English articles
Inspiring children to read
When it comes to encouraging children's love of books and reading, teachers (and librarians!) are the experts. We asked Ashley Booth – reader, Year 6 teacher and passionate advocate of children's books – to share his tips for teachers (and for parents!) on igniting a love of reading in primary-school children.
Best children's books about dance, drama and the stage
Does your child love to perform? Do they dream of a life on the stage or on television, dancing or acting or singing? Whether they're hoping to become a ballerina or a pop star or just love reading about actors, dancers and musicians, we've picked some of the best kids' books that celebrate performance and dance.
What are singular and plural?
Singular and plural nouns and how they're taught in primary school, plus how KS1 and KS2 children learn about the formation of irregular plurals and how to use possessive apostrophes.
Best children's books about the Anglo Saxons
Travel back in time to the dawn of England and find out more about the Anglo Saxons, their stories and their lives. Teacher and literacy expert Ashley Booth shares his pick of the best historical fiction set in the time of King Alfred, including different retellings of the epic Anglo Saxon poem Beowulf.
Best books to read with five year olds
Reading time is time to laugh, share and explore stories with your child. Choose books that have a strong rhythm to them and are full of humour, rhyme and attractive illustrations. We've picked ten of our favourites to read with five year olds.
Best books for six year olds: picture books
A rooster who wears skinny jeans, a greedy tiger, a gang of skateboarding fairies and a yoga-teaching giraffe make these hilarious picture books for six year olds the perfect reading choice!
Best books to read with six year olds
There is something magical about being whisked away by words into the lives of various characters and sharing a story with someone else, be it a parent, carer, grandparent or sibling. Below is a list of wonderful books, perfect for six year olds, for you to share and read together (snuggled under a duvet at bedtime, if possible!).
Best books to read with seven year olds
This collection of recommended books to read with your seven year old includes some lovely poems about the great outdoors and nature, a spooky collection of ghost stories, an exciting adventure into an Egyptian tomb and a journey into the magical, wintry land of Narnia. Curl up together and enjoy!
Best books for seven year olds: picture books
Picture books aren't only for young children who haven't learnt to read yet! These beautiful, thought-provoking and complex picture books are perfect for seven year olds (and their adults!).
Best books for seven year olds: chapter books
Short chapters, charming characters, hilarious storylines, beautiful illustrations and rich language make these books the perfect pick for seven year olds.
Best books for nine year olds
Ninja cats, lazy dragons, stolen jewels, talking china rabbits and a magical land hidden beneath King’s Cross Station make these books for nine year olds essential and exciting reading!
Best books for eight year olds
Enchanted horses, evil emperors, busking cats, strange gadgets, crooked kidnappers, a clever spider and a wizard with revenge on his mind make these books the perfect pick for eight year olds!
Best children's books about the Great Fire of London and the Plague
Make the events of 1665 and 1666 come to life for children (and for you!) with teacher Ashley Booth's pick of the best children's fiction about the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. From KS1 early readers to chapter books, there's a historical fiction option for all ages.
Best children's books about the Stone Age
Life in prehistoric times is incredibly hard to picture, but teacher Ashley Booth's pick of the best Stone Age stories and novels for kids will help transport your child (far) back in time .
Best children's books about WWII
World War II was a pivotal time in British history. These page-turning reads will give your children a real insight into what life was like for both children and adults, on the battle field and on the Home Front. By Ashley Booth
Best children's books about Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt is one of the primary history topics that children most want to learn about and it’s easy to see why. Y6 teacher Ashley Booth picks his favourite Nile-based fiction books to fascinate your child and introduce them to a world of pyramids, mummies and pharaohs.
Best picture books for five year olds
Picture books are a fantastic way to develop children’s speaking and listening skills. They also provide a brilliant starting point for children to hypothesise and draw inferences about characters’ thoughts, feelings and actions. Allow time for your child to pore over the illustrations in these beautiful books, make predictions and discuss the story with you.
Best children's books about Ancient Greece
Enter a world of gods, legends and mythical creatures... Y6 teacher and kids' literature lover Ashley Booth shares his top picks for inspiring children's interest in Ancient Greece and its culture.
12 brilliant debate topics for kids
Want to get your child’s brain working? Debating is a great way to do it. We share some challenging questions to trigger their thought processes.
Lauren Child’s 7 tips for raising a creative child
Best-selling author, illustrator and Children’s Laureate Lauren Child shares her strategies for nurturing creativity.
