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Jolly Phonics Teacher's Guide

Tier 1: Learning Stations

Daily fun practice opportunities

Active Learning: Activities and Games

Learning stations provide structured, hands-on opportunities for pupils to revisit and reinforce key skills such as letter-sound recognition, letter formation, blending and segmenting. Learning stations are areas or tables in the classroom where targeted activities are set out for the pupils. Try to ensure there is a range of activities that practice the different skills, e.g. a blending activity, a segmenting activity and some letter formation practice. These activities provide extra and/or independent practice for the pupils. They are not part of the main lesson.

Once routines are established, pupils can work independently or in pairs, allowing the teacher to lead Secure It Sessions with individuals or small groups who need extra reinforcement. If additional adult support is not available, parent volunteers can be invited to assist with group supervision or specific activities.

Learning stations should be simple, consistent and engaging – extending phonics learning beyond the main lesson while keeping every pupil actively involved and purposeful. Maintain the same activity formats throughout the week so pupils quickly develop independence and know exactly what to do. Introduce new letter sounds or words, not new routines. This approach keeps transitions smooth, maximises practice time and allows pupils to focus on applying their learning rather than remembering new instructions.

    Learning Station Ideas

    1
    Letter Sound Recognition
    Focus:

    Recognising graphemes and identifying initial, medial and final sounds in words.

    INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES:
    • Letter Sound Hunt - Hide magnetic or plastic letters in a tray of rice, sand, or pasta. Pupils find a letter, say its sound and place it into a small hoop or set, labelled with the same letter. When they have finished, look and check the found letters have been put into the right hoop or set. Ask the pupil/s to say the letter sound as you point to each hoop.
    • Picture or Object Sort - Provide picture cards or small objects representing simple CVC words or regular words (e.g. sun, ant, tap). Pupils sort them into letter-sound hoops by initial or final sound. When they have finished, look and check the cards or objects have been put into the correct hoops or sets.
    • Picture and initial letter matching - Have pairs of cards with a picture on one and the initial letter for the word on the other. Put them face down and the pupil/s turn the cards over and match them. The number of cards can be changed to suit the pupil/s playing. Some may only have 1, 2 or 3 pairs of cards if that is appropriate.
    ADULT-LED ACTIVITIES:
    • Sound tap - Place letter cards, with the letter-sounds that need revising on, in the centre of the table or give each pupil a set of cards. Call out one of the sounds and the pupils tap, or hold up, the card with the correct letter/s on. As an alternative, sometimes one of the pupils can call out the letter sounds.
    2
    Letter Formation
    Focus:

    Developing correct handwriting, letter formation and fine motor control.

    INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES:
    • Sensory Tracing - Trace letters in trays of sand, salt, or rice while saying the sound. Have a set of cards with the letters being worked on, showing correct formation, for the children to copy or they can check themselves.
    • Dry-Wipe Formation Cards - Using whiteboard pens, write letters on laminated cards following numbered arrows. When they have finished, look at and check formation before they wipe the cards clean.
    • Handwriting Book Practice - Extra practice is provided through guide lines, dotted letters and word-writing activities. These follow the letter groups and help children build fine-motor skills, reinforce their phonics knowledge and connect sounds to print through structured writing practice.
    ADULT-LED ACTIVITIES:
    • Guess the Word - Adult calls out the letter sounds for a word one at a time (e.g. /c/ + /a/ + /t/) . The pupils write the letters for those sounds and then read the word. (e.g. /c/ + /a/ + /t/ = cat). Pupils could draw a quick sketch of the word to reinforce meaning. Use this time to monitor letter formation, pencil grip and to address common reversals (e.g. ‹b› vs ‹d›).
    • Rainbow Writing - Provide outline letters, either on dry wipe boards or laminated cards of new letters or those that need practice. Pupils write each letter several times, in different colours. Encourage slow, controlled movements and correct starting points.
    3
    Blending
    Focus:

    Blending letter sounds to read words and build fluency.

    INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES:
    • Word and Picture Match - Lay out simple CVC or simple regular words and corresponding pictures. Pupils blend to read each word and match it to the correct image. When they have finished check the words and pictures have been matched correctly. Pupils can also work in pairs and check each other.
    • Partner Decodable Reading - Print the words from the Word Boxes (free resource section) on thin card, and cut them up. Ensure the words chosen use the letter sounds already taught or known. The pupils work in pairs, taking it in turns to pick up and read the words and checking each other to see if they agree. Words, phrases and sentences can also be used for this activity. They can be found in the Jolly Phonics Word Bank Book, and need to be copied, printed and cut up.
    • Pairs reading - In pairs, the pupils read the Jolly Phonics Read & See books. They can turn the page to see the picture and check they have read the word correctly.
    • Pair Blends Wheels - In pairs, pupils take turns using the Jolly Phonics Blends Wheel to blend and read words. They support each other to check and confirm each word is read correctly.
    ADULT-LED ACTIVITIES:
    • Rhyming Blending - Pupils switch the initial sound of a word using letter cards to form new rhyming words (e.g. mat, cat, sat).
    • Word Bingo - The adult calls out words and if the word is on their bingo card, the pupils mark them. Ensure the words are regular and use taught or known letter sounds. This activity can also be done using Tricky Words.
    • Blend and Read Race - Write 5–6 decodable words on the board. Tap the sound dots under each letter; pupils say the letter sounds and blend them together to read the word. Use a timer to see who can read the words in the shortest time.
    • Word tap - Place word cards, with words for blending on them, in the centre of the table or give each pupil a set of cards. Call out one of the words and the pupils tap, or hold up, the card with the correct word on. As an alternative, sometimes one of the pupils can call out the words. Emphasise speed and accuracy, saying the word aloud together once it’s identified.
    4
    Segmenting
    Focus:

    Hearing, isolating and writing letter sounds in words.

    INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES:
    • Build and Check - Have a set of picture cards with the words on the back and plastic letters or letter cards. Pupil takes a picture card and sounds out the word for that picture. They then choose the letters to spell the word. They check they are right by blending the word. If they are sure they are correct they can turn the picture card over to see the word and confirm they have spelt it correctly.
    • Dictation Tray - Use laminated letter sound cards or word lists and whiteboards. An adult or pupil calls out each letter sound or word on the list. The other pupils then write it on their whiteboard. They then compare their writing to the letter sound card or word list to check what they have written.
    • Missing Sounds - Have pictures with the words underneath but with some of the letters missing, eg a picture of a cat with 'c _ t', or '_ a t', or 'c a _' underneath. The pupils have to write in the missing letters.
    ADULT-LED ACTIVITIES:
    • Auditory Blending - Adult says the sounds in a word tapping along their arm as they say each sound (e.g. /a-n-t/). Pupils blend the sounds to say the full word (“ant!”).
    • Missing Sounds - Provide words with one of the letters missing (e.g. _at, s_n, p_g). Pupils make as many words as they can by filling in the missing letter. Encourage pupils to think of different ways to make words , e.g., mat, cat, bat or bat, bet, bit, bot, but.
    • Letter or Word Sound Dictation - Adult says a sound or word slowly. Pupils write the letters or word on a whiteboard or use letter cards to build the word.
    • Segment It, Write It- Teacher shows a picture; pupils say the word, segments it and then writes the word on whiteboards.
    • Build a Word Provide mats, or cards, with a space for a picture card to be put, and a box of letter sounds or magnetic letters. Pupils select a picture card (e.g. cat) and put it on their mat. They then choose the letters to make the word, (eg /c-a-t/). They then tap each sound, and swipe to read the full word.
    5
    Tricky Words
    Focus:

    Reading and writing tricky words.

    INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES:
    • Look, Cover, Write, Check – Provide the tricky word bookmark (found in the free resource section). Pupils read a word (e.g. "said"), cover it, and write it on a whiteboard. They then check by turning the bookmark over. If correct, they move on; if not, they write the word three times, saying it as they write.
    • Tricky Word Rainbow Writing – Pupils choose a tricky word from the bookmark and write it five times, each in a different colour. Encourage them to say the word aloud each time.
    • Tricky Word Memory – Pupils play in pairs. One pupil turns over two cards and reads each aloud (e.g. “said” and “mother”). If they match, the pupil keeps the pair and takes another turn; if not, the cards are turned back over and the other pupil plays. The winner is the one with the most pairs.
    • Tricky Word Write It – Pupils play in pairs with ten tricky word cards face down. One pupil turns over a card, reads it aloud, and their partner writes it on a whiteboard or paper. They check it together, then swap roles. After all ten cards, they count correct words and try to beat their score next time.
    ADULT-LED ACTIVITIES:
    • Tricky Word Bingo – The adult calls out tricky words. Pupils find and mark the word on their card. The first to mark all words calls “Bingo!” and wins.
    • Tricky Word Reading Race – Laminate the tricky word bookmark. Using a timer, challenge pupils to read all words quickly and accurately. They can record times and try to beat their scores.
    • Fast Flash Tricky Word Edition – The adult calls out a tricky word (e.g. "the", "there"). Pupils quickly find or hold up the correct card. Pupils can take turns being the caller. Emphasise speed and accuracy, saying the word aloud together once found.
    • Tricky Word Go Fish – Create a pack of word cards for each 10 tricky word chosen. Deal four cards each to each of 4 pupils and place the rest in a draw pile. The pupils hold the cards so only they can see the words on their cards. Pupils take turns to ask, “Do you have the word 'love'?” If yes, the pair is made; if not, they “go fish” and take a card from the draw pile. Play continues until all pairs are made. The winner has the most pairs.

    Learning Station Tips

    • Each activity links directly to recently taught letter sounds or skills

    • Every task is clearly modelled and includes simple visual instructions

    • Pupils understand the expectations and can work independently, except for activities that are designed to have adult support

    • Materials are easy to manage, durable and quick to reset

    • Learning stations rotate regularly but follow familiar structure for independence

    • Pupils are paired or grouped strategically to support peer learning and collaboration

    Excellent Learning Station Resources

    Picture Flashcards Blue

    Jolly Phonics Picture Flashcards

    Sixty cards showing pictures with sound dots on one side and matching letters and words on the reverse. Great for introducing sounds, playing recognition games and extending vocabulary in a fun interactive way.

    Read and See

    Jolly Phonics Read & See Books

    Fourteen starter books that build blending skills step by step. Children sound out and blend one word per page before checking with a picture, making these ideal first readers for home or school phonics practice.

    New Magnetic Letters

    Jolly Phonics Magnetic Letters

    A hands-on resource with lower-case letters in red (consonants) and blue (vowels). Children build and break apart words, strengthening blending and segmenting skills while linking phonics knowledge directly to spelling and reading activities.

    Hands-on learning tools ready for your pupils!SHOP ALL
    Continue your phonics learning journey:
    Cross-Curricular Ideas