The project With Gestures and Music into the world of phonics will develop and implement the method and materials of how to introduce phonics through songs and movement to preschool children (age 3 to 4 years old in the UK and 3 to 7 in the Czech Republic and Slovenia). It will also develop and test training materials and courses for child care practitioner and English teachers. The method will be introduced in two different learning scenarios: in preschool settings in the UK and in the publicly funded institutions where children start to learn English very early (from 3 to 7). The methodology is aimed at teaching phonics phase 1 and 2 and will include 'listening' walks, action songs, learning rhymes and learning the most common single letter sounds supported by gestures and music. Many children who are at risk of reading difficulties have serious problems learning the names and sounds for the letters of the alphabet too. The gesture and music method of teaching of phonics for young children will keep them engaged and focused at the teacher to get information. This method of teaching will improve confidence, memory, involvement and recall of sounds and letters. Our project therefore aims to improve the literacy skills of young children in a way that is natural and fun. It also brings together several innovative elements: It will introduce teaching of phonics in the preschools; it will develop the method which is based on the gestures from BSL and music, it will also introduce teaching phonic to children who are learning English as a second language very early. The children will therefore be able to enter into the world of sounds and letters simultaneously as learning the first words and phrases in the second language. The method will be initially introduced and tested in nurseries with a larger proportion of children eligible for a free places at the age of 2 in Leeds and Bradford region in the UK in their preschool classes. It will also be tested in Slovenia and the Czech Republic where English is offered in publicly financed kindergartens and preschools (children from 3 to 7 years of age) . The project will implement several intellectual outputs: among others training courses for child care professionals in preschool education and teachers of English as a second language in early years to equip them with the knowledge and skills of how improve the literacy skills of the children in their care. We therefore aim at “strengthening the profile of teaching profession”, by providing training materials and training programme. The activities will be developed through networks and open dialogue among all involved categories of stakeholders; linguists, child care professionals, experts in the field of early years education, in special needs education, curriculum authorities, schools and kindergartens, and others. We are therefore aiming at enhancing the quality of early childhood education and care (ECEC) and are introducing the method of early English language learning which will be accessible to all also on line. The project mobilizes appropriate institutions from 3 European countries bringing together a critical mass with complementary educational expertise, a diverse number of learners in countries with different early learning policies and different needs given their geographical location, affiliations and culture and specialists from disciplines such as foreign language learning , linguistics, inclusive education policies, pre-school education, teacher training of child care professionals and also project management.
Through Gestures and Music into the world of phonics has developed, tested and implemented an innovative method of teaching phonics through signs, gestures (using British Sign Language), songs and movement to preschool and primary school children (3 to 4 years in the UK and 3 to 8 in the Czech Republic and Slovenia). It has also developed training materials and courses for Early Years practitioners and English language teachers. Project activities were targeted at early English language learning in Slovenia and the Czech Republic. In the UK the project also worked in settings with children with communication difficulties, including children whose first language is not English. However, the methods were used in additional ways than originally planned. Although using BSL signs, nurseries in Slovenia and the Czech Republic used the methods with children whose first language was not Czech or Slovenian (or English) as a bridge between languages. The methods were used with all children in settings and evaluation showed more generally that signing, music and movement help children with communication skills at a time when lockdowns and increased screen time has made this an important issue. In Slovenia, the project has included language teachers in formal education between the ages of 6 and 8. The methodology teaches phonics stage 1 (phonological awareness) and stage 2 (Introduction to phonics) and includes listening walks, action songs, learning rhymes and learning the most common single letter and 20 sounds supported by gestures and music. Using gestures and music within the teaching of phonics for young children keeps them engaged and focused on the teacher to get information. This method of teaching improves confidence, memory, involvement and recall of sounds and letters. The project has the following results •Handbook: The guide introduces the method and and materials of how to implement early literacy skills and first phonic concepts to children through music, singing, signing and also books. The handbook is divided into two sections of theory and practice of GEM teaching concept (sections 1 and 2) followed by the examples from the implementation phase, including some of the activities and original songs. This includes short instructions for teachers of how to teach phonics to young children. The ideas of who the lessons can be structures and what to do during the lessons can be found on 20 lesson plans. •GEM songs We have prepared 20 original Gem songs to introduce children with the first words of English writing system. The songs lead children to easily recognise the short simple familiar words with their simple pattern which later helps them to to transform individual sounds into words and the other way around. •The GEM songs are accompanied by the song booklet. The song lyrics are also accompanied by engaging illustrations with the sign symbol and visual image of the song to capture the interest of children. The songs are adapted to teach children between the ages of 2 to 4 in the UK within the early years framework literacy curriculum or children between the ages of 2 to 8 who are learning English as a second language. •GEM stories. Four originally written stories to introduce the relevant words to children. They are available in printed form and powerpoint •The GEM vocabulary was prepared to purposefully teach children to start putting together their very first words and simple sentences and to link them with the print. We have prepared the vocabulary of 50 easy CVC words which don’t include any tricky blends and are very easy to remember. They are presented with the print, sign and illustration. Our songs, graphic and mini charts will all help you to reinforce the learning in a playful and meaningful way. •Mini charts are a great tool to help children linking sounds and words with print. Our original mini charts combine delightful colour illustrations with graphics and printed words separately so that the children can play a matching game and practice rhyming, alliteration, letter sound matching and blending words Check out ideas from the lesson plans and activity videos as how to use them. They are available at our training programme. Our designer has produced 100 images for the mini charts (illustrations of gestures and first words/images and print separately which aid learning) Let me know if it needs explaining. •Training programme: we have produced a 10 unit training programme with the aim to help the teachers to introduce GEM into their settings. It has the following units: What is GEM, About languages, Literacy in early years, GEM songs, Phonological awareness, Rhythm and rhyme, Alliteration, Phonemic awareness, GEM vocabulary and mini charts, Teaching instructions and lesson plans. All materials are available through our project website and ELearning platform