Using Jolly Phonics to Teach Phonics Skills

Introducing Jolly Phonics

Jolly Phonics is a widely-used phonics program designed to teach young children how to read and write. The program uses a specific methodology that combines the teaching of letter sounds with actions, songs, and stories to make learning fun and engaging for young learners. The Jolly Phonics program is suitable for children aged 3-6 years old and is widely used in schools around the world.

The methodology of Jolly Phonics is based on the concept of synthetic phonics, which involves teaching children to recognize the sounds that letters make and then blending those sounds together to read words. The program teaches children 42 letter sounds and provides a range of materials and activities to help children master these sounds. The letter sounds are introduced in a specific order, starting with the easiest sounds and progressing to the more complex ones.

The Jolly Phonics program uses a multi-sensory approach to teaching phonics, which involves engaging children's visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic senses. This approach has been shown to be highly effective in helping children to learn to read and write. For example, when children are learning the sound of the letter 'a', they will be shown a picture of an apple, and they will be encouraged to hold their hand out and make the shape of an apple with their fingers. They will also be taught a song that helps them to remember the sound of the letter 'a'.

In addition to teaching letter sounds, the Jolly Phonics program also teaches children how to form letters correctly. Children are taught how to write each letter using a specific set of movements that help them to remember the letter shape. For example, the letter 'c' is taught by drawing a curve from left to right, while the letter 'd' is taught by drawing a line down from the top and then adding a curve.

Overall, the Jolly Phonics methodology is highly effective in teaching young children how to read and write. By combining the teaching of letter sounds with actions, songs, and stories, children are engaged and motivated to learn. The program's multi-sensory approach ensures that children of all learning styles are catered for, and the specific order in which the letter sounds are taught ensures that children are able to progress steadily and confidently in their reading and writing skills.

The use of visual prompts, and the way that the letter sounds are grouped also makes this an ideal way to teach dyslexic children (or adults) to read and write. I know this from experience as I have personally used Jolly Phonics to teach dyslexic children.

How to use Jolly Phonics to teach children to read and write

Jolly Learning Ltd is a system designed to help children to develop their phonics skills. It was founded by British man Chris Jolly in 1987, and after collaborating with Sue Lloyd he published the first part of Jolly Phonics in 1992.

The methodology provides excellent structure to the teaching of phonics to young children, and I also used it to great effect with older primary children who had not been taught the phonic sounds and struggled with spelling and decoding words.

Phonic skills are an essential tool in teaching young children to read and write. Jolly Phonics is a method of teaching children to recognize and sound out letters and letter combinations in words. Here are some tips on how to use phonic skills to teach children to read and write:

1. Start with simple sounds: Jolly Phonics begins by teaching children the basic letter sounds such as 's’, ‘a’ and ‘t’. Focus on one sound at a time and provide plenty of opportunities for children to practice.
2. Use multi-sensory techniques: Children learn best when they are engaged in a variety of activities that involve all their senses. Use the Jolly Phonics songs, actiins and stories to help reinforce the phonic skills you are teaching.
3. Blend sounds together: Once children have mastered the basic letter sounds, encourage them to blend the sounds together to form words. Start with simple words like 'cat', 'sit’ and 'pin’.
4. Use repetition: Repetition is key to learning new skills. Encourage children to practice their phonic skills regularly and provide plenty of opportunities for them to read and write.
5. Build on existing knowledge: Use what children already know to help them learn new phonic skills. For example, if a child knows the word 'cat', use this word to introduce new words like 'bat', 'rat' and 'mat'.

By using phonic skills to teach children to read and write, you are providing them with the tools they need to become confident and successful readers and writers. With patience, practice and plenty of encouragement, children can develop their phonic skills and enjoy the process of learning to read and write.

