Year 1 English Writing Your Own Sentences and Stories: worked examples and questions with answers

Method. Look at the picture, say a sentence out loud, then write it on paper.

1. Look at the picture. The picture shows a cat.
   a cat
2. Say a sentence about it. A sentence tells who or what it is about, and something true about it.
   The cat is orange.
3. Write the sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave a space between words and end with a full stop.
   The cat is orange.

Check. Read it aloud. It is about the cat and it has 4 words. ✓

Watch out. Say the sentence before you write it. Each word should match something in the picture.

Method. Look at the picture, say a sentence out loud, then write it on paper.

1. Look at the picture. The picture shows a dog.
   a dog
2. Say a sentence about it. A sentence tells who or what it is about, and something true about it.
   The dog is brown.
3. Write the sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave a space between words and end with a full stop.
   The dog is brown.

Check. Read it aloud. It is about the dog and it has 4 words. ✓

Watch out. Say the sentence before you write it. Each word should match something in the picture.

Method. Look at the picture, say a sentence out loud, then write it on paper.

1. Look at the picture. The picture shows a ball.
   a ball
2. Say a sentence about it. A sentence tells who or what it is about, and something true about it.
   The ball is red.
3. Write the sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave a space between words and end with a full stop.
   The ball is red.

Check. Read it aloud. It is about the ball and it has 4 words. ✓

Watch out. Say the sentence before you write it. Each word should match something in the picture.

Method. Look at the picture, say a sentence out loud, then write it on paper.

1. Look at the picture. The picture shows a sun.
   a sun
2. Say a sentence about it. A sentence tells who or what it is about, and something true about it.
   The sun is yellow.
3. Write the sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave a space between words and end with a full stop.
   The sun is yellow.

Check. Read it aloud. It is about the sun and it has 4 words. ✓

Watch out. Say the sentence before you write it. Each word should match something in the picture.

Method. Look at the picture, say a sentence out loud, then write it on paper.

1. Look at the picture. The picture shows a book.
   a book
2. Say a sentence about it. A sentence tells who or what it is about, and something true about it.
   The book is blue.
3. Write the sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave a space between words and end with a full stop.
   The book is blue.

Check. Read it aloud. It is about the book and it has 4 words. ✓

Watch out. Say the sentence before you write it. Each word should match something in the picture.

Method. Look at the picture, say a sentence out loud, then write it on paper.

1. Look at the picture. The picture shows a fish.
   a fish
2. Say a sentence about it. A sentence tells who or what it is about, and something true about it.
   The fish is orange.
3. Write the sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave a space between words and end with a full stop.
   The fish is orange.

Check. Read it aloud. It is about the fish and it has 4 words. ✓

Watch out. Say the sentence before you write it. Each word should match something in the picture.

Method. Look at the picture, say a sentence out loud, then write it on paper.

1. Look at the picture. The picture shows a bus.
   a bus
2. Say a sentence about it. A sentence tells who or what it is about, and something true about it.
   The bus is yellow.
3. Write the sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave a space between words and end with a full stop.
   The bus is yellow.

Check. Read it aloud. It is about the bus and it has 4 words. ✓

Watch out. Say the sentence before you write it. Each word should match something in the picture.

Method. Find the word that starts the sentence, then put the rest in an order that makes sense.

1. Look at the words. One word starts the sentence. It needs a capital letter.
   a / ball / has / Leo
2. Put the words in order. Read the words in order, and check they make sense together.
   Leo has a ball.
3. Write the sentence. Add a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end.
   Leo has a ball.

Check. Read it aloud. It makes sense and it tells a whole idea. ✓

Watch out. Put the name first, then what happens or what is true about it.

Method. Check the first letter and the end of the sentence.

1. Read the sentence out loud. Listen for the places that do not sound finished.
   the bus is big
2. Fix what is wrong. The first word needs a capital letter, and the sentence needs a full stop at the end.
   The bus is big.
3. Write the sentence correctly.
   The bus is big.

Check. Read the new sentence aloud. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓

Watch out. Change only the letters or marks that are wrong. Check the start and the end.

Key words. A word is a group of letters that we say together, like cat.

Method. Say the sentence out loud. Touch a finger for each word, then count them.

