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Oral Blending is a key tool for teaching learners to run sounds together to hear the word they make.
Children can be taught Oral Blending from an early age, so that once they have been taught the sounds they will be able to progress to reading with greater ease.

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How to conduct Assessments in English - Grade 1

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How to conduct Assessments in English - Grade 1

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Here's Beyond Ourselves Zambia's guidance on how o conduct Week 5, 10 and 13 Assessments in English at Grade 1 level

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Much like arm blending, but using a car (look at the excitement on the face of some of the learners at the teacher bringing out a toy car). The teacher blends words with increasing speed/fluency.

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The teacher says the letter names and the learners link that to the letter sound, by saying the corresponding sound and action that the letter most commonly makes. Note how the teacher also goes through the letters/sounds in a random order which helps learners not to just memorise the order of the sounds, but checks their knowledge of sounds revised.

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I will say the letter name - I will say the letter sound (Tali)

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This document highlights the differences between the pronunciation of letters in English and Zambian Languages.

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Once all the 42 sounds have been taught, this song can be used to revise the sounds of the alphabet along with their letter names (and jolly actions).
Please note that this does not revise digraphs - those will need to be revised separately.

This song can be found on YouTube

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2025 Blank Lesson Plan - Grade 1 (2 parts) Jan 2025

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This is a really helpful page to help understand the different types of vowels along with example words.

Contents:

What Is a Vowel?

Vowel Sounds in English

Classification of Vowels

Pure Vowels

Diphthongs

Short Vowels

Long Vowels

Is ‘Y’ a Vowel?

Common Mistakes Made with the Use of Vowels

Use of Vowels in Words

List of Words with Vowels

List of Words with No Vowels

Frequently Asked Questions on Vowels and Vowel Sounds in English

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Vowels and Vowel Sounds in English with Examples

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Vowels: Explore vowels and vowel sounds in English, classification of vowels, types of vowels and examples of words with and without vowels in this article.

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Most of your favourite songs, games and activities for revising sounds can be adapted for revising Tricky Words too.

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Tricky Words revision (do as I do) Fanny Trimmed

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Resources and Guidance on the 42 Sounds of Jolly Phonics

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Resources and Guidance on the 42 Sounds of Jolly Phonics

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Follow this link to a padlet full of resources and guidance on teaching the 42 sounds of Jolly Phonics.

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Show us how you are implementing the training you have received in Jolly Phonics and we will send you personalised feedback on how to get the most out of the programme. If you show evidence that you are teaching the skills of Jolly Phonics effectively, you can also earn up to 75 CPD points through the TCZ (15 CPD points per Jolly Phonics skill).

Simply follow our guidance on what evidence we need to see.

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Complete the Course - Jolly Phonics  Skill Certificates (Video Guidance)

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Complete the Course - Jolly Phonics  Skill Certificates (Video Guidance)

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Complete the Course. Teachers can earn TCZ approved Skill Certificates for implementing Jolly Phonics Training

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Demonstration of the Vowel Hand Song (Short Vowels only)

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Demonstration of the Vowel Hand Song (Short Vowels only)

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Note how the teacher emphasises the length of short vowels!

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In Grade 1, this Vowel Hand Poster (along with the Vowel Hand Song) can be used to practice the short vowels (after all the short vowels have been taught) and then the long vowels (after all the long vowels have been taught).

Short and long vowels are really important to practice so that children can identify them easily.

In Grade 2, a number of the alternative spellings of long vowels are taught.

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In most cases, the vowel in the middle of a CVC word will use short vowel sound. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. One sure example is the word put, which uses a different sound for the ‹u› rather than the /u/ sound in 'fun' or 'run'.

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This is a great demonstration from Teacher Kangwa in Mufulira.

She teaches the song lyrics to her learners, explaining any unfamiliar vocabulary in Zambian Language.

She plays the song for her learners (if you don't have the Jolly Phonics Lesson App, you can sing it instead).

She practices the song at a slower pace to ensure her learners are getting it correct.