Teaching Order and Sound Groups

Jolly Phonics teaches children 42 letter sounds and provides a range of materials and activities to help children master these sounds. The letter sounds are introduced in a specific order, starting with the easiest sounds and progressing to the more complex ones. Letters than be easily transposed, such as ‘b‘ and ‘d’ and ‘p’ and ‘q’ are not taught together. The easier short vowel sounds are introduced first and then as the student progresses long vowels and digraphs (2 letters that make one sound) are introduced.

The 7 Jolly Phonics Groups

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

Jolly Phonics Letter Sounds (British English)

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My Personally Recommended Jolly Phonics Resources

If you are starting out teaching Jolly Phonics I would recommend investing in some of their teaching materials. The Jolly Phonics Handbook is essential as it explains how to teach the sounds and also has photocopiable resources. I also bought the workbooks and story book.

Lots of phonics resources are available online and can be used to supplement your teaching. Below I have listed some of my favourite resources for each of the groups of sounds.

I hope you enjoy teaching phonics in this way and your students enjoy learning Jolly Phonics as much as me and my students do.

Online Resources: Group 1

• National Geographic Kids
  Based on Jolly Phonics, each Cartoonito primary resource sheet provides activities for letter sound learning, letter formation, blending and segmenting.
• Sparkle Box
  bingo game using the satpin letters
• ESL Printables
  satpin domino game

Group 1 Blending Tutorial

Online Resource: Group 2

• NatGeoKids
  FREE activities for letter sound learning, letter formation, blending and segmenting
• Tes
  Series of worksheets for the group 2 c k e h r m d sounds
• ESL Printables
  Worksheet on the second group of phonic sounds: c k e h r m d

Jolly Phonics Group 2 Songs

Online Resources: Group 3

• Jolly Phonics - Set 3 - revision | Teaching Resources
  A set of three sheets to be laminated and used for revision of set 3 Jolly Phonics sounds.
• Phonics (Group 3 g,o,u,l,f,b) primary resource | National Geographic Kids
  Based on Jolly Phonics, each Cartoonito primary resource sheet provides activities for letter sound learning, letter formation, blending and segmenting.

Jolly Phonics Group 3 Blending

Online Resources: Group 4

• https://s3.amazonaws.com/jolly2/Resources/Cartoonito+Group+4.pdf
  
• Phonics Group 4 ai,j,oa,ie,ee,or primary resource | National Geographic Kids
  Based on Jolly Phonics, each Cartoonito primary resource sheet provides activities for letter sound learning, letter formation, blending and segmenting.

Group 4. Sounding, Blending, Reading

Online Resources: Group 5

• Activity Sheet- Final Blend ng - Studyladder Interactive Learning Games
  Used by over 70,000 teachers & 1 million students at home and school. Studyladder is an online english literacy & mathematics learning tool. Kids activity games, worksheets and lesson plans for Primary and Junior High School students in Unite
• Phonics (Group 5 z,w,ng,v,oo) primary resource | National Geographic Kids
  Based on Jolly Phonics, each Cartoonito primary resource sheet provides activities for letter sound learning, letter formation, blending and segmenting.

Jolly Phonics Group 5 Songs

Online Resources: Group 6

• Phonics (Group 6 y,x,ch,sh,th) primary resource | National Geographic Kids
  Based on Jolly Phonics, each Cartoonito primary resource sheet provides activities for letter sound learning, letter formation, blending and segmenting.
• https://www.saveteacherssundays.com/phonics/year-1/154/ch/
  

Group 6 Sounding, Blending, Reading

Online Resources: Group 7

• Qu Activity Worksheet
  This 1 sheet double sided worksheet provides 4 "qu" themed activities: Writing, matching the word with the picture, word-search (the words only go left to right) colouring. There is an interactive Smartboard activity available too.
• Phonics (Group 7 qu,ou,oi,ue,er,ar) primary resource | National Geographic Kids
  Based on Jolly Phonics, each Cartoonito primary resource sheet provides activities for letter sound learning, letter formation, blending and segmenting.

Jolly Phonics Group 7 Songs

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2012 Expat Mamasita