1. Say the sentence. Say it slowly, one word at a time.
   Ella has a big bag.
2. Count the words. Each word is a group of letters with a space on each side.
   Ella / has / a / big / bag
3. Write the answer. The full stop is not a word, so do not count it.
   5 words

Check. Count again from the last word back to the first: 5 words. ✓

Watch out. Do not count the full stop as a word.

Method. Read the words in the order they are given. Then decide if the order makes sense.

1. Read the words. Say them out loud, one after another.
   sun / the / is / hot
2. Check the order. A sentence puts the words in an order that makes sense: the sun is hot, not sun the is hot.
   The sun is hot.
3. Write the answer. The words are right when they are put in the right order.
   No. The sun is hot.

Check. Read your new sentence aloud. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Saying it aloud is how you hear that the words are in the wrong order.

Key words. The order is the way things happen, one after another.

Method. Start with the first thing that happens. Then find the next thing, and the next, in order.

1. Find the first thing. It is the sentence that comes at the start of the story.
   C: Sam walks to the park.
2. Follow the story in order. Each sentence follows on from the one before it.
   C → D → B → A
3. Write the letters in order. The answer is the letters, first to last.
   C, D, B, A

Check. Read the sentences in the order you wrote them. The story makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Do not put the last thing first. Look for “first” and “finally” clues in the story.

Key words. The order is the way things happen, one after another.

Method. Start with the first thing that happens. Then find the next thing, and the next, in order.

1. Find the first thing. It is the sentence that comes at the start of the story.
   B: Mia puts on her boots.
2. Follow the story in order. Each sentence follows on from the one before it.
   B → D → C → A
3. Write the letters in order. The answer is the letters, first to last.
   B, D, C, A

Check. Read the sentences in the order you wrote them. The story makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Do not put the last thing first. Look for “first” and “finally” clues in the story.

Key words. First is the start. Finally is the end. Next, then and after that go in between.

Method. Think about when the thing happens in the story.

1. Read the sentence. Think about where it comes in the story.
   First Sam walks to the park.
2. Pick the sequence word that shows the order. It is the first thing that happens, so it goes at the start.
   First = the order word
3. Write the answer.
   First

Check. Read the story out loud with the word in place. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Sequence words show the order: first, next, then, after that and finally.

Method. Read the sentence with the gap. Try the word in the gap, and check it makes sense.

1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence is saying.
   Sam walks to the park. ___ Sam plays on the swing.
2. Try the word in the gap. The swing comes after the walk, so we need a word for the next thing. Then fits. Next is also correct.
   Sam walks to the park. Then Sam plays on the swing.
3. Write the word.
   Then

Check. Read the whole sentence again. It makes sense with Then. ✓

Watch out. Try each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes the sentence sensible.

Key words. First is the start. Finally is the end. Next, then and after that go in between.

Method. Think about when the thing happens in the story.

1. Read the sentence. Think about where it comes in the story.
   Finally Sam goes home.
2. Pick the sequence word that shows the order. Finally tells us the last thing in the story.
   finally = the order word
3. Write the answer.
   finally

Check. Read the story out loud with the word in place. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Sequence words show the order: first, next, then, after that and finally.

Key words. Finally is a sequence word. It tells us the order things happen.

Method. Put the new word at the front, then check the capital letter.

1. Look at the sentence. It is the sentence we want to change.
   Sam goes home.
2. Add the word at the front. Finally tells us that this is the last thing in the story.
   Finally + Sam goes home.
3. Write the sentence. The first word has a capital letter. Names keep their capital letters too.
   Finally Sam goes home.

Check. Read the new sentence aloud. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Start the new word with a capital letter. Keep the names with capital letters.

Key words. Finally is a sequence word. It tells us the order things happen.

Method. Put the new word at the front, then check the capital letter.

1. Look at the sentence. It is the sentence we want to change.
   Ali opens his gifts.
2. Add the word at the front. Picture 5 is the last thing in the party story.
   Finally + Ali opens his gifts.
3. Write the sentence. The first word has a capital letter. Names keep their capital letters too.
   Finally Ali opens his gifts.

Check. Read the new sentence aloud. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Start the new word with a capital letter. Keep the names with capital letters.

Key words. The order is the way things happen, one after another.

Method. Start with the first thing that happens. Then find the next thing, and the next, in order.

1. Find the first thing. It is the sentence that comes at the start of the story.
   D: Ali has a birthday party.
2. Follow the story in order. Each sentence follows on from the one before it.
   D → C → E → A → B
3. Write the letters in order. The answer is the letters, first to last.
   D, C, E, A, B

Check. Read the sentences in the order you wrote them. The story makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Do not put the last thing first. Look for “first” and “finally” clues in the story.

