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

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...

ABC Pocket Phonics Review

ABC Pocket Phonics: Hits and Misses in Literacy Instruction Have you ever wondered how...

SplashLearn App Review for Reading Education

A Well-Made App With Unfortunate Phonics Errors At Phonics.org, we review all kinds of...

Reading.com App Review

Reading.com App Review

A Unique, Research-Based Approach to Teaching Children to Read At phonics.org, we evaluate phonics programs designed for children—empowering you to make informed decisions about the most suitable apps for your…

Phonics Plateau: Why Some Students Stop Progressing

Phonics Plateau: Why Some Students Stop Progressing

Your child was making steady progress. Each week brought new letter sounds, longer words, and growing confidence. Then suddenly, nothing. The forward momentum stopped. Your once-enthusiastic reader now struggles with…

Can Word Games Like Bookworm Support Literacy Development?

Can Word Games Like Bookworm Support Literacy Development?

Your child loves playing Bookworm on your tablet. They’re making long words and racking up points. You’re wondering: Is this actually helping them learn to read? It’s a fair question.…

Rocket Speller – Space-Themed Spelling Adventure Game Review

Rocket Speller – Space-Themed Spelling Adventure Game Review

A Well-Designed Spelling App That Balances Learning and Fun Are you curious about how other literacy apps measure up? Check out the other detailed literacy app reviews on phonics.org to…

Reading Mastery vs. Saxon Phonics: Which Delivers Better Results?

Reading Mastery vs. Saxon Phonics: Which Delivers Better Results?

Imagine two classrooms down the hall from each other. Same grade level, similar student demographics, but strikingly different reading outcomes by mid-year. The difference? The phonics program that each teacher…

Opposite Ocean App – Vocabulary and Antonym Learning Review

Opposite Ocean App – Vocabulary and Antonym Learning Review

A Targeted Vocabulary Tool for Elementary Antonym Practice Are you curious about how other literacy apps measure up? Check out the other detailed literacy app reviews on phonics.org to make…

Phonics and Speech Delays: When Articulation Affects Decoding

Phonics and Speech Delays: When Articulation Affects Decoding

When your child mispronounces words during conversation, you might think it’s adorable—and it often is! But what happens when those same articulation challenges show up during reading lessons? Many parents…

MaxScholar – Orton-Gillingham Based Phonics & Reading Comprehension Review

MaxScholar – Orton-Gillingham Based Phonics & Reading Comprehension Review

A Research-Backed Reading Intervention Program That Puts Struggling Readers First Are you curious about how other literacy apps measure up? Check out the other detailed literacy app reviews on phonics.org…

ChatGPT for Phonics: Why AI Can’t Replace Systematic Instruction

ChatGPT for Phonics: Why AI Can’t Replace Systematic Instruction

A frustrated parent sits at the kitchen table with their struggling six-year-old, laptop open to ChatGPT. “Can you help my child learn to read?” they type. Within seconds, the AI…

Imagine Learning Digital PreK-8 Literacy Suite Review

Imagine Learning Digital PreK-8 Literacy Suite Review

A Comprehensive Platform That Emphasizes Language Development Alongside Literacy Skills Are you curious about how other literacy apps measure up? Check out the other detailed literacy app reviews on phonics.org…

Why Some Reading Programs Are Abandoning Phonics (And Why That’s Wrong)

Why Some Reading Programs Are Abandoning Phonics (And Why That’s Wrong)

Walk into some elementary school classrooms today and you’ll witness a troubling trend. Teachers are putting away phonics workbooks. Reading programs are promoting “authentic literature experiences” over systematic letter-sound instruction. …