Reception English and phonics Reading and writing short sentences: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Look at the first letter of each sentence.

1. Look at a sun is hot. The first letter is small.
   a sun is hot.
2. Look at A sun is hot. The first letter is a capital letter.
   A sun is hot.
3. Write the answer.
   A sun is hot.

Check. Only A sun is hot. starts with a capital letter. ✓

Watch out. Check the first letter.

Method. Look at the end of the sentence.

1. Look at the end. The last word is pond.
   pond
2. Add a full stop. A full stop goes after the last word.
   pond.
3. Write the answer.
   The dog ran to the pond.

Check. The sentence ends with a full stop. ✓

Watch out. Put the full stop straight after the last word.

Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.

1. Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.
   A hen is in a pen.
2. Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.
   hen
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   hen

Check. The sentence is about the hen. ✓

Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.

Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.

1. Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.
   The duck can swim.
2. Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.
   duck
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   duck

Check. The sentence is about the duck. ✓

Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.

Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.

1. Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.
   pig / big / a / is / This
2. Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.
   This is a big pig.
3. Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.
   This is a big pig.

Check. Read it again: This is a big pig. ✓

Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.

Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.

1. Look at the first letter. A sentence starts with a capital letter.
   the bus is red
2. Look at the last mark. A sentence ends with a full stop.
   no full stop
3. Write the sentence correctly. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.
   The bus is red.

Check. Read the sentence again: The bus is red. ✓

Watch out. Use a capital letter for the first word, and a full stop at the end.

Method. Choose a short sentence about the cat.

1. Choose the words. Use words you know.
   A - cat - sat
2. Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.
   A cat sat.
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any sentence about a cat with a capital letter and a full stop, such as A cat sat.

Check. Read it back. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓

Watch out. Check both the start and the end.

Method. Look for a full stop at the end of each sentence.

1. Find the first full stop. The sun is hot. is one sentence.
   sentence 1
2. Find the second full stop. The mat is red. is another sentence.
   sentence 2
3. Write the answer.
   2 sentences.

Check. Two full stops, so two sentences. ✓

Watch out. Each full stop ends one sentence.

Method. Read the sentence and find what it is about.

1. Read the sentence. Read each word in order.
   The - cat - is - on - the - mat
2. Find the main thing. The sentence is about the cat.
   cat
3. Give your answer. Say what the mat is.
   Accept any answer that says no: the sentence is about the cat, and the mat is where the cat is.

Check. The main thing is the cat. ✓

Watch out. Find the animal or thing the sentence is about.

Method. Write a short sentence about a boat.

1. Think of the words. Use words you know.
   A - boat - is - red
2. Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.
   A boat is red.
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any sentence about a boat with a capital letter and a full stop, such as A boat is red.

Check. Read it back. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓

Watch out. Check both the start and the end.

Method. Check both the start and the end of each sentence.

1. Look at a bus is red. No capital letter and no full stop.
   a bus is red
2. Look at A bus is red. A capital letter, but no full stop.
   A bus is red
3. Look at A bus is red. A capital letter and a full stop.
   A bus is red.
4. Write the answer.
   A bus is red.

Check. Only A bus is red. has both. ✓

Watch out. Check both the start and the end.

Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.

1. Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.
   A cow is on a farm.
2. Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.
   cow
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   cow

Check. The sentence is about the cow. ✓

Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.

Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.

1. Look at the first letter. A sentence starts with a capital letter.
   the moon is up
2. Look at the last mark. A sentence ends with a full stop.
   no full stop
3. Write the sentence correctly. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.
   The moon is up.

Check. Read the sentence again: The moon is up. ✓

Watch out. Use a capital letter for the first word, and a full stop at the end.

Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.

1. Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.
   sat / cat / The
2. Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.
   The cat sat.
3. Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.
   The cat sat.

Check. Read it again: The cat sat. ✓

Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.

Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.

1. Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.
   The tree is green.
2. Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.
   tree
3. Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.
   tree

Check. The sentence is about the tree. ✓

Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.

Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.

1. Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.
   ran / A / dog
2. Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.
   A dog ran.
3. Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.
   A dog ran.

Check. Read it again: A dog ran. ✓

Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.

Method. Choose a short sentence about the duck.

1. Choose the words. Use words you know.
   A - duck - is - on - the - pond
2. Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.
   A duck is on the pond.
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any sentence about a duck with a capital letter and a full stop, such as A duck is on the pond.

Check. Read it back. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓

Watch out. Check both the start and the end.

Method. Check the start and the end.

1. Look at the first letter. a is small. It should be a capital letter.
   a -> A
2. Look at the end. There is no full stop.
   add .
3. Give your answer. Say what Ben should change.
   Accept any answer that says Ben should write A pig is in the mud. with a capital A and a full stop.

Check. A pig is in the mud. is correct. ✓

Watch out. Change the first letter, then add the full stop.

Method. Write one sentence, then check it.

1. Write the words. Use words you know.
   The - hen - is - red
2. Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.
   The hen is red.
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any sentence about a hen with a capital letter and a full stop, such as The hen is red.

Check. Read it back. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓

Watch out. Read it aloud to check it makes sense.

Method. Count the full stops, one at the end of each sentence.

1. Look at the first sentence. A cat sat. ends with a full stop.
   full stop 1
2. Look at the other sentences. The dog ran. and A pig is big. each end with a full stop.
   full stops 2 and 3
3. Write the answer.
   3 full stops.

Check. Three sentences, three full stops. ✓

Watch out. Each sentence ends with one full stop.