Method. Find the sentence in the story, then find the one that comes next.

1. Find the sentence. Friends come to the party is picture 2.
   Friends come to the party.
2. Look at the next picture. The next picture is picture 3, with the singing.
   They sing a happy song.
3. Write the sentence.
   They sing a happy song.

Check. Read the two sentences in order. They make sense. ✓

Watch out. Look at the picture numbers, not the words, to find what comes next.

Method. Think about the word finally.

1. Read the word. Finally means the last one, or at the end.
   finally
2. Think about a story. The last thing that happens is put at the end, with finally.
   the last event in the story
3. Write the reason.
   It tells us the last thing that happens in the story.

Check. Read the story and check finally is at the end. ✓

Watch out. Finally is used once, at the end. It is not used at the start.

Method. Read the sentences in the order they are written. Then decide if the order is right.

1. Read the first sentence. Finally is for the last thing in the story.
   Finally Leo goes to bed.
2. Read the second sentence. First is for the first thing in the story. Leo has tea before he goes to bed.
   First Leo has his tea.
3. Decide. Going to bed is the last thing, so finally should be on the bed sentence, and first on the tea sentence. These are swapped.
   No. First Leo has his tea, and finally he goes to bed.

Check. Read the corrected story aloud. It is in order. ✓

Watch out. Check the word first and the word finally against what happens in the story.

Method. Look at the picture number, then write the sentence for it.

1. Look at picture 2. Find the second box in the plan.
   Sam is on the swing.
2. Say the sentence. Say it aloud first.
   Sam plays on the swing.
3. Write it.
   Sam plays on the swing.

Check. Check it matches picture 2. ✓

Watch out. Each picture has one sentence. Do not add a sentence for a different picture.

Method. Look at picture 3, then write its sentence.

1. Look at picture 3. Sam is kicking a ball.
   Sam kicks a ball.
2. Say the sentence. Check the sentence says what is in the picture.
   Sam kicks a ball.
3. Write it.
   Sam kicks a ball.

Check. Read it aloud. It matches picture 3. ✓

Watch out. Look for the thing in the picture, such as the ball.

Method. Look at picture 1 in the rain plan, then write its sentence.

1. Look at picture 1. Mia is putting on her boots.
   Mia puts on her boots.
2. Say the sentence. The sentence says who, and what she does.
   Mia puts on her boots.
3. Write it.
   Mia puts on her boots.

Check. Read it aloud. It matches picture 1. ✓

Watch out. Write the sentence about the boots, which is the picture.

Method. Look at picture 2 in the rain plan, then start with then.

1. Look at picture 2. Mia has her umbrella open.
   Mia opens her umbrella.
2. Add the sequence word. Then tells us this comes next.
   Then Mia opens her umbrella.
3. Write it.
   Then Mia opens her umbrella.

Check. Read the story so far. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Then starts with a capital letter.

Method. Look at picture 3 in the rain plan, then start with after that.

1. Look at picture 3. Mia is in a puddle.
   Mia jumps in a puddle.
2. Add the sequence words. After that tells us it comes later in the story.
   After that Mia jumps in a puddle.
3. Write it.
   After that Mia jumps in a puddle.

Check. Read it aloud. It makes sense and matches picture 3. ✓

Watch out. After that has two words, and both go before the sentence.

Method. Look at picture 4 in the rain plan, then start with finally.

1. Look at picture 4. Mia is back inside, and dry.
   Mia goes in and gets dry.
2. Add the sequence word. Finally tells us this is the last thing in the story.
   Finally Mia goes in and gets dry.
3. Write it.
   Finally Mia goes in and gets dry.

Check. Read the whole rain story aloud when you finish. ✓

Watch out. Finally is for the last picture.

Method. Think about which picture comes first in the story.

1. Look at the plan. The boots come before she goes out with the umbrella.
   boots, umbrella
2. Think about the order. Putting on boots comes before opening the umbrella and jumping in the puddle.
   boots first
3. Write the answer.
   No. The boots picture comes first.

Check. Read the plan in order: boots, umbrella, puddle, home. ✓

Watch out. The first picture is always the one that happens first, not the one that looks nicest.

Method. Subtract the pictures Lia has from the sentences she wants.

