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

Discover effective phonics for kids with age-appropriate activities that make learning to read fun and engaging!

Phonics for Kids: Age-Appropriate Activities for Early Readers

Learning to read is one of the most significant milestones in a child’s early...

Learn how open and closed syllables help children decode words. Essential phonics skill for reading success!

How Open and Closed Syllables Build Strong Readers

Ever watched a young reader encounter a long, unfamiliar word? They might stare at...

Discover how text-to-speech technology can support struggling readers while complementing phonics instruction.

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

Ever watched a child’s face light up when they finally understand a story that...

Learn practical strategies to support young writers, understand developmental stages, and connect phonics instruction to meaningful writing experiences that benefit both reading and writing proficiency.

Supporting Early Writers: Connecting Phonics to Writing Development

Ever watched a child laboriously sound out each letter as they attempt to spell...

Digital vs. Traditional Phonics: Learn strategies to choose the right approach for your child's reading needs and effectively combine both methods for optimal results.

Digital vs. Traditional Phonics: What Research Says

If you’re a parent of a child struggling with reading skills, you’ve likely found...

Discover how to use 'A Bad Case of Stripes' to teach explicit, systematic phonics principles.

Book Review: “A Bad Case of Stripes”

David Shannon’s vibrant picture book “A Bad Case of Stripes,” tells the whimsical story...

Discover 10 engaging activities to help your child develop essential phonics skills through rhythm and sound segmentation.

Practical Activities to Build Rhythm and Segmentation Skills

Teaching sound segmentation doesn’t require expensive materials or formal training—just enthusiasm and consistency! The...

Learn how reading skills transfer between languages and how to support bilingual children's literacy development.

Cross-Linguistic Transfer in Reading

Does learning to read in one language help children learn to read in another?...

Learn effective strategies for supporting diverse learners in phonics instruction for success.

Supporting Diverse Learners in Phonics Instruction

Every classroom contains a unique tapestry of learners, each bringing their own strengths, challenges,...

Learn evidence-based differentiation strategies to tailor phonics instruction for every learner.

Evidence-Based Differentiation Strategies for Phonics Instruction

Teaching phonics effectively means reaching every student in your classroom, regardless of their reading...

Best Books for Teaching Phonics Skills

Best Books for Teaching Phonics Skills

Learning to read is one of childhood’s greatest adventures, and the right books can transform phonics instruction from mechanical practice into magical discovery. While worksheets and flashcards have their place,…

Speech Sound Development Chart: What Parents Need to Know

Speech Sound Development Chart: What Parents Need to Know

Learning to speak is one of the most remarkable feats of early childhood. As parents, those first babbles and words are magical moments we treasure forever. But did you know…

The Wonderful World of Nonsense: Using Jabberwocky to Boost Early Reading Skills

The Wonderful World of Nonsense: Using Jabberwocky to Boost Early Reading Skills

The strange creatures and bizarre vocabulary of The Jabberwocky offer more than just giggles—they provide a unique opportunity to strengthen your child’s phonics abilities. There’s something magical about the way…

Silent E Words Help Your Child Master Long Vowel Sounds

Silent E Words Help Your Child Master Long Vowel Sounds

Learning to read involves many small steps that build upon each other. Among these important building blocks is understanding the silent e rule – one of the first “tricky” phonics…

Scope and Sequence for Early Reading: Your Guide to Phonics Instruction

Scope and Sequence for Early Reading: Your Guide to Phonics Instruction

Did you know that there’s a scientific roadmap for teaching children to read? Many parents feel lost when their child struggles with reading, not realizing that following a systematic, explicit…

Short Vowel Sounds: A Parent’s Guide

Short Vowel Sounds: A Parent’s Guide

A child’s literacy journey begins with learning the fundamental building blocks of reading, and short vowel sounds are among the most critical first steps. As a parent, understanding these sounds…

What to Do When Reading Skills Regress

What to Do When Reading Skills Regress

Has your child suddenly started struggling with words they used to read with ease? Are they showing less interest in books they once loved? You might be witnessing what educators…

Root Word Meaning: Building Vocabulary Through Phonics

Root Word Meaning: Building Vocabulary Through Phonics

Have you ever watched your child struggle with an unfamiliar word, sounding it out letter by letter, only to miss its meaning entirely? While decoding words is a crucial first…

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…