Jennifer Atkins - Bright Beginnings with Jen

Just a few snaps from some sessions lately!

1. Spelling pyramids
2. Letter formation practise in glitter
3. Place value fun
4. Yoda sentence scramble
5. Subtraction with a unicorn theme
6. Making lava lamps!
7. Instruction writing
8. Bluey themed conjunctions
9. Using magnetic blocks for spellings
10. Practising times tables with mega blocks

One of the best things about tutoring is making it fun and engaging for the children. Learning doesn’t need to be worksheets and books 📚.

Hey everyone!

Taking a quick break to unplug and spend some quality time with the family! ☀️🌊🇬🇷

I’m officially on holiday, but I’ll be back and ready to dive back into lessons next Wednesday, 29th July.

If you send me a message or email while I’m away, please bear with me if I’m a bit slow to reply, I’ll get back to everyone as soon as I’m back at my desk.

Hope you’re all having a wonderful start to the summer! See you next week! ✨

This lovely review from Laura absolutely made my day! 🥹

Seeing this student go from struggling with the Reception to Year 1 leap, to genuinely believing in himself again is exactly why I love tutoring. Learning should be fun, tailored, and full of confidence boosts!

If your little one needs a confidence boost or some extra support with maths, writing, or reading, I have a few limited spaces available for summer tuition. It’s the perfect way to beat that summer slide.

Send me a direct message today to find out more about my summer sessions.

☀️ Summer Sessions! ☀️

I’m sharing my updated availability for 1:1 tuition. This is a great opportunity to make the most of the relaxed atmosphere of the summer holidays. With no school or homework pressure, we can focus on building confidence and core skills in Maths, English and Phonics in a relaxed, fun environment. It's a great way to catch up or get ahead! These are open to all. Slots are limited, so please message me to book or sign up below.

https://brightbeginningswithjen.tutorbird.com/book-a-summer-1-1-lesson

A “shiny” approach to phonics with P today ✨🦀

This session was packed with sensory learning! From tracing letters in glitter trays and playing spelling 4-in-a-row, to digging for Tamatoa’s treasure in the sand (shoutout to for the fab resource!)

Did you know sensory play boosts cognitive development and memory? When children use sensory materials while learning academic skills, it creates a “tactile memory.” Tracing a letter in glitter or digging up a word in the sand helps anchor that abstract concept into their long-term memory far better than just looking at a worksheet.

Levelling up our grammar skills, Mario style! 🎮🍄

Subordinating conjunctions can feel like a tough Boss Battle for young writers, so I turned this tutoring session into a real-life game of Super Mario! Here is how we conquered it:

⭐️ The Coin Challenge: For every sentence written using a target conjunction (like because, when, or if), Mario moved forward on the board and collected gold coins.

✍️ Co-Op Mode: To reduce cognitive overload and keep frustration low, we took turns writing sentences. Teamwork makes the dream work!

🫧 Power-Up Rewards: Successful sentences earned a celebratory bubble-blowing break. Safe to say, motivation was at an all-time high!

Learning grammar doesn’t have to be a chore. When you lean into a child’s interests, complex concepts suddenly become a game they actually want to play 🥰

Hi, I’m Jen!

I believe that every child deserves to unlock the magic of reading, but I also know that the journey looks different for everyone. As a Phonics Specialist with 11 years of teaching experience, I started Phonics with Jen to be an ally for the children who learn differently.

When I’m not diving into phonemes and graphemes, you can usually find me:

🎤 Channeling my inner diva as a Karaoke Queen.

⛺️ Pitching a tent in the great outdoors.

📚 Getting lost in a good book (I’m an avid reader!).

🎭 Humming tunes from my favourite musicals.

I’m a wife, a mummy and a teacher who is passionate about making learning click. Whether your child needs a little extra boost or a whole new approach, I’m here to help!

Tag someone who is looking for a supportive tutor! 👇

LiteracyMatters

Does your child know their letters/sounds but can’t seem to put a sentence together? Or maybe they read fast but can’t tell you a single thing about the story they just finished?

Think of reading like a bike.

If the decoding tyre is flat, they are working so hard to sound out words that they never gain any speed.

If the fluency tyre is flat, it they might get through the book, but aren’t actually ‘cruising’ - they’re missing the meaning.

The good news? Once we identify which tyre needs air, the whole ride gets smoother.

Tell me in the comments: Does your child struggle more with sounding out words (decoding) or understanding the ‘big picture’ (fluency)?