y1 child...

[kistigger]

I am looking for some resources to help my Y1 DD when she's home... games, puzzles, worksheets, anything really! She is essentially G&T in reading, numeracy and literacy!! So things for any of those areas or something like beginners Spanish or another non curriculum subject!! (I would like the option to use with my Y4 DS who requires less additional activities!)

The teacher suggested Carol Vordeman but at £15 per child per month that is more than we can afford, as an idea of what our budget can stretch to!!

try the usefull websites thread where I talk to myself a lot. post 6 has some ideas of websites for y1 ish. try bbc bitesize ks1 too.

what do you particularly want? I will search my bookmarks to find something.

all the ones I use are free!

My budget list would be :

Libary (obvious but a friendly libraian will reserve whole sets of books)

Poundland - have a rack of workbooks for all subjects - you'd probably need an age group or two above your childs age to stretch her.

Charity shops - raid these for "project ideas" - you'll find loads of puzzels, orchard games, build-it things (basic electronics, wood-work etc) - try both your local town and one further away for more choice, also leave contact details with folk behind the counter - the British Heart foundation shops are great for phoning when something snazy comes in.

If your splashing out on a day trip anywhere check wesites first under the "schools and teachers" sections - you can print-off or be sent lots of before and after visit activities - theatres are great for this too.

Keep a seperate bin in your kitchen for card, paper, plastic bottles - pile high and with glue, tape and blu-tack from poundland and things to make and do books from the libary you'll be learning all about basic science.

Shop at Tesco - collect vouchers and you'll soon be able to pay in full for the Nature Detectives stuff and a childs magazine subscription.

We tried Carol for a few months but it was deadly dull - Education City is more lively and you can have free 30 day trial.

How about asking Grandparents etc for a magazine subscription for birthday or Christmas? My 11 year-old and 7 year-old get National Geo kids, Jacqueline Wilson mag, quiz kids (monthly puzzle book), Aquila and First News newspaper, all highly recommended - apart maybe JW mag , but, hey, the 7 year old loves it! And seconding activity/work books if she enjoys that sort of thing, DD1 doesnt but DD2 does - caught her today in her room working through a maths workbook . FreAKY KID.

DD has workbooks and loves them... she worked through about 10 while she was at nursery (took some in to show her worker but think they ignored her work, certainly didn't mark any skills off or challenge her with anything similar!!)! Sometimes I like to get her away from them though!!!

rosemaryandthyme - you have made me feel much less guilty about thinking the price tag too much for carol, thank you!!!!

blackeyedsanta - some literacy games would be amazing if you know of any, or a really good place for beginners spanish that would appeal to a 5yo!!!!

iamnotinterested - mag subscription sounds like a fantastic idea, especially since we are struggling for ideas for her!!

Also looking for gift ideas for her for xmas... maybe a board game or puzzle... any suggestions?? Rummicub, Rush hour and Downfall are her current favourites!! I haven't been on here properly (apart from this week) in about a year... glad I've made it back... you're all being so helpful!!!!

I would have suggested Rush hour and Downfall (they're great) also Scrabble and Boogle. DS loves websites: Woodland primary, Bitesize, Coolmaths.

Could Dora Explora things help with spanish ?
There is some children's laptop toys where Dora speaks in English and Spanish, possibly a leap-frog Dora electronic book, I think.

Also with languages it's always worth putting up posters and asking other mums if they or anyone they know speaks a second language, we have a mandarin speaking mum who trades a hour of pottering about talking mandarin with the children for lifts home from school.

Oh, "Silly Sentences" and "Flapadoodle" are lovely board games.

ictgames, literacy and other games

woodlands school

coolmaths lots of games here, this is just one

numeracy websites on bbc

bookpeople website selling books, childrens languages page

list of bbc language sites

Two subscription-y things that we're getting a lot out of are:

The Woodland Trust - really brilliant newsletters full of activities and things to do. Apparently very popular with home-educated kids.

Puffin Club. For bookworms. Subscription includes not just magazines + website but also 6 free books a year. DD loves it,

Board game - Smath can start easy (less than £10)
also
www.amazon.co.uk/Ravensburger-5040-Rush-Hour-Junior/dp/B00004WJSN/ref=sr_1_2?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1323078475&sr=1-2

Sorry just seen you already have Rush Hour. Ds was playing it this morning so it came straight to mind.