Jolly Phonics is a well-regarded literacy program designed to help young children develop reading and writing skills through a fun, multi-sensory approach. Developed by Sue Lloyd and Sara Wernham, it introduces children to the 42 primary sounds of the English language, focusing on phonics—the relationship between letters and sounds—to support reading fluency and comprehension.

These resources provide a variety of ways to engage with the Jolly Phonics program through both visual and auditory learning.

The program breaks down the learning process into five key skills that build literacy. The first skill is learning the sounds of letters, which goes beyond the 26 letters of the alphabet by including various digraphs (like “sh,” “ch,” “th,” etc.), covering a total of 42 sounds. This approach helps children recognize not only individual letters but also letter combinations, crucial for reading complex words.

The second skill is learning letter formation, where children practice writing each letter, usually with guidance on proper pencil grip and stroke order. This skill reinforces their familiarity with letter shapes, linking sound recognition with writing. Blending is the third skill, where children learn to connect individual sounds to form words. This step is fundamental in developing reading fluency, as children start by blending simple, phonetic words before progressing to more complex vocabulary.

The fourth skill, segmenting, teaches children to break down words into individual sounds, supporting their spelling abilities. For example, in the word “cat,” children identify the sounds /c/, /a/, and /t/. Segmenting helps young learners spell words accurately by focusing on each component sound.

Finally, tricky words are addressed. These are common words that don’t follow regular phonetic patterns, such as “the,” “said,” and “come.” Since these words can’t be easily sounded out, children are taught to recognize them by sight to build reading fluency.

One of the defining features of Jolly Phonics is its multi-sensory approach. Each sound has an accompanying action, song, or story, making the learning process dynamic and engaging. Actions—like pretending to be a snake for the “s” sound by moving their arm and hissing—help young learners remember sounds more easily, tapping into different learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic). The use of songs and stories adds a layer of enjoyment and context, making literacy accessible and fun.

Jolly Phonics also allows for a flexible learning pace. Teachers can introduce sounds one by one or in groups, allowing children to master each sound before moving forward. This structure provides ample opportunity for repetition and reinforcement, which is essential for young learners.

Parents can play an active role in supporting their child’s learning with Jolly Phonics. Simple activities like practicing letter sounds, blending exercises, and reading aloud can reinforce classroom learning. Additionally, there are a variety of Jolly Phonics resources available, including apps, books, and workbooks, which provide parents with tools to continue literacy practice at home.

In summary, Jolly Phonics provides a comprehensive, engaging framework that lays a strong foundation for reading and writing by focusing on phonetic sounds, blending, segmenting, and tricky words. Its multi-sensory approach, which integrates sound, movement, and visual cues, makes literacy learning accessible and enjoyable for young children, encouraging confidence and enthusiasm as they begin their literacy journey.

Here are some YouTube videos that cover the Jolly Phonics sounds, songs, and actions:

1. Complete Songs and Actions for Jolly Phonics – This video provides the Jolly Phonics songs with corresponding actions for each letter, helpful for introducing or reinforcing the sounds and movements used in the program. Watch here​YouTube.
2. The 42 Sounds, Songs, and Actions – Covers all the sounds and songs for Jolly Phonics, organized by groupings (Groups 1-7), which is beneficial for building familiarity with each sound’s song and associated action. Watch here​YouTube.
3. Jolly Phonics Sounds and Actions Overview – Demonstrates the first 26 letter sounds with actions, providing a clear walkthrough for each sound. Watch here​YouTube.
4. Songs with Actions for Group 1 Sounds – Focuses on Group 1 sounds (S, A, T, I, P, N), with repeated songs and actions to help solidify the sounds for young learners. Watch here​YouTube.
5. All Jolly Phonics Songs with Actions – A compilation of Jolly Phonics songs for all alphabet letters, emphasizing actions to make the sounds memorable. Watch here​YouTube.