The GEM project “Through Gestures and Music into the world of Phonics” has developed an innovative concept of introducing phonics to children in preschools through music and gestures based on British Sign Language.
The project has developed and tested teaching materials including original songs, graphics, mini charts and lesson plans. Testing took pace in Early Years Settings in the UK, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. It took place in settings where English is the first language of tuition in the preschool classes but also where English is taught as a second language in Slovenia and in the Czech Republic. It was therefore predominantly used within the teaching of English whether as a first or second language but it was also evaluated and tested in terms of literacy development in other languages.