Are you an English as a Foreign or Second Language teacher looking for new ways to engage your students in phonics learning? Look no further! In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of using Jolly Phonics in the ESL classroom, and how it can enhance your students’ language skills.
Firstly, let’s talk about introducing the letter sounds. Jolly Phonics is a multi-sensory approach that uses actions and sounds to teach children the 42 letter sounds of the English language. By incorporating gestures and movements, your students will have a more interactive and engaging learning experience. This method not only helps them remember the sounds more effectively, but it also makes the learning process more enjoyable.
Where to start? We bought and are very happy with this great Teacher’s book, an essential guide to using Pupil Books 1, 2 and 3 in the classroom. It is a comprehensive resource, offering a set of structured lesson plans that give step-by-step guidance on all aspects of the lesson, including the pupil book activities. It also provides an in-depth introduction to Jolly Phonics and a summary of key points to help teachers get started.
Now, let’s move on to revision activities. Once your students have grasped the letter sounds, it’s important to reinforce their understanding through regular revision. Jolly Phonics provides a variety of fun and interactive revision activities that can be incorporated into your lessons. These activities could include games like «Phonic Bingo» or «Guess the Sound», which allow your students to practice their recognition and recall of the letter sounds in an engaging way.
Designed for whole class or group practice, as well as home, they are ideal for use with children aged between 3-7 years and can help children develop awareness of letter sounds and digraphs.
In addition to introducing the letter sounds and revision activities, Jolly Phonics also focuses on reading blending. This crucial skill helps students to combine individual sounds together to form words. Through Jolly Phonics, students are taught how to blend sounds using a step-by-step approach. This method allows them to build their reading skills gradually, gaining confidence with every word they read. By using Jolly Phonics, you can help your EFL students become more proficient readers in English.
These cute books provide a gradual and structured start for children who are just learning to read. It gives children the opportunity to apply their letter sound knowledge. These readers cover the 42 letter sounds across 14 books.
Lastly, Jolly Phonics incorporates the teaching of tricky words. Tricky words are non-phonetic words that cannot be sounded out. These words often appear frequently in texts and can be challenging for EFL learners. The Jolly Phonics programme provides a range of activities and resources to help students memorize and recognise these tricky words. By learning these words through a fun and interactive approach, your students will have a stronger foundation in reading and writing English.
Find more info on the Jolly Phonics official website!
In conclusion, Jolly Phonics is a fantastic addition to the ESL classroom. By introducing the letter sounds using gestures and actions, incorporating revision activities, teaching reading blending techniques, and addressing tricky words, you can enhance your students’ phonics learning experience. So why not give Jolly Phonics a try and watch your students’ language skills flourish? Happy teaching!
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