This updated set of phonics books is visually appealing, with distinctive changes from the previous edition (item 029223) while staying very true to the unique teaching methodology and concepts used in Jolly Phonics. Each book’s cover identifies the sounds introduced and taught…typically 6-7 apiece. This set can be used in conjunction with the Jolly Phonics Workbooks or the Activity Books. Unique updates include an artistic change which utilizes more of the full page. There are also two changes that will affect instruction, I think, in a positive way. First, children will now trace in the grooved letter by starting at the single dot, following a single line, and ending at a circle. Secondly, at the bottom right of each page are 5 instructional talking points and visual cues. The 4th of these steps will always include the phonetic pronunciation for the sound, a list of all words on these pages which contain that sound, and the phoneme indicated in bold font.
While you can use these wonderful books as a separate teaching tool or as a supplement to another phonics program, be aware that the sounds are introduced in a unique order and students will learn to differentiate phonemes in unique ways. Book 1 introduces the letters s, a, t, i, p, and n. Book 2 teaches c, k, e, h, r, m, and d. Book 3 covers g, o, u, l, f, and b. Book 4 moves into dipthongs: ai, j, oa, ie, ee, and or. Book 5 covers z, w, ng, v, and oo (distinguishing between the 2 sounds created by these letters). Instruction moves in Book 6 to two tricky letters (y and x) and the digraphs ch, sh, and th (voiced and unvoiced). The final Book 7 ends this series with challenging diphthongs: qu, ou, oi, ue, er, and ar. ~ Ruth