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 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...

ABC Pocket Phonics Review

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

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…

Federal Focus on Evidence-Based Reading: What This Means for Your Child’s Education

Federal Focus on Evidence-Based Reading: What This Means for Your Child’s Education

In a historic shift that could transform how millions of American children learn to read, the U.S. Department of Education has announced that evidence-based literacy instruction will be a top…

Teaching Phonics to Children with Hearing Impairments

Teaching Phonics to Children with Hearing Impairments

When five-year-old Maya first entered kindergarten with her hearing aids, her teacher wondered how to help her learn phonics alongside her hearing peers. Like many educators and parents, she assumed…

Decodable Texts vs. Leveled Readers: Making the Right Choice for Your Child

Decodable Texts vs. Leveled Readers: Making the Right Choice for Your Child

Did you know that the books your child reads during their early learning years can make or break their reading success? Many parents assume all “beginning reader” books serve the…

Phonics Assessment Tools: How to Measure Reading Progress Effectively

Phonics Assessment Tools: How to Measure Reading Progress Effectively

The journey to reading proficiency isn’t linear—it’s filled with plateaus, leaps forward, and occasional steps back. This natural variability makes systematic assessment not just helpful but essential. When we regularly…

Phonics Games for the Classroom: 10 Teacher-Approved Activities

Phonics Games for the Classroom: 10 Teacher-Approved Activities

Learning to read shouldn’t feel like a chore. When children associate reading with enjoyment, they’re more likely to develop into lifelong readers who approach books with enthusiasm rather than dread.…

What is a Phoneme?

What is a Phoneme?

Have you ever wondered why your child can recognize the letter ‘B’ but struggles to connect it with the sound it makes? Or why sounding out words like “ship” and…

What is Inference? Helping Young Readers Become Critical Thinkers

What is Inference? Helping Young Readers Become Critical Thinkers

Your five-year-old is listening to you read “Little Red Riding Hood.” When the wolf appears dressed as Grandma, your child exclaims, “That’s not Grandma! It’s the wolf trying to trick…

What Are Graphic Novels? Connecting Visual Storytelling to Phonics Instruction

What Are Graphic Novels? Connecting Visual Storytelling to Phonics Instruction

Picture this: Your reluctant reader who struggles with phonics suddenly can’t put down a book. They’re engrossed, sounding out words, making predictions, and actually enjoying reading. What magical transformation has…

What Are Consonants?

What Are Consonants?

Have you ever watched your child sound out a simple word like “cat” or “jump”? Behind those moments of learning lies a fascinating linguistic structure that forms the backbone of…

Nursery Rhymes as Phonics Tools

Nursery Rhymes as Phonics Tools

Did you know that the nursery rhymes you loved as a child could be powerful reading tools? Those catchy, sometimes silly verses that have entertained children for generations are actually…