Fantastic Phonics

Jenn set up ‘Fantastic Phonics’ after much badgering from her husband, who convinced her that many parents, teachers, grandparents, child minders or any person working with children would find her knowledge useful to help children gain phonic knowledge and confidence through simple games and play, who would then go on to become proficient, independent readers and writers.

With much media debate about the quality and value of teaching children to read using synthetic phonics, Jenn has used her teaching expertise and experiences, both as a class teacher and as a mother, to build ‘Fantastic Phonics’ into a FREE step by step online resource for anyone to use. She includes FREE downloadable resources, printouts, worksheets (where relevant), video clips, photos, games and real life examples to illustrate how learning takes place, in an easy to follow format.

Jenn also has an online forum where she will answer any questions to clarify or expand on her reader’s queries. She does not claim to have all the answers but hopes that by passing on her knowledge many more children will benefit from learning by using synthetic phonics.

Once Jenn decided to launch ‘Fantastic Phonics’, she decided during the planning stages that in order to make the clearest picture of progression, she would have to take into account all forms of communication from its earliest stages. This meant including a ‘Pregnancy’ and ‘Talking to Babies’ section so that parents can understand the build up of knowledge that a child has, from the first moment it can hear in the womb to the start of learning to read and write to the stage where reading and writing become fluent and not considered tasks. As a mum Jenn has experienced these very early stages of learning with her children and shares ideas to help other parents and carers make the most of their baby’s experiences in an enjoyable and manageable way.

Jenn firmly believes that reading enables a child to learn ANYTHING. Consider how much you read each day, you follow instructions, read articles for information or enjoyment, make sense of your surroundings - following signs, read labels on food, letters and cards, newspapers, recipes, posters, adverts, menus, emails and many more things that you possibly don’t even think about! Reading is an extremely valuable life skill and one to be shared.

Jenn invites you to dip into relevant articles and use them to promote a fun and enjoyable method of learning, to support children that perhaps have struggled with reading and writing previously, or encourage young children entering an education environment for the first time. If you are reading this then someone, or many people, have spent time teaching you to read, now is the time for you to pass on that knowledge.