She corrects any wrong pronunciation that her learners might be making

She ensures that her learners are practicing the sound and action whilst they are singing the song.

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Teaching the Sound Song :z: Great example

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Watch Matthews explain the purpose and key points to remember as you deliver Step 1: Sound Revision

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Watch Matthews explain the purpose and key points to remember as you deliver Step 2: Story

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Watch Matthews explain the purpose and key points to remember as you deliver Step 3: Action

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Watch Matthews explain the purpose and key points to remember as you deliver Step 4

: Song

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Watch Matthews explain the purpose and key points to remember as you deliver Step 6: Blending

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Watch Matthews explain the purpose and key points to remember as you deliver Step 7: Sounding

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Watch Matthews explain the purpose and key points to remember as you deliver Step 8: Dictation

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Watch Matthews explain the purpose and key points to remember as you deliver Step 5: Letter Formation

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Decodable Words List (Arranged systematically)

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Decodable Words List (Arranged systematically)

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Jolly Phonics Word Booklet. Decodable words arranged systematically, so that as the next sound is taught, the accompanying words become 'safe' for learners to practice blending, sounding and dictating with.

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Create Your Own Pre-Cursive Handwriting Sheets

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Create Your Own Pre-Cursive Handwriting Sheets

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Type text onto every other line. Learners can trace or copy text of your choice in Nelson Handwriting Font.

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Create your own Handwriting Sheets (Hollow Print Font)

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Create your own Handwriting Sheets (Hollow Print Font)

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Type your learners' names into the blank space for 'inputting words for worksheet' and create a personalised worksheet for learners to practice their names.

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DIRECTIONS: Just type in a child's name or short sentence and click the "Make Worksheet" button below. We'll make the perfect handwriting worksheet for you in seconds! If you have a longer phrase that doesn't fit when printing - switch your computer PRINT setting to the Landscape mode. This can usually be done by selecting "File" (upper left) - "Page Setup" - "Landscape." It can also be changed in your PRINT preferences section. So let's get to work! Type in your phrase below.

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Handwriting Practice - Print - Kindergarten - Grade 1

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DIRECTIONS: Just type in a child's name or short sentence and click the "Make Worksheet" button below. We'll make the perfect handwriting worksheet for you in seconds! If you have a longer phrase that doesn't fit when printing - switch your computer PRINT setting to the Landscape mode.

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Overview of the 8 Steps of teaching a new sound in Jolly Phonics

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Overview of the 8 Steps of teaching a new sound in Jolly Phonics

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A quick overview of the 8 steps of introducing a new sound in a Jolly Phonics Lesson (Pupil Book 1)

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These word cards can be downloaded and printed to make 'safe' word flashcards. As these words are arranged by their sound group, it helps you to ensure that you are practising blending using words that are accessible to your learners.

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Blending is an essential skill for learning to read. As learners are taught the letter sounds it is important to have 'safe' words with which they can practise this skill. Creating Word Blending Boxes is a great way to send home safe words that only contain the sounds that have been taught to your learners.
Find out more, by reading this document.

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This overview gives the teacher a clearer understanding of how the 5 Skills of Jolly Phonics work simultaneously to help learners to read and write independently.

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Here's a printable set of flashcards for Capital and Lowercase letters of the alphabet.
This could be used as flashcards or for matching lowercase and capital letters as your learners begin to learn Capital letters.

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You can get your learners to practice the letter formation for Capital letters by getting them to trace over these letters using different colour pencils to make 'rainbow letters'.
Ensure that learners start at the black dot each time, and follow the direction of the arrow to form the letters correctly.

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As learners progress through the various groups of sounds in Jolly Phonics, the phrases in this document become accessible for them to read.

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Using your palm is a great way to help learners visualise the size of letters.
ENSURE YOU HOLD YOU HAND UP TALL (like in the image)
Tall letters sit at the bottom of the hand and go up to the tips of the fingers.
Small letters sit at the bottom of the hand and go up to the crease at the bottom of the fingers.
Fall letters sit on the bottom of the hand, but have a tail that goes down the wrist.

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Here's a useful list of the 72 Tricky Words taught in Pupil Book 2.

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This document can help teachers as they plan to teach Jolly Phonics Lessons (Layout A)

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Hear Sheba demonstrate the Blending Song.

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Here are the lyrics to the Blending Song.
This is helpful for blending 3 sounds together (or even with consonant blends)

Different ways to use this song:
- blending 3 sounds e.g. /s/-/a/-/t/ to make 'sat'
- blend using digraphs e.g. /sh/-/ee/-/p/ to make 'sheep
- blend using consonant blends e.g. /t/r/-/ai/-/n/ to make 'train'

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This document can help teachers as they plan to teach Jolly Phonics Lessons (Layout B)

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Here's a really helpful resource to revise Tricky Words that your class have already learnt.
Please Note:
- Letter names are used to spell tricky words
- Flashcards should be used during this song to show learners the words.

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If you are teaching precursive handwriting - these letters have joining tails (flicks) so that learners can develop joined handwriting more easily.
These letters are arranged by size tall (giraffe letters), small (tortoise letters) and fall letters (monkey letters).

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If you are teaching PRINT letter formation (with no flicks for joining handwriting)

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This is a simple visual to help practise the short vowels by using prepositions. Make one hand into a 'box' - Where is the other one hand in relation to the 'box'?
a - at (put your other hand next to the side of the box)
e - edge (put your other hand on top of the box, at the edge)
i - in (put your other hand inside the box)
o - on (put your other hand flat, on top of the box)
u - under (put your other hand flat, under the box)

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This image can be used to make a display in your classroom. Either print and enlarge the image or trace around your hand and copy the lyrics to remind your learners.

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The audio files for the Vowel Hand Song. Get your learners to point to the tips of their fingers as you sing each short vowels, and the base of your fingers as you sing each long vowels.

Be careful not to let learners say the short vowels longer than is demonstrated in this song!

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This resource shows ALL of the different ways of spelling ALL the sounds of the English Language.
Jolly Phonics focusses on teaching one spelling for the 42 most frequently used sounds initially, whilst practically applying those sounds to reading and spelling and hand writing.
This chart outlines when Jolly Phonics teaches the different spellings of all the 44 sounds of English.

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Here's a downloadable booklet that gives a good background on how Jolly Phonics works to help children to learn to read and write in English.

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We love the energy of the teacher and his learners in this video - they all look like they are having a great time!
Teacher Danford revises some of the sounds of Jolly Phonics with his class, through song and action!

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Here are the first 72 Tricky Words as taught through Jolly Phonics

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This poster can be printed out and enlarged to help your pupils learn the next group of spelling alternatives for the Long vowels of English (There are additional Long vowel spellings that are less common and that are taught through Jolly Grammar)

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Long Vowel Alternative Spelling Flowers poster4

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Pupil Book 2 - Continuous Assessment Sheet

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Pupil Book 2 - Continuous Assessment Sheet

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A useful document to assess your learners progress as you cover the various elements taught through Pupil Book Two

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Jolly Phonics Pupil Book 2 Assement matrix

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This document goes through the spelling rules that are useful for the teaching of Pupil Book Two (complete with Teacher Book references and some examples of exceptions)

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A list of words that become 'safe' as different Long Vowel Alternative Spellings are taught

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Print off these Sound Posters (in A4 or A5) and stick them up in your classroom as your teach them to your learners. You can get your learners to colour them in and cover them in sellotape to ensure they last longer.

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This framework removes the need to copy out a whole lesson plan, but the details you add in, still ensures you have thought through the best way to deliver your lesson to your learners!

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A letter board is a great way to get children to practice reading and sounding safe words.