1. Count the sentences she wants. She wants 6 sentences, so she needs 6 pictures.
   6 sentences
2. Count the pictures she has. She has 4 pictures.
   4 pictures
3. Find the difference. Take the pictures she has from the sentences she wants.
   6 − 4 = 2
4. Write the answer.
   2 more pictures

Check. Check: 4 + 2 = 6 pictures. ✓

Watch out. One picture for each sentence. Count the gap, not the total.

Method. Use one sentence for each picture, in order, starting each with a sequence word.

1. Picture 1. It starts the story, so use first.
   First Mia puts on her boots.
2. Pictures 2 and 3. Use then and after that for the middle pictures.
   Then Mia opens her umbrella. After that Mia jumps in a puddle.
3. Picture 4. The last picture is the end, so use finally.
   First Mia puts on her boots. Then Mia opens her umbrella. After that Mia jumps in a puddle. Finally Mia goes in and gets dry.

Check. Read the story aloud. It has four sentences, one for each picture. ✓

Watch out. Use the sequence words in order: first, then, after that, finally.

Method. Plan two pictures, then write two sentences in order.

1. Plan two pictures. Draw a first picture and a second picture about the dog.
   dog, then the next thing the dog does
2. Write the first sentence. Start with first.
   First the dog ...
3. Write the second sentence. Start with then, so the reader knows it comes next.
   Then the dog ...

Check. Read your two sentences aloud. They are in order. ✓

Watch out. Any true story about the dog is right, as long as the two sentences are in order.

Method. Think about whether the story runs in the order that things happen.

1. Read the plan. Tom has the swing before the walk.
   swing, then walk
2. Think about what happens first. Sam must walk to the park before he can play on the swing.
   walk, then swing
3. Write the answer.
   No. Sam walks to the park first, then plays on the swing.

Check. Read the plan aloud in the right order. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Think about what must happen before the next thing can happen.

Method. Check the first letter and the end of the sentence.

1. Read the sentence out loud. Listen for the places that do not sound finished.
   the cat sat on the mat
2. Fix what is wrong. The first word needs a capital letter, and the sentence needs a full stop.
   The cat sat on the mat.
3. Write the sentence correctly.
   The cat sat on the mat.

Check. Read the new sentence aloud. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓

Watch out. Change only the letters or marks that are wrong. Check the start and the end.

Method. Check the first letter and the end of the sentence.

1. Read the sentence out loud. Listen for the places that do not sound finished.
   Leo has a big dog
2. Fix what is wrong. The sentence needs a full stop at the end.
   Leo has a big dog.
3. Write the sentence correctly.
   Leo has a big dog.

Check. Read the new sentence aloud. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓

Watch out. Change only the letters or marks that are wrong. Check the start and the end.

Method. Read the sentence with the gap. Try the word in the gap, and check it makes sense.

1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence is saying.
   Mia ___ a red bag.
2. Try the word in the gap. The gap needs a word that tells us what Mia owns. Has makes sense.
   Mia has a red bag.
3. Write the word.
   has

Check. Read the whole sentence again. It makes sense with has. ✓

Watch out. Try each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes the sentence sensible.

Method. Read the sentence with the gap. Try the word in the gap, and check it makes sense.

1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence is saying.
   The cat ___ on the mat.
2. Try the word in the gap. Sat is a word for what the cat did. Sun and sock do not make sense.
   The cat sat on the mat.
3. Write the word.
   sat

Check. Read the whole sentence again. It makes sense with sat. ✓

Watch out. Try each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes the sentence sensible.

Method. A sentence makes sense on its own and tells a whole idea.

1. Read it out loud. Does it make sense on its own?
   Ben can run fast.
2. Check what it tells us. It tells us who (Ben) and what he can do (run fast).
   a whole idea
3. Write the answer.
   Yes

Check. Read it again. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. A sentence can be short. Check that it tells a whole idea, not just a place or a thing.

Method. Check the first letter and the end of the sentence.

1. Read the sentence out loud. Listen for the places that do not sound finished.
   I like to play in the sun
2. Fix what is wrong. The sentence needs a full stop at the end.
   I like to play in the sun.
3. Write the sentence correctly.
   I like to play in the sun.

Check. Read the new sentence aloud. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓

Watch out. Change only the letters or marks that are wrong. Check the start and the end.

Method. Read the sentence with the gap. Try the word in the gap, and check it makes sense.

