Careful! English in sight!: Jolly Phonics

Write in English

It's difficult to children to learn write english because English language is not written in the same way that we speak.

Language English is different from other languages such as Spanish . English follows specific rules we need to know to use English in the right way.

For those reasons, we have to go step by step with children, we can´t start with letters or words on the blackboard.

The best form to begin is with phonetic sounds , to build a good framework that will help us to build a good structure of knowledge.

The jolly Phonics book is a great form to begin with, it gives plenty oportunities to work with phonics in class, in a enjoy and easy way.

This teaching method shows the 42 main sounds of the English language, not just the alphabet. The sounds are in seven groups. Some sounds are written with two letters, such as ee and or, and these are called digraphs.

First at all, here we have a Jolly Phonics video that shows us the song of each sound. This can be very useful to work with very young learners because they can sing while they are watching the video. Besides, in the video we can see the gestures of each sound.

We are going to see each group of sounds. We will provide fun drawings of each letter to decorate an English class. This way, your students can work each letter.

Besides, you can work the letter sounds with ITCs. For example, we use Smart Notebook to do different reading activities. Students can write, blend and segment sounds of words in an interactive way:

The book is divided in seven parts and I develop some activities, and examples to put in practise in class:

GROUP 1: s, a, t, i, p, n

READING

Objective: Recognizes the first six sounds – s, a, t, i, p, n.

These six letter have been introduced first as they can form more simple three-letter words than any other 6 letters. For example: sat, pin, tip, tap, ant, pat, tin.

Can blend simple words: The ability to blend sounds (running the sounds together to make words) is basis t reading

WRITING

Holds pencil correctly: The correct pencil hold is important, The pencil should be held n t “tripod” grip between the thumb and firs two fingers. If the hold starts incorrectly, it is very difficult to get right later on. You will need to show the correct hold n many occasions and keep n giving reminders

Can write the first six sounds- s, a, t, I, p, n
Can hear the beginning sound of a word: For example that Snake begins with S sound

1- Activity: Write your name in the sheet

2- Activity: Letter Aa

Letter Aa

Teacher: Today we are going to work the letter “A”, This letter is pronounced “Ai” but in the words is pronounced “aaa” who knows tell me one word with “A”?

Children: Arm, Apple

T: That’s perfect. Arm which is the the first sound? “Aaaa”, the second “rrrr” “mmm”. “Arm”

Apple; the first sound is “Aaaa”, the second “peepee” “leeleee” “eeee” “apple”

Ants; the first sound is “aaaa” the second “Nnnn” the third “teee” and the fourth “ssss” “Ants”

Great, now I want you imagine that little ants are moving in your arm and in your hand, tickling us! Everybody wiggling the body! Now, make waves with your arms….and now only with your hands, faster! Faster! Now slowly…. very good!

Wow, it was really fun, isn’t it? Now, we are going to do an activity. Remember the movements before, making waves with your hands slowly…and you have to write the letter “a” following the arrows:

First draw the curve line following the arrow direction, like this:

Now, stand up! We are going to stick these sheets in the walls, there are pictures of a window and each of you have one, I want you try to clean the window, doing circular movements with the arms!

Now, to do the letter “a”, remember that circular movements follow the first arrow down and finish with a small curve. Then follow the second arrow down and a bit up at the end.

Very good, now do the same with the capital letter A, follow the first arrow, and the second down, and finally the third one to the right:

To see, all the activities: clic here: Phonics 1: Activities

GROUP 2: c, k, e, h, r, m, d

READING

Objective: Recognizes the first six sounds –c, k, e, h, r, m, d.

Can blend simple words made up from the sounds learnt so far: Saying the sounds, and making the words is the next stage after recognizing the sounds

Knows tthat when you see “ck” in a word (as in duck), you only say the “c” sound once.

This child should sound it out as d-u-ck (not d-u-c-k). This also applies to other doubled consonants in words such as bell, rabbit, carrot, and dress.

WRITING

Holds pencil correctly: Ensure the pencil is held between the thumb and first to fingers

Can write the second groups of sounds- c, k, e, h, r, m, d.

Can hear the beginning sound of a word: For example that red with a d sound. End sounds are more difficult to hear than beginning sounds

Clicl here: Phonics 2: Activities

GROUP 3: g, o, u, l, f, b

READING

Objective: Recognizes the third group of sounds – g, o, u, l, f, and b.

Blends simple three letter words made up from the sounds taught so far: Examples that can be used are: sun, dog, rat, bus, set, sit, top, and, fat, hat, lit, leg, peg, hid, cat, cut, man

Can hear simple rhymes

Knows that when to letters next to each other make the some sound, the sound is said only once.

WRITING

Holds pencil correctly: between thumb and first two fingers

Can write the second groups of sounds -g, o, u, l, f, and b.

Can hear the beginning sound of a word: For example that red has an eh sound in the middle. Middle sounds are more difficult than beginning or ending sounds.

Clic here: Phonics 3: Activities

GROUP 4: ai, j, oa, ie, ee, or

Example activity to work the Sound "AI":

Clic here: Phonics 4: Activities

GROUP 5: z, w, ng, v, oo, oo

For example, to work the difference between the sounds "O" y"OO". I made up this activity which children have to identify the word , pronounce it and stick it in one thread or in the other: