Languages and literacy
Picture and object matching
Match identical pictures, identify a familiar pair of related objects and explain the connection in a short spoken response using a complete phrase.
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Early years English language teacher
Marisol Delos Santos
I use stories, rhymes, songs and movement to give children different ways to hear and use English, working alongside the class teacher to connect language with the wider day.
Explore the collectionA little about me
I teach English across early years groups alongside the class teacher. I see the language strand as part of the wider day, not a replacement for the class teacher’s work. Stories, rhymes, songs and movement can give children different ways to hear and use English, while the teacher helps connect the activity with what the group is exploring.
Family communication also needs care. If a document is prepared in English, I want its wording to be clear and checked with the teacher who knows the family and context. Translation or language support should help people understand the information without changing its meaning or speaking on behalf of the class team.
I value resources that are brief, engaging and easy to adapt with colleagues. A song or story can offer a shared starting point, but the response will depend on the group and the surrounding activity. I want planning to make roles clear, give children room to participate in different ways and keep communication accurate.
How I approach a lesson
Plan English activities alongside the class teacher.
Use stories, rhyme, song and movement as varied language contexts.
Check family-facing wording with the responsible teacher.
Templates I'd use with my class
Explore these templates and decide what fits your own setting.
Music and performing arts
Song show
Join a song with a picture, repeated words or a simple movement, and notice when the song begins and ends.
Languages and literacy
Goldilocks cards
Put six story pictures in order and retell the sequence using first, then and last.
Languages and literacy
Nature vocabulary: six English picture cards
Recognise and explain selected nature words by connecting each word with its picture, definition and example sentence.