1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence is saying.
   Sam went ___ the park.
2. Try the word in the gap. Went to is how we say where someone is going.
   Sam went to the park.
3. Write the word.
   to

Check. Read the whole sentence again. It makes sense with to. ✓

Watch out. Try each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes the sentence sensible.

Method. Read each sentence and find the one that does not make sense.

1. Read the first sentence. The dog ran fast, which makes sense.
   The dog ran fast.
2. Read the second sentence. A bus is not a cat, so this does not make sense.
   The bus is a cat.
3. Write the answer.
   The bus is a cat.

Check. Read the first sentence again. It makes sense on its own. ✓

Watch out. Look for the sentence with words that do not match.

Method. Check the capital letter at the start. Leo is a name, so it needs a capital.

1. Read the first word. The first word is Leo. It is a name.
   leo
2. Check the first letter. The first letter of a sentence needs a capital, and so does a name.
   Leo
3. Write the answer. Mia is not right. The first word must start with a capital letter.
   No. The first word needs a capital letter, because Leo is a name.

Check. Read the corrected sentence: Leo has a red hat. ✓

Watch out. Look at the first letter of the sentence. It needs a capital letter, not a small one.

Method. Think about the start and the end of the sentence.

1. Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, but it should be a capital.
   we
2. Look at the end. The sentence has no full stop at the end.
   the shop
3. Write the answer.
   A capital letter at the start (We), and a full stop at the end.

Check. Read it again: We went to the shop. ✓

Watch out. Check the first letter and the last mark every time.

Method. Think about what happens when you say your writing out loud.

1. Say the writing aloud. You can hear if a word is missing or in the wrong place.
   the ear hears a gap
2. Listen for mistakes. A sentence that does not sound right does not make sense.
   it sounds wrong
3. Write the answer.
   Reading aloud helps you hear mistakes, such as missing words or sentences that do not make sense.

Check. Read your answer aloud. It explains the reason. ✓

Watch out. Your ears can find a mistake that your eyes can miss.

Key words. A list is things written one under another.

Method. Write each thing on its own line, one under the other.

1. Look at the picture. Find each animal in the picture.
   cat, dog, fish
2. Write one thing on each line. Each thing gets its own line, so it is easy to read.
   cat
   dog
   fish
3. Check the list. Count the things in the list and in the picture.
   3 things

Check. Check that each thing in the list is in the picture. ✓

Watch out. Do not write the things in one long line. A list has one thing on each line.

Key words. A list is things written one under another.

Method. Write each thing on its own line, one under the other.

1. Look at the picture. Find each thing in the picture.
   ball, book, bus
2. Write one thing on each line. Each thing gets its own line, so it is easy to read.
   ball
   book
   bus
3. Check the list. Count the things in the list and in the picture.
   3 things

Check. Check that each thing in the list is in the picture. ✓

Watch out. Do not write the things in one long line. A list has one thing on each line.

Method. A caption is a whole sentence about the picture.

1. Look at the picture. It shows a cat.
   a cat
2. Read the captions. A caption must be a sentence. B is just words with no full stop and no sense.
   A: The cat is orange.   B: Cat orange
3. Choose the caption.
   A: The cat is orange.

Check. Read A out loud. It tells us about the cat. ✓

Watch out. A caption tells us something about the picture in a whole sentence.

Key words. A caption is a sentence that tells about a picture.

Method. A caption is a sentence. It tells us about the picture.

1. Look at the picture. The picture shows a sun.
   a sun
2. Write a sentence about it. A caption is a whole sentence, so it needs a capital letter and a full stop.
   The sun is yellow.
3. Check the caption. It must match the picture.
   The sun is yellow.

Check. Read the caption. Does it match the sun? ✓

Watch out. A caption is a sentence. A label is only a word or two.

Method. Each thing needs its own line in a list.

1. Read the list. The things are all on one line.
   ball book bus
2. Put each thing on its own line. A list has one thing on each line, one under the other.
   ball
   book
   bus
3. Write the list.
   Put each thing on its own line.

Check. Read the list down the page. It is easy to read. ✓

Watch out. One thing on each line makes a list easy to read.

Method. A label names a thing in one or two words. A caption is a whole sentence.

1. Read A. It is one word, so it is a label.
   book
2. Read B. It is a whole sentence with a capital and a full stop, so it is a caption.
   The book is blue.
3. Write the answer.
   A is a label. B is a caption.

