Welcome to Jolly Learning! We believe every child deserves the best possible start in developing their emergent literacy skills. This booklet will help you effectively integrate the Jolly Learning programme into your Grade R lessons, aligning seamlessly with the South African CAPS curriculum.
About Jolly Phonics
Jolly Phonics is an engaging, multi-sensory phonics programme proven worldwide to help children learn reading and writing skills effectively. It focuses on a play-based approach to develop the emergent perceptual skills that young learners need to interpret and understand the following in a meaningful context:
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Songs and rhymes
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Actions and gestures
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Colourful stories
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Interactive resources
Aligning with South African CAPS curriculum ECD requirements
The CAPS curriculum for Grade R focuses on teaching the emergent skills in an integrated manner, using teacher-guided activities, routines and child-initiated activities or free play. The curriculum provides a balanced, flexible, and language-rich daily programme that enables readers to develop the following skills:
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Listening & Speaking (oral vocabulary through phonological and phonemic awareness activities)
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Emergent reading and writing skills (listening to sounds and drawing pictures and letter formation)
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Active learning through play-based activities (providing opportunities to explore and discover learning using different resources)
Jolly Phonics meets all these requirements, ensuring young learners engage meaningfully in emergent literacy from an early age.
Implementing Jolly Phonics in Grade R Classrooms
The Jolly Phonics programme uses the phonological and phonemic awareness approach to build on the emergent literacy skills through a multi-sensory play-based manner. The different skills are introduced daily, including letter sounds which use a systematic approach:
The Daily Programme for Emergent Literacy (Learner-paced and play-based)
1. Introduce letter sounds:
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Teach new sounds using Jolly Phonics songs and actions.
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Repeat regularly for reinforcement.
2. Practice letter formation:
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Use pupil workbooks, chalkboards, sand trays, or tactile materials for learners to practice writing letters.
3. Blending and segmenting:
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Blend sounds together to form words (e.g., s-a-t = sat).
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Segment words orally and through group exercises.
4. Recognize tricky words:
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Teach frequently used irregular words through visual memory aids, games and repetition.
Weekly Classroom Plan
Classroom Activities and Games
Make learning phonics interactive with these engaging activities:
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Songs and rhymes: Reinforce letter sounds through music using the Jolly Songs CD.
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Letter hunts: Have children find objects starting with specific sounds around the classroom.
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Storytelling: Use Jolly Readers to enhance storytelling, encouraging learners to recognize letter sounds and simple words.
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Craft activities: Create letter crafts or use clay models to reinforce letter recognition and formation.
Recommended Materials
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Jolly Phonics Pupil Book 1
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Jolly Songs CD
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Jolly Phonics Teacher’s Book
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Jolly Phonics Flashcards
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Jolly Readers
These resources can be obtained through Jolly Learning South Africa at jollylearning.co.za.
Teacher Training and Support
Jolly Learning, in collaboration with Universal Learning Solutions, regularly conducts training workshops nationwide to support Grade R teachers in the effective implementation of Jolly Phonics.
For more information or to schedule training for your school, please contact:
📧 Email: info@jollylearning.co.za
🌐 Website: jollylearning.co.za
Your Role in Literacy Development
As Grade R teachers, you play an essential role in building the foundation for your learners’ literacy skills. Your work ensures each child gains the necessary skills for academic and personal success. With Jolly Phonics, you are providing them with a critical advantage at the very beginning of their educational journey.
Together, let’s ensure every child becomes a confident and capable reader.
📧 info@jollylearning.co.za
🌐 jollylearning.co.za
📱 JollyLearningSA | @jollyphonics.sa