Using Actions to Support Your Phonics Teaching

Why use actions in phonics sessions?

•Promotes active engagement and participation – research suggests that the longer a child is actively participating in a lesson, the higher their academic success.

•Targets kinaesthetic types of learners – movement

•Helps to distinguish between similar sounds

•Visual prompt – if a child is unsure of the GPC they should write, the adult can show them an action they can be prompted without interruption.

•Aids consolidation – associating the action with the sound.

•Connections made to GPC character – which are included in the songs, teaching books, decodable books and letter formation rhymes.

The actions become part of the routine at the beginning of the lesson, when introducing a new GPC
Guidance videos for adults demonstrate the action needed for that GPC

Joe the puppet

•He provides a visual cue as to what is taking place – you could make Joe coming out as a special event e.g. he is hiding or lives in a special box/bag (this can also be good for pupils who work well with visual timetables and thrive on routine)

•The puppet can also be used during the welcome songs, any fine and gross motor warm-ups and to demonstrate actions.

•Letter formation – Joe can be used to demonstrate how letter should be formed