Check. Check A has one word and B has a whole sentence. ✓

Watch out. Count the words. Labels are short. Captions are whole sentences.

Key words. A label names one thing, in one or two words.

Method. A label is one or two words that name one thing.

1. Look at the picture. Find the fish.
   the fish
2. Say what it is in one word. A label names the thing and nothing else.
   fish
3. Write the label.
   fish

Check. Check the spelling letter by letter: f · i · s · h. ✓

Watch out. A label is short. Write the name of the thing, not a sentence.

Key words. A caption is a sentence that tells about a picture.

Method. A caption is a sentence. It tells us about the picture.

1. Look at the picture. The picture shows a dog.
   a dog
2. Write a sentence about it. A caption is a whole sentence, so it needs a capital letter and a full stop.
   The dog is brown.
3. Check the caption. It must match the picture.
   The dog is brown.

Check. Read the caption. Does it match the dog? ✓

Watch out. A caption is a sentence. A label is only a word or two.

Method. Write one label for each picture, in one or two words.

1. Look at the first picture. It shows a book.
   book
2. Look at the second picture. It shows a ball.
   ball
3. Write the labels. Write them on one line, separated by a comma, or on two lines.
   book, ball

Check. Check each label names the thing next to it. ✓

Watch out. A label is short. One or two words is enough.

Method. Think about the job of each one.

1. Think about a label. A label names one thing in one or two words.
   one word
2. Think about a caption. A caption is a whole sentence that tells us about the picture.
   a sentence
3. Write the answer.
   A label names the thing. A caption is a sentence that tells us what is happening in the picture.

Check. Read both out loud. A label is a name. A caption is a sentence. ✓

Watch out. Think of the label as a name tag, and the caption as the story about the picture.

Key words. A tricky word does not follow the usual sound, so it is learned by sight.

Method. Say each word slowly, one sound at a time. Write the letters for each sound, then the whole sentence.

1. Say each word slowly. Hear each sound, then choose the letter or letters for it.
   The · dog · is · in · the · sun
2. Write the letters for each word. Some sounds need two letters, such as sh in ship. Tricky words are written as learned.
   The: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   dog: d - o - g
   is: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   in: i - n
   the: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   sun: s - u - n
3. Write the whole sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave spaces, and end with a full stop.
   The dog is in the sun.

Check. Read your sentence to the grown-up and check each word against the answer. ✓

Watch out. Check the tricky words first. Then check the capital letter at the start and the full stop at the end.

Key words. A tricky word does not follow the usual sound, so it is learned by sight.

Method. Say each word slowly, one sound at a time. Write the letters for each sound, then the whole sentence.

1. Say each word slowly. Hear each sound, then choose the letter or letters for it.
   Ben · can · hop
2. Write the letters for each word. Some sounds need two letters, such as sh in ship. Tricky words are written as learned.
   Ben: b - e - n
   can: c - a - n
   hop: h - o - p
3. Write the whole sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave spaces, and end with a full stop.
   Ben can hop.

Check. Read your sentence to the grown-up and check each word against the answer. ✓

Watch out. Check the tricky words first. Then check the capital letter at the start and the full stop at the end.

Key words. A tricky word does not follow the usual sound, so it is learned by sight.

Method. Say each word slowly, one sound at a time. Write the letters for each sound, then the whole sentence.

1. Say each word slowly. Hear each sound, then choose the letter or letters for it.
   She · has · a · cup
2. Write the letters for each word. Some sounds need two letters, such as sh in ship. Tricky words are written as learned.
   She: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   has: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   a: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   cup: c - u - p
3. Write the whole sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave spaces, and end with a full stop.
   She has a cup.

Check. Read your sentence to the grown-up and check each word against the answer. ✓

Watch out. Check the tricky words first. Then check the capital letter at the start and the full stop at the end.

Key words. A tricky word does not follow the usual sound, so it is learned by sight.

Method. Say each word slowly, one sound at a time. Write the letters for each sound, then the whole sentence.

1. Say each word slowly. Hear each sound, then choose the letter or letters for it.
   We · see · the · rain
2. Write the letters for each word. Some sounds need two letters, such as sh in ship. Tricky words are written as learned.
   We: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   see: s - ee
   the: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   rain: r - ai - n
3. Write the whole sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave spaces, and end with a full stop.
   We see the rain.