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Here's a link to the Jolly Phonics Lessons App.
It contains lessons for the 42 sounds, alternative sounds and Tricky Words.
Hear the sounds, listen to the songs, play games and carry out assessment using this app.
PLEASE NOTE: This was developed for the British version of Jolly Phonics and therefore there are times where the stories (and song lyrics) don't align with the Jolly Phonics Teaching Aid.

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Jolly Phonics Lessons - Apps on Google Play

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Jolly Phonics Lessons. Contains Songs, Games, Tests

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Photocopiable Master for Continuous Assessment of your learners for the 42 sounds of Jolly Phonics

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Here's some guidance on conducting Summative Assessment

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Here's an Occupational Therapist's explanation as to why the Tripod Grip is the recommended grip for holding a pencil to allow for maximum manipulation of the pencil.

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Carla Grobler Arbeidsterapeut / Occupational Therapist

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Resource: Talking through the Letter Formation

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Resource: Talking through the Letter Formation

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Some of your learners will understand best when you talk through the letter formation as you demonstrate it.
Here's our guidance for talking through the letter formation:
1. Ask the learners what size is the letter? Is it tall (like a giraffe), small (like a tortoise) or does it fall below the line (like a monkey's tail)?
2. Emphasis the letter's starting point.
3. Talk through the direction and shape of the letter as you demonstrate it.
4. Encourage your learners to talk through the letter formation as they practice it.

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Talking through Letter Formation for Capital Letters

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Talking through Letter Formation for Capital Letters

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All capital letters are tall letters and the starting point for their formation is near the 'top line'

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Talking Through Capital Letter Formations

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Follow this link to the Beyond Ourselves Facebook page where a series of videos demonstrate letter formation for all the letters of the alphabet.

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Letter Formation Videos - Beyond Ourselves Zambia

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Additional support for the Literacy Lessons on Sun FM: Letter formation Videos to accompany lessons. https://www.beyondourselves.education

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A class loving this game where learners have to spell out words using actions for another group of children to blend to read the word.

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This is a really simple way to help prepare for teaching a sound. Listen to the audio lessons as previously aired on Sun FM during school closures.

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Watch the latest videos from Beyond Ourselves Zambia.

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Dictation is a key part of a lesson where a teacher is able to assess a learner's ability to identify the sounds within a word and write down its spelling.
Both sounds and safe words should be assessed during dictation.
Questions 1-3 should be sounds. The teacher says the sounds (along with a sample word to clarify the learner's understanding), the learner then writes the sound.
Questions 4-6 should be safe words. The teacher says the safe word (along with a sample sentence to clarify the learner's understanding), the learner then writes the safe word.
Teachers should keep a record of their learner's progress.

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Once your learners have started to learn Tricky Words, these sentences can start to be used for Dictation.

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Here's a list of games and activities and which steps within a Jolly Phonics lesson that they refer to.

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02 Phonics Games and Activity Descriptions - (2024)

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Here, Sheba demonstrates how to use Flashcards and mimed actions to revise previously taught sounds at the start of a Jolly Phonics Lesson.

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Sounding is the ability to hear and identify individual sounds within words.
Once learners have been taught sounds, they should then develop the skill of sounding out safe words that contain only contain the sounds they have already been taught.
Jolly Phonics focuses on teaching the most common spelling choice for each of the sounds in English initially, but later goes on to teach the alternative spelling choices for these sounds.

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Here's a document that should help you understand how to play boggle.
Make a 4x4 grid on the board and fill each box with a sound that you have already taught to your class. Learners then have to make words by moving between adjacent sounds.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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A local musician recorded the backing tracks for the Sound songs.
This is particularly useful for those sound songs that use Zambian lyrics.

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All the Jolly Phonics Actions along with their descriptions.

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When telling a Sound Story make sure you do the following:
1. Your story must introduce the sound of the day and its accompanying action.
2. It should be short and memorable (use Zambian Language where necessary)
3. Don't just read the story, tell it! This way you can use more expression, gesture and body language to make the story interesting.
4. Make use of questions during the telling of the story to help your learners engage with the story, and questions after the story to check comprehension.