Bee Reading was founded in 2003 by George and Sue Brunson. After a week-long meeting with publisher, Christopher Jolly outside of London in Chigwell, United Kingdom, it became apparent that a training company was needed in the US. It was imperative that US teachers join those across the world in teaching other teachers and parents about Jolly Phonics. Bee Reading employs trainers who are accomplished classroom teachers experienced in teaching Jolly Phonics and Jolly Grammar. We have the flexibility to travel anywhere for our trainings.
Meeting the two authors, Sue Lloyd and Sara Wernham, obtaining training from Sue at one of her workshops in the UK, and visiting several Jolly Phonics preschools and elementary schools outside of London were a highlight. Subsequent visits in the UK and the US with Jolly Phonics trainers from around the world reinforce the effectiveness of the program, especially with English language learners and dyslexic and special education students.
As a veteran kindergarten teacher of 35+ years, Sue quickly realized that Jolly Phonics was not ‘just another’ reading program. After successful implementation of Jolly Phonics in her own kindergarten class, she realized that this was the first program that finally helped teachers successfully teach children how to crack the code of English. When the children can hear, say, read & write those 42 sounds, they have a comprehensive ‘toolbox’ to use in decoding any word and to read with comprehension.
The key is the interactive and multi-sensory parts of the program. Much research was done by the authors on how to engage effective brain-learning. Most students move quickly through the program and are adept at reading and writing by mid-year kindergarten. Tremendous results are consistently received on every literacy assessment: Concepts of Print, blending, segmenting, rhyming – and the writing skills continue to rapidly improve each month. Jolly Phonics helps eliminate the fear of reading and writing! No more “I don’t know how” and “I can’t!” Confidence, joy, reading and writing comprehension and skills exhibited by children who learn through Jolly Phonics is something Bee Reading hopes to share with others in their trainings and workshops.
We support the Rosa Vera Fund and the Children’s Health Fund. A portion of Bee Reading sales will be donated to this worthy cause. Dr. Jonathan Lee-Melk is a family friend. You might have seen him as one of the featured recipients of the 2008 Idol Gives Back, with host Simon Cowell.