Check. Read your sentence to the grown-up and check each word against the answer. ✓

Watch out. Check the tricky words first. Then check the capital letter at the start and the full stop at the end.

Key words. A tricky word does not follow the usual sound, so it is learned by sight.

Method. Say each word slowly, one sound at a time. Write the letters for each sound, then the whole sentence.

1. Say each word slowly. Hear each sound, then choose the letter or letters for it.
   Tom · and · Mum · go · to · the · shop
2. Write the letters for each word. Some sounds need two letters, such as sh in ship. Tricky words are written as learned.
   Tom: t - o - m
   and: a - n - d
   Mum: m - u - m
   go: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   to: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   the: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   shop: sh - o - p
3. Write the whole sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave spaces, and end with a full stop.
   Tom and Mum go to the shop.

Check. Read your sentence to the grown-up and check each word against the answer. ✓

Watch out. Check the tricky words first. Then check the capital letter at the start and the full stop at the end.

Key words. A tricky word does not follow the usual sound, so it is learned by sight.

Method. Say each word slowly, one sound at a time. Write the letters for each sound, then the whole sentence.

1. Say each word slowly. Hear each sound, then choose the letter or letters for it.
   Dad · put · the · bag · on · the · bed
2. Write the letters for each word. Some sounds need two letters, such as sh in ship. Tricky words are written as learned.
   Dad: d - a - d
   put: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   the: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   bag: b - a - g
   on: o - n
   the: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   bed: b - e - d
3. Write the whole sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave spaces, and end with a full stop.
   Dad put the bag on the bed.

Check. Read your sentence to the grown-up and check each word against the answer. ✓

Watch out. Check the tricky words first. Then check the capital letter at the start and the full stop at the end.

Method. Put the letters for each sound together, in order, to make one word.

1. Look at the sounds. The letters f, r, o and g are the sounds in the word.
   f - r - o - g
2. Join the letters in order. Read the letters from left to right, one after another.
   f r o g
3. Write the word.
   frog

Check. Read frog out loud. It is one word. ✓

Watch out. Read the letters from left to right. Do not change the order.

Method. Put the letters for each sound together to make one word.

1. Look at the sounds. The sh is one sound, so use both letters together.
   sh - i - p
2. Join the letters in order. Read them from left to right.
   sh i p
3. Write the word.
   ship

Check. Read ship out loud. It has four letters but three sounds. ✓

Watch out. Keep the letters s and h together. They make one sound.

Method. Find the tricky word that makes sense in the gap.

1. Read the sentence. Someone says a word, so we need the word for speaking.
   Sam ___ “Hello.”
2. Try the tricky word. Said is the word we use when someone speaks.
   Sam said “Hello.”
3. Write the answer.
   said

Check. Read the sentence: Sam said Hello. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Said is a tricky word. Write it as s-a-i-d.

Key words. A tricky word does not follow the usual sound, so it is learned by sight.

Method. Say each word slowly, one sound at a time. Write the letters for each sound, then the whole sentence.

1. Say each word slowly. Hear each sound, then choose the letter or letters for it.
   I · see · a · bee · in · the · tree
2. Write the letters for each word. Some sounds need two letters, such as sh in ship. Tricky words are written as learned.
   I: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   see: s - ee
   a: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   bee: b - ee
   in: i - n
   the: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   tree: tr - ee
3. Write the whole sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave spaces, and end with a full stop.
   I see a bee in the tree.

Check. Read your sentence to the grown-up and check each word against the answer. ✓

Watch out. Check the tricky words first. Then check the capital letter at the start and the full stop at the end.

Method. Check the first letter and the last mark of the sentence.

1. Read the sentence. Ben is a name, so it needs a capital letter.
   ben can hop.
2. Fix the start and the end. Use a capital B for Ben, and add a full stop after hop.
   Ben can hop.
3. Write the answer.
   Ben can hop.

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

Watch out. Names need a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence.

Key words. A word is a group of letters that we say together, like cat.

Method. Say the sentence out loud. Touch a finger for each word, then count them.

1. Say the sentence. Say it slowly, one word at a time.
   We went to the park.
2. Count the words. Each word is a group of letters with a space on each side.
   We / went / to / the / park
3. Write the answer. The full stop is not a word, so do not count it.
   5 words

Check. Count again from the last word back to the first: 5 words. ✓

Watch out. Do not count the full stop as a word.

Key words. First is the start. Finally is the end. Next, then and after that go in between.

