For Teachers

Empower early readers to become students for life.

As an educator, you play a crucial role in children’s literacy development! Effective phonics instruction lays the foundation kids need to become curious, lifelong learners in the classroom and the world beyond.

Whether you’re considering which phonics instruction methods work best or looking for ways to introduce difficult concepts to students, phonics.org is here to support you.  

Phonics Resources for Teachers

Common Phonics Mistakes to Avoid When Teaching

Ahhh, phonics instruction. It’s such a special experience in a child’s education! Helping kids...

Making Phonics Stick: Help Kids Learn Essential Literacy Skills 

Sometimes, it seems like no matter how much you practice with your child or...

Why Explicit Phonics Instruction is So Important

Explicit phonics instruction is vital to literacy development, especially when it’s time for kids...

phonics rules

10 Tricky Phonics Rules to Understand 

The more advanced children become at reading, the more complex certain phonics rules become....

teaching letter sounds effectively to kids

A Guide to Teaching Letter Sounds Effectively

Knowing the connection between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes) is one of the first...

learn to reach decoding in reading for kids

Methods of Effective Decoding in Reading

When children are learning to read, they must be taught how to “sound out”...

what is phonics?

What is Phonics? An Introduction for Parents and Educators

Anyone who can read and write in an alphabetical language has mastered an important...

kids learning phonemic awareness activities

Classroom Phonemic Awareness Activities for Kids

Before learning to read, children must understand their spoken language. The first step in...

The Reading-Writing Connection: A Research Review

The Reading-Writing Connection: A Research Review

The relationship between reading and writing instruction has undergone a significant transformation in American education over the past century. Historically, the reading-writing connection was overlooked, as these two fundamental literacy…

The Connection Between Phonics and Spelling: Building Both Skills Together

The Connection Between Phonics and Spelling: Building Both Skills Together

Learning to read and write are two sides of the same coin. While many parents and teachers might focus on phonics and spelling as separate skills, teaching them together can…

What Phonics Rules Should Children Know (By Age)?

What Phonics Rules Should Children Know (By Age)?

Understanding phonics milestones by age helps parents and educators effectively support children’s literacy development. While every child develops at their own pace, there are general estimates about when and how…

How to Become a Phonics Tutor

How to Become a Phonics Tutor

Are you passionate about helping children learn to read? Whether you’re a parent who has successfully guided your children through their literacy journey or an educator looking to expand your…

Silent Letters and Tricky Words

Silent Letters and Tricky Words

Picture this: Your young reader is confidently sounding out words when they encounter “knife” for the first time. They try their best: “k-n-if-ee?” The confusion on their face is familiar…

The Connection Between Movement and Phonics Learning

The Connection Between Movement and Phonics Learning

When young children learn letter sounds through movement – jumping as they say /j/, reaching high for /t/, or bending low for /d/ – they’re not just having fun. They’re…

Bionic Reading: Y/N?

Bionic Reading: Y/N?

Tech + nature – sounds like the future, right?  In recent years, a new reading method has captured attention across social media and educational technology platforms. Called “bionic reading,” this…

Phonics and the Literacy Crisis: America’s Reading Challenge

Phonics and the Literacy Crisis: America’s Reading Challenge

The statistics are sobering: 66% of American fourth graders are failing to meet proficiency levels in reading, with even more alarming rates among minority students. For Black fourth graders, this…

Words With the Schwa Sound & How to Teach It

Words With the Schwa Sound & How to Teach It

The schwa sound is an essential concept in phonics instruction. However, it can be challenging for both teachers and students. As the most common vowel sound in English, mastering the…

Phonics and Handwriting: Make It Fun!

Phonics and Handwriting: Make It Fun!

Phonics and handwriting are closely intertwined. Because phonics is how children learn to read and write, handwriting is an inevitable skill that learners must develop in order to build a…