Jolly Phonics - A complete guide

Introduction to Jolly Phonics

What is Jolly Phonics?

Jolly Phonics is a world-leading English literacy method that teaches children how to read and write using phonics.

Phonics is the teaching of the sounds that letters make, rather than the names of letters that are taught in the alphabet, because it is the sounds that are useful for reading and writing, not the names. These sounds are taught in a systematic way, alongside all of the skills needed for being a fluent reader and writer. Jolly Phonics also teaches all of this in a fun and engaging way, through characters, stories, actions, songs and games!

The 5 Skills Taught Through Jolly Phonics

• Lettersounds

Children are taught the sounds that the different letters name, and not the names of the letters. In Jolly Phonics, 42 different sounds are taught.

• Formation

Children are taught how to form (write) letters using a pencil. They are taught the “froggy legs” pencil grip to ensure that they have neat writing.

• Blending

Children are taught how to blend individual sounds together in order to read full words. For example, “s” + “a” + “t” = sat. Lots of blending practice builds reading fluency.

• Segmenting

Children are taught how to hear the individual sounds in full words so that they can break them down to write and spell them correctly. For example, hen = “h” + “e” + “n”

• Tricky Words

Some words do not follow the sound rules. Children are taught these words separately, alongside strategies to remember them. For example, “the” and “she”.