Parents Guide to Jolly Phonics

What is Jolly Phonics?

• Is a foundation tool for reading and writing

• It teaches letter sounds in a way that is fun and multi-sensory

• It encourages children it identify letter sounds, write letters and read.

There are five basic skills for reading and writing,

they are: • Learning the letter sounds

• Learning the letter formation

• Blending

• Identifying sounds in words

• Spelling the tricky words In our lessons we focus on the top four

1. Learning the letter sounds

• In Jolly Phonics the 42 main sounds of English are taught, not just the alphabet

• Each sound has an action which helps children remember the letter

• Children are taught each letter by its sound, not its name. Names follow later

• The letters are not introduced alphabetically, they are in groups of 6

• The first group makes up more simple three-letter words than any other six letters.

The letter groups:

• s a t i p n

• ck e h r m d

• g o u l f b

• ai j oa ie ee or

• z w ng v oo oo

• y x ch sh th th

• qu ou oi ue er ar

2. Learning the letter formation

• It is very important that a child holds their pencil in the correct way, using the tripod grip between the thumb and the first two fingers

• Children need to form each letter the correct way, as show in the books.

• Some letters can be more difficult to learn; b,d,p,s,e. It is important to be patient and always show children the correct way of forming letters.

3. Blending • Blending is the process of saying the individual

sounds in a word and then running them together to make the word.

• For instance sounding out d-o-g and making dog • It is a technique every child will need to learn and

it improves with practice.

• Sound out simple words to your child, sounds must be said quickly to hear the word. If necessary give the answer.

• Words such as dog, cat, bus, mom, dad etc.

4. Identifying the sounds in words

• Once children can hear the sounds in words, it will help with spelling.

• Start by listening to the first sounds in words.

• Play games such as I-Spy, rhyming games, naming songs, poems.

• Then listen to the end sounds, as these are easier to hear than the middle sounds.

• Try tapping out the sounds in words.

What we do… • We have a taught Jolly Phonic lesson once a week.

• We teach 1 letter over a period of three weeks so that each child can get a full understanding of each letter before moving on.

• We send homework out on week 1 and week 3 for the children to complete and return to nursery, this helps the child link their learning between nursery and home and allows parents to become

involved in their child’s learning. • Jolly Phonics is taught term time only

• Week 1 – We introduce the letter using the Jolly Phonics story book

• We look at the flashcards and use the CD for the relevant letter set e.g. s a t i p n

• We link the letter to names we know

• We carry out a pencil control picture sheet- follow the dots. To support hand- eye coordination and pencil control

• We send home a sound sheet- finding objects in the home environment linked to the letter, could be drawings, pictures, cutting out, words etc.

• Week 2 – We recap the letter from the previous week, using relevant CD and flashcards

• Talk about objects that begin with the letter- linked to the children’s homework sheets

• Look around the room and in books for the written letter

• Finding objects starting with the letter and playing ‘Kim’s game’.

• Week 3 – We recap the letter from the previous week using the relevant flashcards and CD

• Use the Jolly Phonics story book to see how the letter is formed

• Write letter individually on the interactive whiteboard or blackboard

• Forming letters creatively using multi sensory resources such as sand, play dough, pipe cleaners and foam, using flash cards as a visual aid.

• Homework from Jolly Phonics workbook is sent out for relevant letter.

What you can do… • Talk to your child about letters that you see

• Playing rhyming games and other letter games such as I-Spy and the name song

• Read stories and poems together

• Help them complete their homework by spending time on the activities- encouraging a ‘positive’ and ‘fun’ environment for them the learn in.

• Provide resources for exploring mark making.

• Offer lots of praise and encouragement for their efforts.

Jolly Phonic Resources • Jolly Phonics Workbooks: 1 & 2

parents to purchase • Jolly Phonics Flashcards • Jolly Phonics CD and song book • Jolly Phonics- ‘Jolly Stories’. • Jolly Phonic games • All of the above are available from the Early

Learning Centre and on Amazon