Articles

Inspire a love of learning through phonics.

Whether you’re a teacher, family member, tutor, or childcare professional, you can have a positive impact on a child’s life. One of the most extraordinary gifts a child ever receives is the ability to read and write.

Although literacy doesn’t come naturally to humans, it’s an essential part of our everyday lives. Explicit, effective, and encouraging phonics instruction is vital to creating a more literate world.  Explore the trusted resources, articles, and reviews from phonics.org to instill a love of learning in someone you care about.

Phonics Resources for All

mom and her 3 year old playing educational game

Phonics for 3-Year-Olds

Parents play one of the most significant roles in a child’s early literacy development....

mom and child playing literacy game

Hairy Letters App Review

“Hairies” Helping Kids Learn to Read! Curious how the most popular literacy apps measure...

Phonics.org: The Ultimate List of Phonics App Reviews 

The Phonics.org team is dedicated to helping parents and teachers navigate the many different...

girl playing Chimp Fu Syllables App on tablet

Chimp Fu Syllables: App Review

Chopping Chimp Champions Syllable Division Phonics.org literacy experts regularly review literacy apps on their...

young girl writing with a crayon

When Do Children Start Writing Sentences?

Learning how to write is a gradual process for children. If you’re a parent...

young girl learning her abc's on a tablet

ABC Kids: Tracing & Phonics App Review

A Well-Made App That Needs Improvement in Literacy Fundamentals  Find valuable insights and informed...

Basic Transcription Skills in Spelling and Writing

Transcription skills are a big part of a child’s journey into literacy, playing a...

child reading with headphones on a tablet

Top 5 Reading Apps for Kids

With so many educational apps available, it can be tricky to figure out which...

Back to School Phonics Review for Early Readers

As summer fades and a new school year begins, parents and teachers must help...

young girl with curly hair holding a pencil learning to write

When Can Kids Write Their Name?

If you’re a parent, you likely anticipate your child’s developmental milestones with awe and...

Building Reading Fluency at Home

Building Reading Fluency at Home

Remember that heart-warming moment when your child first recognized their name in print? The excitement in their eyes was undeniable! Now, as they’re sounding out c-a-t and d-o-g, you might…

Reading Comprehension Strategies: Building on Phonics Foundations

Reading Comprehension Strategies: Building on Phonics Foundations

Ever watched your child perfectly sound out every word in a story, only to have them stare blankly when you ask what the story was about? You’re not alone. This…

Phonics for Kids: Age-Appropriate Activities for Early Readers

Phonics for Kids: Age-Appropriate Activities for Early Readers

Learning to read is one of the most significant milestones in a child’s early development. Behind every confident reader is a foundation of strong phonics skills—the ability to connect letters…

How Open and Closed Syllables Build Strong Readers

How Open and Closed Syllables Build Strong Readers

Ever watched a young reader encounter a long, unfamiliar word? They might stare at it, attempt to sound it out letter by letter, or simply skip it entirely. What if…

Text-to-Speech: Supporting Early Readers Through Assistive Technology

Text-to-Speech: Supporting Early Readers Through Assistive Technology

Ever watched a child’s face light up when they finally understand a story that previously seemed like an impossible code to crack? That’s the magic text-to-speech technology can bring to…

Supporting Early Writers: Connecting Phonics to Writing Development

Supporting Early Writers: Connecting Phonics to Writing Development

Ever watched a child laboriously sound out each letter as they attempt to spell a word on paper? That concentrated look—tongue slightly protruding, pencil gripped tightly—represents an incredible cognitive feat.…

Digital vs. Traditional Phonics: What Research Says

Digital vs. Traditional Phonics: What Research Says

If you’re a parent of a child struggling with reading skills, you’ve likely found yourself standing at a crossroads. In one direction lies the familiar path of traditional phonics instruction—print…

Book Review: “A Bad Case of Stripes”

Book Review: “A Bad Case of Stripes”

David Shannon’s vibrant picture book “A Bad Case of Stripes,” tells the whimsical story of Camilla Cream, a young girl who cares too much about what others think. Her anxiety…

Practical Activities to Build Rhythm and Segmentation Skills

Practical Activities to Build Rhythm and Segmentation Skills

Teaching sound segmentation doesn’t require expensive materials or formal training—just enthusiasm and consistency! The key is to make these activities part of your daily routine and to keep them playful…

Cross-Linguistic Transfer in Reading

Cross-Linguistic Transfer in Reading

Does learning to read in one language help children learn to read in another? The answer is yes! Research shows that many reading skills can transfer between languages, a process…