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

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...

Learn what research really says about the learning styles myth and get evidence-based strategies to support your child's educational success.

Debunking Learning Style Myths: What Parents Need to Know

If you’ve ever heard someone say, “I’m a visual learner” or “My child learns...

Discover evidence-based strategies for teaching phonics to dyslexic students.

Phonics for Dyslexic Students: A Teacher’s Guide

As educators, supporting students with dyslexia requires a deep understanding of evidence-based phonics instruction....

Discover how to effectively teach phonics using picture books in your preschool classroom.

Learn Phonics With Picture Books: A Guide for Preschool Teachers

Teaching phonics to young children can be both fun and effective when you incorporate...

Phonics learning with Dog Man: Explore phonics patterns, word-building, and engaging reading strategies.

Fun Phonics Learning with Dog Man

The Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey has captured the imagination of young readers...

Discover how children learn to spell through developmental spelling patterns and how parents and teachers can support each stage of literacy growth.

Developmental Spelling Patterns – Here’s How Kids Learn to Spell

Just as children progress through stages when learning to walk and talk, they also...

Explore the Reading-Writing Connection and how these literacy skills support each other.

The Reading-Writing Connection: A Research Review

The relationship between reading and writing instruction has undergone a significant transformation in American...

Learn how systematic phonics and spelling instruction work together to prevent common reading errors and build stronger literacy skills.

The Connection Between Phonics and Spelling: Building Both Skills Together

Learning to read and write are two sides of the same coin. While many...

Vocabulary Development: How Phonics Builds Word Knowledge in Early Readers

Vocabulary Development: How Phonics Builds Word Knowledge in Early Readers

The excited squeal of “I know that word!” from your child during storytime. The confident way they incorporate a newly learned term into dinner conversation. The pride in their eyes…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…