How English teaching has changed since we were at school
Feeling out of touch with your child's literacy learning? We look at how times have changed in the classroom since you were at school yourself.
Michael Rosen's 9 poetry-writing tips for kids
Is your child a budding poet? We asked prolific author and former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen for his tips for giving kids the poetry-writing bug.
What are cohesion and cohesive devices in writing?
As children start to develop their own writing style in primary school they will be asked to use "cohesive devices" to improve their writing and help it flow. We explain what "cohesion" means in fiction and non-fiction writing.
Great poetry collections for children
Explore worlds of words with award-winning poet Rachel Rooney's pick of her favourite poetry collections for children.
16 of the best books for children for summer 2017
There's no better way to while away the long summer holidays than getting lost in a book. From beautiful picture books to pore over to thrilling adventures and historical tales to savour, we pick some of the best new kids' books for summer 2017.
18 reasons your child should learn touch-typing
Just 20 minutes of practice a day could be enough to make your child a fluent touch-typist in as little as 10 weeks. We explain why confident, fast typing skills are an essential skill for all primary school children.
Touch-typing is one of those skills that, along with shorthand, seemed to go out of fashion as women began to embrace careers beyond the secretarial. But while you might have a mental image of rows of well-groomed young ladies sitting behind their manual typewriters, touch-typing is far from an outdated practice. In fact, typing could be one of the most valuable skills your primary school child will ever learn.
Touch-typing is one of those skills that, along with shorthand, seemed to go out of fashion as women began to embrace careers beyond the secretarial. But while you might have a mental image of rows of well-groomed young ladies sitting behind their manual typewriters, touch-typing is far from an outdated practice. In fact, typing could be one of the most valuable skills your primary school child will ever learn.
Best creative writing books for kids
Does your child love writing stories but feel daunted by the blank page? Get them started with creative writing and boost their confidence with a "workbook" packed with story starters, technique tips, example passages and more. Whether they're planning an epic comic strip series, a poetry collection, a ghost story or a fairy tale, these write-your-own-story guides will help them put pen to paper.
Best girl-empowering books for kids
Introduce the whole family to the achievements of female scientists, explorers, artists, physicians, writers and more in our round-up of the best girl-empowering books for kids. From KS1 picture books and tales to inspiring grown-up "bedtime stories", we love these girl-power celebrations of outstanding people.
8 ways to nurture your child's creativity
Bring out your primary school child's innate storytelling ability with these great strategies for encouraging their creativity.
16 ways to help a struggling reader in Key Stage 2
Is reading yet to click for your child? These ideas, from hi-low readers to establishing a reading buddy pet, will help set them on the right track.
How dyslexia affects writing
From formulating ideas to getting words on the page, we take a look at why written work can be a challenge for dyslexic children and suggest ways to support your child's writing at home.
How dyslexia affects spelling
Dyslexia can have a profound effect on how your child learns to spell, but there are strategies to help them tackle their challenges. We share advice from the British Dyslexia Association to help you help your child at home.
How dyslexia affects reading
From difficulty with phonics to ‘dancing’ letters, dyslexic children may face extra challenges when they're learning to read. We explain how you can support their learning at home.
Best Easter books for children
British children receive an average of five Easter eggs each year, with 29% of kids getting more than 10! We say it's time to replace some of the sugar with a few delectable reads. Our pick of the best Easter- and chocolate-themed books will ensure your child gets their fill of cocoa beans, bunnies and springtime fun through the printed word. Tuck in!
Best spelling board games for children
Turn the weekly spelling test preparation from chore into challenge with our pick of the best spelling board games for children and families. From brand-new readers and writers to spelling bee champions, there's plenty for even the most competent speller to enjoy!
18 must-have costume-making supplies for World Book Day and beyond
Never again will you be caught out by a last-minute outfit request from your primary school child with these craft basics. Stock up today!
What are irregular verbs?
Children learn to use irregular verbs naturally as they speak and write English, but will also understand more about them during their time at primary school. We explain how irregular verbs are introduced in the classroom in our guide for parents.
What are word families?
Understand more about how children are introduced to word families, made up of words that share a root word modified by different prefixes and suffixes, in our guide for primary-school parents.
What is Standard English?
Standard English is accepted as the "correct" form of English, used in formal speaking or writing. In primary school children are expected to learn to write according to the rules of Standard English.
8 great reasons for your child to keep a diary
Writing a diary is more than just a way for your child to record their daily life: it can have impressive educational benefits, too.