Method. Think about when the thing happens in the story.

1. Read the sentence. Think about where it comes in the story.
   Finally Ali opens his gifts.
2. Pick the sequence word that shows the order. Finally tells us the last thing in the story.
   finally = the order word
3. Write the answer.
   finally

Check. Read the story out loud with the word in place. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Sequence words show the order: first, next, then, after that and finally.

Key words. The order is the way things happen, one after another.

Method. Start with the first thing that happens. Then find the next thing, and the next, in order.

1. Find the first thing. It is the sentence that comes at the start of the story.
   B: Ali has a birthday party.
2. Follow the story in order. Each sentence follows on from the one before it.
   B → A → C
3. Write the letters in order. The answer is the letters, first to last.
   B, A, C

Check. Read the sentences in the order you wrote them. The story makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Do not put the last thing first. Look for “first” and “finally” clues in the story.

Method. Check the first letter and the end of the sentence.

1. Read the sentence out loud. Listen for the places that do not sound finished.
   the cat sat
2. Fix what is wrong. The first word needs a capital letter, and the sentence needs a full stop.
   The cat sat.
3. Write the sentence correctly.
   The cat sat.

Check. Read the new sentence aloud. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓

Watch out. Change only the letters or marks that are wrong. Check the start and the end.

Method. Read the sentence with the gap. Try the word in the gap, and check it makes sense.

1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence is saying.
   Sam ___ to the park.
2. Try the word in the gap. Went makes sense: Sam went to the park.
   Sam went to the park.
3. Write the word.
   went

Check. Read the whole sentence again. It makes sense with went. ✓

Watch out. Try each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes the sentence sensible.

Key words. A label names one thing, in one or two words.

Method. A label is one or two words that name one thing.

1. Look at the picture. Find the rubber.
   the rubber
2. Say what it is in one word. A label names the thing and nothing else.
   rubber
3. Write the label.
   rubber

Check. Check the spelling letter by letter: r · u · b · b · e · r. ✓

Watch out. A label is short. Write the name of the thing, not a sentence.

Method. Choose the sentence that tells us about the sun.

1. Read caption A. The sun is yellow is a whole sentence about the picture.
   The sun is yellow.
2. Read caption B. Sun yellow is only two words, with no sense as a sentence.
   sun yellow
3. Write the answer.
   A: The sun is yellow.

Check. Read A out loud. It tells us about the sun. ✓

Watch out. A caption is a whole sentence, with a capital letter and a full stop.

Key words. A tricky word does not follow the usual sound, so it is learned by sight.

Method. Say each word slowly, one sound at a time. Write the letters for each sound, then the whole sentence.

1. Say each word slowly. Hear each sound, then choose the letter or letters for it.
   Pat · and · Sam · sit · on · a · mat
2. Write the letters for each word. Some sounds need two letters, such as sh in ship. Tricky words are written as learned.
   Pat: p - a - t
   and: a - n - d
   Sam: s - a - m
   sit: s - i - t
   on: o - n
   a: tricky word, write it as you learned it
   mat: m - a - t
3. Write the whole sentence. Start with a capital letter, leave spaces, and end with a full stop.
   Pat and Sam sit on a mat.

Check. Read your sentence to the grown-up and check each word against the answer. ✓

Watch out. Check the tricky words first. Then check the capital letter at the start and the full stop at the end.

Method. Write one sentence for each step, in order, with the sequence words.

1. Step 1. The first thing is the swim.
   First Tom swims.
2. Step 2. The next thing is drying off. Use then.
   Then Tom gets dry.
3. Step 3. The last thing is lunch. Use finally.
   First Tom swims. Then Tom gets dry. Finally Tom eats lunch.

Check. Read the three sentences in order. They make a story. ✓

Watch out. Keep the order of the pictures, and start each sentence with its sequence word.

Method. Think about what happens when you check your writing again.

1. Read your writing again. You can see if the sentences make sense.
   Does it make sense?
2. Check the small things. You can find a missing word, a capital letter or a full stop.
   capital, full stop, spaces
3. Write the reason.
   It shows if each sentence makes sense, and if a word, a capital or a full stop is missing.

Check. Read your answer aloud. It gives one clear reason. ✓

Watch out. Read it again with fresh eyes, and the mistakes often show.

Key words. A word is a group of letters that we say together, like cat.

Method. Say the sentence out loud. Touch a finger for each word, then count them.