Jolly Phonics,are any parents concerned with this method of teaching?

Question

I have a few concerns that the method of jolly phonics is not the best way to teach a child how to write.My daughter writes everything as it sounds for example,pleese instead of please,woshin up instead of washing up.Is this a normal thing to notice as a parent.Is it true that they banned jolly phonics as a teaching method in the 60's.

Answer 1

Yup, they stopped using phonics in the 1960s because it didn't tend to work unless you had a perfect southern counties 'BBC' accent! Phonics vary round the country, so don't teach spelling so well. In the 200s, many newspapers have started complaining about literacy (in fact the Uk is fine bcompared to similar 'western' countries- the USA, France etc') and the Labour government have decided to go back to the 'good old days' and 'tradition' to win votes ... so basically an outdated method has been forced back onto schools/teachers. In fact, in those 'good old days' in the 1950s-1960s, many kids left school hardly being able to read or write- but that suited the government then as they just went to work in the mines or whatever. The claims that education was of a higher standard come from people who could 'ignore' the factory workers and miners and instead remember lovely grammar schools full of the brightest 20% only. Comprehensives teach all the kids, so of course there are more 'non-academics' in there. It is just they are no longer ignored and hidden. So, to make Labour look traditional and non-trendy in terms of schooling, they re-introduced 100% phonic teaching. Sadly, teacher training, experience and research have been ignored because Blair likes the sound of the words 'traditional values' on his Ed Manifesto.

I guess you went to school between the 70s-90s, if you have primary aged kids. You'd have learned using a different method.

From a teacher's point of view, I find it annoying that I spent 4 years training and learning what works for different types of kids, then spend 5 years working with good exam results, only to be TOLD to change to a method I know should not be used exclusively for literacy by a civil servant with no training in that area!! Are they going to tell nurses what bandages to use next? It is terrible how people's lives are being changed by Blair paying lipservice to the media.

If I were you, I would contact your child's teacher and outline your concerns re spelling. Don't come across and defensive- they're just doing what they have to (seriously, they watch us like hawks)- they will be really happy to find a parent who values their child's literacy and will be ahppy to talk through resources and ideas both at school and home to help with spelling.

Different methods work for different kids- there are two habits that really help. Now, these ARE old-school, but we still use them because they are effective. The first is to teach spelling via reading- encourage your child to read labels, books, magazines etc' and point out difficult words so they engage with them. So, for example with washing up, you might say 'what does this say on the fairy bottle? Washing! What letter is that? W-A-s-h-i-n-g.' if you do it a few times the 'a' will stick in her mind, not the 'o' sound. Visual spelling (the fancy word for it) is a good 'balance' for phonics. The other is for her to find errors in her work (basically where the teacher has corrected it or you notice it) and give herself a week to learn them. You could ask her teacher to keep you posted on whether she starts spelling those words correctly.

I hope all this helps. Just remember that parental involvement in school- contacting teachers, showing interest in work- has been found to be the single most positive influence on students doing well. The fact you are thinking about it means your daughter has a head start- make an appointment to see her teacher and talk it through- they will (or should be) only too happy to help.

Answer 2

Hi,
I've taught Jolly Phonics and I think its great. But I know a few teachers that share your concerns. All I can say is that your child wont still be spelling like that when they get older. Its the second stage of emergent writing. They will also be taught correct spelling in conjunction with Jolly P.
Remember that making these minor mistakes in spelling isn't that big a deal. They are kids! They will get there in the end. Whats more important is that they have the confidence to try and write words themselves by sounding out. Pleeeeease don't correct their spellings as it really destroys their confidence.
Just have fun. And only worry if they are spelling washing 'woshing' when they are 12!


x
Just to add, the way of teaching phonics in the sixties was very different to the way they teach it now. These days regional accents are taken into consideration. Especially if teaching Thrass (another phonics structure sometimes used along side Jolly Phonics)

Answer 3

listen
My son went to a montessori school where he was taught phonetics and i tell you something he is now six years old and his read ing and writing is way ahead than the rest of the class. Phonetics helps children read any word without fear rather than read recognized words learning phonetically they attempt to read anything bcs they can deconstruct the word, children who learn from recognition get stuck when they dont recognize a word. The spelling will be wrong for a while but it doesnt matter that fades. You are already working with your daughter so your on the right track
Im not sure if jolly phonics is the same phonetic way taught by montesorri schools but i will never have it anyother way. It was the best thing ever taught to my son now that he is in a state school he soars, all the teachers are amazed
check it out if it is the same thing im not sure if there are different ways of teaching phonics - if there are then may be you can check the one that the Montessori schools teach
I bless the day i made the decision to send him there

Answer 4

I don't think that would work because if I got that message, I would KNOW it was a joke and my friends and I would laugh about it. If you really want to 'teach her a lesson', make a fake account of a teenage boy and just casually (though it can be difficult) build up a relationship with her. Then you can do things such as saying: I'm coming over right now. I love you so much and I need to be with you. And you can say that you know her address...well it could get messy. I wouldn't recommend it. But good luck. GL.

Answer 5

It worked in the 6Os for my daughter, and her English and Writing is wonderful today! Now I take my little Grandson to school and see they are using again! I have not worries about it, the funny part about it is, when my daughter was learning, I would spell things for her cccccccccccccaaaaaatt etc., Got into a habit of spelling by sound for her, until I got asked for some help with my husbands crossword puzzle, you should have seen his face, when I spelt it out using phonics!!!! lol

Answer 6

Any teaching method that is 'exclusive' is a worry as a child's brain is so complex and multifaceted. This current trend for jollyphonics is a bit too extreme to sit comfortably with the more levelheaded parent - i'm sure it can have its uses but along side other teaching methods rather than instead of them. However, don't be too concerned about your daughter as these kind of mistakes are perfectly normal and learning the difference between how something sounds and how something looks in writing is part of the joy of our complex language

Answer 7

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Answer 8

I prefer jolly phonics to the letter-land that my older children were taught neither of them can spell either so not sure what the best approach is

Answer 9

I don't think Phonetics is a good way of teaching. My children were taught that way and until I intervened and starting correcting them, they couldn't spell at all. Its another fashion in education that's a complete waste of time. Never heard it called "Jolly Phonics" though.

Answer 10

i was very concerned about my kids being taught 'jolly phonics' when they started primary school. i'd never even heard of this method before.

now my son is in primary 7 and my daughter is in primary 5, and i have to say...it works!

my kids (and their classmates!) are very good at spelling, and they don't have an awful lot of trouble pronouncing unfamiliar words.

you just have to 'ride out' this period, for it soon passes and they become quite adept at working out the correct spelling.

so now i don't have any concerns about it.