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 the magic e rule, explore common examples for PreK readers, and discover fun activities to practice this essential phonics pattern at home.

Silent E Words Help Your Child Master Long Vowel Sounds

Learning to read involves many small steps that build upon each other. Among these...

Learn 25 common root words and practical activities to help your child connect decoding skills with meaning, boosting reading comprehension and academic success.

Root Word Meaning: Building Vocabulary Through Phonics

Have you ever watched your child struggle with an unfamiliar word, sounding it out...

Discover evidence-based reading comprehension strategies that build on explicit phonics instruction.

Reading Comprehension Strategies: Building on Phonics Foundations

Ever watched your child perfectly sound out every word in a story, only to...

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...

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...

Common Phonics Teaching Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Common Phonics Teaching Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Sarah thought she was doing everything right. She bought colorful phonics workbooks, downloaded popular reading apps, and spent hours each evening helping her six-year-old son with letter sounds. Yet after…

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…

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…

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…

The Ultimate Master List of Phonics Books: Organized by Reading Skills

The Ultimate Master List of Phonics Books: Organized by Reading Skills

Picture this: Your child’s eyes light up as they successfully sound out a word in their favorite storybook. That magical “I did it!” moment happens not because they memorized flashcards,…

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…