Phonics
Phonics is an essential step in your child gaining a solid foundations in reading and writing skills. Phonics begins with your child developing knowledge of the letters of the alphabet and corresponding sounds. There are many different phonics schemes used in schools. One such popular scheme is Jolly Phonics.
The Jolly Phonics Scheme was developed by Sue Lloyd and Sara Wernham. Jolly Phonics incorporates a fun, multi-sensory approach to help children master reading and writing. The scheme involves children learning 42 letter sounds, each of which have a unique action and short song to aid memory of the letter sound. This approach is perfect for varying learning styles including kinaesthetic, visual and auditory learners. Children are supported to remember the letter sounds through fun actions, memorable rhymes and clever illustrations.
The Jolly Phonics Letter Sounds are split into seven sets as follows:
1) s, a, t, i, p, n
2) ck, e, h, r, m, d
3) g, o, u , l , f , b
4) ai, j, oa, ie, ee, or
5) z, w, ng, v, oo, oo
6) y, x, ch, sh, th, th
7) qu, ou, oi, ue, er, ar
First steps in using the Jolly Phonics Scheme:
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Familiarise yourself with the scheme and letter sounds before introducing them to your child.
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Start by introducing a new letter sound each day, along with the accompanying song, action and letter formation.
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Display the new letter sound from the Jolly Phonics Letter Wall Frieze and reinforce incidentally during the day.
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You may want to create a Sound book which simply consists of an exercise book with a letter sound on each page. This way you can practise reading each letter sound daily, and add an additional letter sounds when your child is ready.
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Once your child has mastered the letter sound, song and correct letter formation, progress to the next letter sound.
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Introduce the letter sounds slowly, at your child's learning pace. Perhaps one letter sound per day or several a week.
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Revise the previous day's letter sound before introducing the new letter sound to embed knowledge.
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Only progress to a new letter sound one your child is ready and familiar with the taught letter sounds.
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Remember all children learn at different rates, give your child the time they need to master the letter sounds.
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Continue to gradually introduce and display each of the letter sounds to incorporate all 42 Jolly Phonics Letter Sounds, from Set 1-7.
First Steps in Early Reading:
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Once your child is competent with identifying all the 42 Jolly Phonics Letter sounds they can begin using this knowledge to blend sounds together to read words and learn some Tricky Words.
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Start by encouraging your child to say each letter sound in the word. For example, the sounds 'c' 'a' 't' blend together to form the word 'cat'.
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Model how we blend sounds together to decode and read words.
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Continue to provide your child with opportunities to decode words. The first set of Jolly Phonics Letter Sounds, often referred to as 'SATPIN', provide a perfect combination of letters for early word blending.
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Once your child has learnt the 42 Jolly Phonics Letter Sounds and some tricky words they are ready to begin Jolly Readers Level 1 Books.
Remember all children learn to read at different rates. Your child may take more or less time than you expected to master knowledge of letter sounds or tricky words. Always progress your child at their own learning pace.
Useful Jolly Phonics Resources:
Below are some recommended resources to support with the teaching of letter sounds and early reading skills.
The Jolly Phonics Workbooks: Books 1-7
Jolly Phonics Sounds Word Frieze
Jolly Phonics Read and See: Basic Words