Read with an adult. Take your time. You can say, point, draw or write your answer.
1 Let's look together
A sentence tells a complete little idea. Say what you want to write first.
Try: 'The cat is asleep.' Say it again. Count the words on your fingers before you begin to write.
The cat is asleep.
Look, point and talk with your adult.
2 Watch how I do it
I say 'The cat is asleep.' I keep that idea in my head. I write one word at a time, leaving a space between words.
3 Your turn
Say a whole sentence about a dog. Can your adult understand your idea?
Have a go before opening the answer.
Let's check together
Many answers work, such as 'The dog is running.' Your sentence should make a complete idea.
4 Try it away from the page
Tell your adult a sentence about your day. Rehearse it aloud, then write it with spelling help for untaught sounds.
Open your writing and drawing pad
Write, draw or show your working. Use a mouse, pen or finger. This pad is not a submitted answer.
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Open a picture saved on this device to draw on it again. Opening replaces the drawing, but Undo can restore it. PNG only, up to 4 MB and 4096 × 4096 pixels. The picture stays in this browser; it is not uploaded. Paper lines in a saved picture become part of that picture.
Clear the drawing? Your typed notes will stay. You can undo this action.
Your pad is empty.
Open a UTF-8 TXT file from this device, up to 40 KB and 10,000 characters. It stays in this browser. Opening can be undone until you type again. Downloads keep a new copy; they do not change the file you opened.
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Typed notes are not submitted answers.
Explore and practise freely. Opening this lesson or using the writing pad does not save completion or a score.
Adult notes · prerequisites, safety and coverage
Model oral composition. Do not demand independent spelling beyond taught phonics. Separate the child's idea from handwriting difficulty.
Read instructions aloud. Word-reading practice must match the child's taught sounds. The phonics pages support, but do not replace, the school's systematic synthetic phonics programme. Shared stories are adult-read unless the child can decode them. Re-read and practise daily.
Say sentences before writing and sequence a short narrative.
Listen, take turns, ask questions and explain ideas aloud.