Sara Wernham
A Message from Sarah Warnham
​
Phonics first made an impact on my life when I joined the reception class at Woods Loke Primary School.I had no experience at all of how to teach reading, as this was not taught at my teacher training college.
​
Fortunately for me the school had already begun to develop a reading program that later developed into The Phonics Handbook. I didn't have much confidence at the start, as I had never come across such a method. When I was at school, I was taught the Look and Say method of trying to memorize whole words. Consequently, I had a lot of difficulty with spelling when I was at school. As the term progressed, the reading and writing ability of the children I was teaching grew rapidly. I was amazed by how much could be achieved by teaching letter sounds that the children blended together to make words. It was a complete revelation to me. I felt like I was learning to read and write along with my first class.
Teaching in the reception (kindergarten) class meant I became involved with the Jolly Phonics program. I tried some of the materials, suggested things and watched the project develop. I was very enthusiastic, as not only could I see myself and my class learning, but I could appreciate the ease and fun involved in the process. If a complete novice like myself could use it and get results, it had to be good. As time went on I became more and more involved and I now I co-write much of the Jolly Phonics materials with Sue Lloyd. So in many ways, my involvement with Jolly Phonics has been a very personal one. All the more important for me now, as I have a son and a daughter of my own, is that I am able to help them in a way I would not have been able to before.