Jennifer Atkins - Bright Beginnings with Jen

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)?

Fabulous plurals session this afternoon!

We:

- Matched capital letters to lowercase letters
- learnt the spelling rules for the plural s/es
- fed the monsters lunch
- played plural snakes and ladders

The best part? It doesn’t feel like learning when you’re having fun!

What a fabulous Disney themed time lesson with A yesterday! This was a big hit, thank you for the brilliant resource/idea!

3 simple steps to get started ✏️
✔️ Home visit & trial
✔️ Find the right group
✔️ Ongoing support
Message to book your space!

🌟 New updated class schedule for the summer term 🌟