Miming Words with Jolly Phonics
Practicing Letter-Sounds and Strengthening Phonemic Awareness
Stage of Literacy Development:
Stage 1: Beginning LiteracyStage 2: Consolidation / Fluency
Ages:
3-8
Grade Range:
PreK K 1st 2ndFood Groups:
Primary:
Letter-Sounds & Phonics, Phonemic Awareness
Activity Description
Preparation:
- Display a piece of chart paper to record words
-
Prepare word cards
- Select 8-10 words made up of letter-sounds that you have taught
- Record each word on a separate card
Implementation:
- Select a word from the word cards
- Mime each sound using Jolly Phonics actions
- Invite students to blend the sounds together and guess the word aloud
- As students guess each word, record the word on a piece of chart paper, modeling using letter-sound knowledge to spell the word
- Continue the game with 8-10 words
Adaptations For
English Language Learners/ESL:
- Provide opportunities to work in small groups and exaggerate each sound and corresponding action
LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:
- Pre-teach each word in small groups or during one-on-one conferences - As student practices saying letter sounds in isolation, point to your mouth and tell student to look and say correct response
Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:
- Choose words that are culturally inclusive and familiar
Differentiated Instruction:
- Encourage all students to participate by having them turn to their neighbors and guess the word
Related References
Evidence:
Mann, T. B., Bushell, D. & Morris, E. K. (2010). Use of sounding out to improve spelling in young children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43, 89-93.
Activity Objective
The goal of Miming Words with Jolly Phonics: Practicing Letter-Sounds and Strengthening Phonemic Awareness is to use a method introduced by Sara Wernham and Sue Lloyd to help create an awareness of the individual sounds in spoken words and how these correspond to written letters.
What You Need
Prep Time:
10 minutes
- Display a piece of chart paper
- Prepare word cards
Task Time:
10-20 minutes
- Teacher mimes sounds of selected words using Jolly Phonics actions
- Students guess words
Materials Required:
Teacher:
- Chart paper
- Markers
What You Do
Teacher Role:
Direct instruction:
- while teacher mimes sounds
Supporter:
- while students guess words
Student Grouping:
Whole class:
- during miming of sounds and guessing of words
Assessment Ideas:
- Use a checklist to track students' ability to correctly match the letter sounds with the corresponding letter names
Quick Tips
Activity Extensions:
- Invite students to select word cards and act out each sound using Jolly Phonics actions
- Turn this activity into a partner game by having students take turns to mime and guess given words using Jolly Phonics actions
- Mime the sounds of words during an oral dictation
Additional Comments:
- Teaching and practicing new concepts through a guessing game is a fun and motivating way for students to develop their understanding and skills.
- Continue to emphasize the sounds students are learning throughout the year and refer to them as they come up in different activities.
- A systematic and explicit approach to teaching phonics in the early stages of literacy development is important to a student's development of basic reading and spelling skills
- Explicitly teaching phonics through an interactive and action-based program helps students become motivated for literacy.
Other Adaptations/Modifications:
- Strategically seat students close to you who may require cues to refocus
Other Recipes by this Teacher
Let's Make Predictions: Building Reading Comprehension
1st - 3rd
Spelling Using Jolly Phonics Actions: Practicing Letter-Sounds
PreK - 2nd
