Phonics frieze...

[snowboarder]

...3.5 yr old mini snowboarder has started phonics at pre school, and has been coming home with a little 'sound book' - to stick pictures in I think - he's not overly interested (which I don't mind/can understand!) and I actually struggle to spend much one on one time with him looking at it (work/demanding younger brother!). I was going to get him an alphabet wall frieze, then on closer inspection loads of them use capitals, and actually with phonics of course they don't learn the letters in alphabetical order.

Can you buy 'phonics friezes'? Or just stick letter cards up in phonics order? Would that be a good idea or confusing in the long run? I have lots of other ideas obv that might be more fun but was going for quite a soft approach of having lots of words and letters and pictures up rather than trying to force them on him.

I know he's only young etc....I'm not being pushy but just want him to make the most of what he's starting to do at pre school.

[sunbob]

I'm sure you've thought of this already. You can listen to Jollyphonics on YouTube. A little song for each letter of the alphabet and common sounds, like ph, ch, ow etc.

[Fuschia]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1870946324

[Fuschia]

I spy something beginning with and a phonic sound, is a good game

[Bouncy]

Fridge Phonics is good - they can play with it in their own time... http://www.amazon.co.uk/LeapFrog-Scout-Fridge-Phonics-Storage/dp/B009UC464K/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1350992006&sr=8-6 (link to illustrate but sure we got it a lot cheaper than this; must be possible still, if you look around...)

[gwod]

Or this might be good

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Read-Write-Inc-Sound-Picture-Frieze/dp/0198460392/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&qid=1350998289&sr=8-27

[ClareC]

I second fridge phonics! You can get them from ELC and I think there is 20% off at the moment.

Both I & L play with them, I sings the alphabet in full and likes the songs for each letter. Also gives you some entertainment in the kitchen although we have used on a radiator too - not so good if turned up high!

[BB100]

It's a bit premature to be teaching phonics in the abstract and your child is trying to tell you that. Phase one of letters and sounds is about listening to and playing with different sounds. Try nursery ryhmes and songs; play games with sounds; use musical instruments; listen as you walk: to the birds, the beeps on the pedestrian crossing, the till in the shops, the leaves rustling.... This will train your ch's ear for listening to all those important phonics sounds when it is time to learn them in the abstract.

If you are still keen to introduce the graphemes (written letters) then make sure it's playful. A tray of salt or sand and a stick or finger to explore the /s/ shape or cut out letter /a/ or a few of them and explore them by looking through the holes and tracing the shape with your finger. Stick some furry fabric onto the letters to make it more tactile and interesting. Decorate a few letter /p/ with some glitter, etc. Try to do just one letter at a time. Maybe one a week and then go back to it.

Lots of ch now say their letter sounds wrong because of well-meaning parents so make sure you check you are saying the sounds correctly if you decide to teach them. This is important if your child is to use the sounds to blend the sounds (phonemes) into words.

[snowboarder]

Yep I think it's early too - but he's doing it at pre school so might as well be helpful at home!! He is at a montessori pre school so they do a lot of the tactile stuff/sand etc and they are totally cool about him doing it in his own time. The jolly phonics stuff looks fun but they specifically don't do that scheme and don't do caps or blending of sounds yet. Maybe I'll just stick up some of the letter/sound flashcards we have and see if gradual immersion helps!

Thanks for all the ideas - keep 'em coming!

[BB100]

Yes the blending comes later but they find blending very tricky if they have learnt to say their phonemes (sounds) wrong. I have some children in my class at the moment who are having to relearn most of their phonemes and it's much harder when the concrete has already set!!