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Original poster

Reception - is it worth buying the Jolly Phonics books?

28 replies

Gobbledigook · 29/09/2005 12:30

Ds1 is doing the jolly phonics stuff at school. We have to practice it all with him but he seems to be picking it up really quickly and easily and isn't needing much practice.

Anyway - just wondering what anyone thinks about buying the workbooks - is it worth it or do they just get through them so quickly that it's not. Just wondering how much time I really need to spend with him on this out of school.

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LOLcod · 29/09/2005 12:31

no
our school ahs photocopied all t eh actions
i got ds1 the frieze to go around his bedroomt hen you can lie there at night doint htem

Original poster
Gobbledigook · 29/09/2005 12:33

So not worth getting the books? What about the magnetic stuff? Frieze could be a good idea - could get ds2 joining in then.

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LOLcod · 29/09/2005 12:33

no not magentic just normal
have you a c opy of the actions?

Lonelymum · 29/09/2005 12:35

When dd did it, every day she came home with a photocopy of the day's sound to colour in and it had a small diagram showing the action. Welcome to the bizarre world of Jolly Phonics!

LOLcod · 29/09/2005 12:35

a a a a a a

Original poster
Gobbledigook · 29/09/2005 12:35

Only on the worksheets that come home -last week he did s, a, t, i, p and he brought home all the sheets he'd done that week and it had the actions on. Will get the next set of letters this week - but I don't have sheets with teh dotted letters on for him to practice writing. OTOH the other night I sat and did some with him and i just wrote the letters and hecopied, then he did them again on another page without copying sothat's why I'm wondering if it's worth it or not. Will they do enough of this at school really?

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Original poster
Gobbledigook · 29/09/2005 12:36

I dont' really seethe point in the actions tbh. I don't do them. I just do the sound, ask him what words begin with 'what does toast begin with?' and practice the writing.

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Lonelymum · 29/09/2005 12:39

GDG, you might be surprised, but the actions help a lot. Dd has perfect sound recall and can build unknown words effortlessly (unlike ds1 and ds2 who didn't do JP). I think the actions help to inbed the sound into their brain IYSWIM. Also, it is fun! Have you been into school? There is nothing funnier than a class of 4-5 year olds seeing the letter i and making the mouse scratching whiskers action in unison!

TinyGang · 29/09/2005 12:46

We didn't buy any JollyPhonics books. I kept meaning to, but dd seemed to pick it up really well at school anyway and they sent home some copied stuff too I seem to remember.

The school told us what sort of 'backup' stuff we could do at home with them and she's done just fine. Now in year two and reading well. I didn't flog it to death at home in reception, because I think just starting school in itself is enough to cope with, especially at first.

LOLcod · 29/09/2005 12:46

THE ACTIOSN ARE THE KEY PART YOU MUPPET!

LOLcod · 29/09/2005 12:47

thast the point thatits kinesthetic learning =- especially desigend for most boys

Original poster
Gobbledigook · 29/09/2005 12:48

LM - I bet it is funny and ds1 does like the mouse action. DH loves the ants one (I kid you not!)

Tinygang - yes I agree - that's why I was asking. He seems to be comgin on quickly and doing enough in school but at the same time I don't want to not do it if I should be iyswim!

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LOLcod · 29/09/2005 12:48

nork face! dont see the point of the actions ( sheesh!)

Original poster
Gobbledigook · 29/09/2005 12:49

PSML Cod!

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Original poster
Gobbledigook · 29/09/2005 12:50

But WHY if you already know the letter and sound - do you really need the little whisker action?!?!? Ha ha!! OK, Ok, I'll do it!

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Lonelymum · 29/09/2005 12:50

I think they do enough at school too. Just go through the letters with him every so often to see if he still knows the sounds - and yes, the actions too. If nothing else, it makes it fun for them. Otherwise, my feeling would be to let the school get on with it.

Lonelymum · 29/09/2005 12:52

GDG, ithe actions just help them to remember. they see an i and remember the mouse scratching its whiskers and that helps them to remember the sound. You wait until they get on to two letters together. My favourite is a-e or is it ay? Anyway, the action is putting your hand to your ear like a deaf old lady saying "Eh? Eh?"

Fimbo · 29/09/2005 12:52

My dd has a jolly phonic video which she still puts on now (aged 7!!) as she loves the actions.

clary · 29/09/2005 12:54

oooh gdg, my fave action was d d d (bangign a drum).
Got all this to come again with dd in reception now!
do think the action sare worth doign as cod says (she knows, you know....)

LIZS · 29/09/2005 12:58

They may well be doing a version of the workbooks at school anyway - dd is. tbh the ones you buy in elc have really small print and spaces for them to fill in so little ones may find it hard to do them. The visual stuff is good - there are some games and puzzles which the kids may do at school too. There is a teachers guide book which may have ideas for other reinforcing activites and games.

LOLcod · 29/09/2005 12:58

we like p p p p p
( link to cake i think)

nellie245 · 29/09/2005 13:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LOLcod · 29/09/2005 13:05

sssssssssssssssssssss

clary · 29/09/2005 13:08

or fffffffff the fish balloon going down

Original poster
Gobbledigook · 29/09/2005 13:40

oh the CD sounds good for putting in the car (or will it drive me bats? ). Will skip the workbooks then but endeavour to do the actions - dh likes them anyway

We like 'pppp' as well and the mouse one 'i-i-i-i-i-i' I bet it does get harder when you get to two letters. Love the old lady one 'eh?' - pmsl!!

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