Jolly Phonics - what's the best way to introduce this to a child?

[katierocket]

DS (3.5) real interest in reading and I'd really like to give jolly phonetics a go (at his pace obviously). he's an october birthday so doesn't start school until sep 06 otherwise I might just wait until school.

I saw 'THe phonics handbook' on amazon but this seems to be aimed at teachers? but then I wasn't sure if the workbooks were the right thing to get either. Do the workbooks introduce the sounds as you go along?

that should be jolly phonics obviously!

I'd say the flashcards and the video (really badly made, but DD and Dsis are still enthralled), both available in ELC.

The spaces in the workbooks tend to be too small for little ones who are only just starting to write.

The Phonics Handbook is really easy to read, for teachers and parents, explains in details how the system works and has a little story and action for introducing each sound. I'd recommend it. I also really like the 'finger phonics' books, which cover each group of sounds and have a track for children to run their fingers over the letter shape as they say the sound. I agree that the workbooks probably wouldn't be appropriate for real littlies, and that the videos are dire but certainly Reception aged children are enthralled by them - there's no accounting for taste HTH

The Finger Phonics books may be more suitable for younger ones as they don't require any writing - they learn by following the shapes of letters with their fingers. Agree the workbooks are too fiddly fro preschoolers but, yes, they do follow the sounds in an order. Information about the system and all the materials in the range is here .

have you checked with school which reading scheme she will be doing as well?

I did ask when we went to look round the school and they said they use a "variety of methods", I think mainly oxford reading. Am I write in thinking that even if they don't use jolly phonics at school it won't do him any harm to learn it at home. ISn't oxford reading, word recognition?

Bee and Liz, it was the finger books i was thinking of.

Hadn't thought of the vids but interesting to hear they are worth a look.

You're right it that Oxford Reading Tree starter books, used in Reception, tend to focus on whole word recognition, rather than sounding out words (and whether or not this is a good thing can be left for another discussion ).

I would say that starting to learn letter sounds through JP is a great way to begin the whole reading process, and shouldn't matter if the approach has a different slant when starting school. Even if they use Oxford Reading Tree for actual reading, they will probably also do PIPs (progression in phonics - the DFES recommneded phonics teaching) or something similar, so any sounds already learnt through JP will be used and built upon.

thanks bee. I have zero knowledge about teaching or anything of this ilk but very interested in it all.
Perhaps I'll get the finger books and the video? would I need the handbook do you think (to explain it all to me)? Mind you, if i need it explaining then what hope has DS got!

my three with autism all like jolly phonics as very visual, i brought the dvd from elc it has both videos on it, but it cost me 20 quid, seen them on ebay buy it now for 8 quid, i think the videos and puppets are a good start and my kids watch it alongside following it in the books, it has helped them all

kr, I think there is probably sufficient explanation on the Jolly Learning website on earlier link , "Teaching" page , to enable you to get started. However it sounds as if the handbook does offer you copiable practice pages which may be useful later on anyway.

Hi, Katierocket, I'd definitely get the handbook. I did when my DS2, at the same age as yours (he's now 3.8 so will start school in September), started showing a keen interest. It's really easy to understand and explains to a novice 'teacher' how to do things (though of course you don't need to do things in a strict order at home, but I like the structure ). DS2 really enjoyed learning all the sounds and can now read simple sentences. The beauty of starting them with phonics is that they can pretty quickly build up words like "woodpecker" and so aren't scared of new words. My DS also liked the finger phonics books, which have some games in the back. We did get the workbooks, but as some pps have said, they're too fiddly for my DS. I think the phonics introduction would help any child even if they then go on to ORT, as DS2 will. And he is chuffed to bits he can read stuff now.
I'm a boring phonics convert now, and think that DS1 in Y2, who learned to read quickly without explicit phonics, would have learned even more accurately with them.

My dd is exactly the same age as your ds. She is at a private nursery and they are learning phonic letters though the school will do ORT.

I have bought the finger phonics books for her and the video. I also have the workbooks but will leave those until she is older.

I got them from ebay and would recomend them.