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...

Audiobooks and Phonics: Friend or Foe for Developing Readers?

Audiobooks and Phonics: Friend or Foe for Developing Readers?

Your five-year-old sits captivated, listening to a beautifully narrated story about dragons and brave knights. They’re absorbing complex vocabulary, following intricate plots, and developing a genuine love for stories. Meanwhile,…

AI Reading Apps: Promise vs. Reality for Phonics Instruction

AI Reading Apps: Promise vs. Reality for Phonics Instruction

The latest AI-powered reading app promises to transform your child’s phonics learning with personalized instruction that adapts in real-time. The marketing is compelling: artificial intelligence that understands exactly what your…

Homework Battles: Making Phonics Practice Peaceful and Productive

Homework Battles: Making Phonics Practice Peaceful and Productive

Five-year-old Jake loves learning at school, but the moment his phonics worksheet appears at home, tears begin. Sound familiar? Many families struggle with homework battles, especially when young children feel…

Grandparents as Reading Partners: Simple Phonics Activities for Any Age

Grandparents as Reading Partners: Simple Phonics Activities for Any Age

When four-year-old Emma visits Grandma Sarah, magic happens. They curl up in the old rocking chair, open a favorite picture book, and suddenly letters transform into adventures. Grandma points to…

15-Minute Phonics: Maximum Impact Reading Practice for Busy Families

15-Minute Phonics: Maximum Impact Reading Practice for Busy Families

Between soccer practice, dinner prep, and bedtime routines, finding time for phonics practice can feel impossible. Busy families need realistic routines that stick. Fifteen-minute commitments feel manageable rather than overwhelming,…

8 Tips to Prevent Summer Reading Loss

8 Tips to Prevent Summer Reading Loss

The last day of school arrives with excitement and relief, but lurking beneath the summer fun is a concern that keeps many parents awake at night: Will my child forget…

ADHD and Phonics: How to Maintain Focus During Reading Instruction

ADHD and Phonics: How to Maintain Focus During Reading Instruction

Your energetic six-year-old sits down for phonics practice, excited to learn new letter sounds. Within minutes, they’re fidgeting, looking around the room, and asking about the dog next door. If…

Phonics Catch-Up: Helping Older Elementary Students Fill the Gaps

Phonics Catch-Up: Helping Older Elementary Students Fill the Gaps

When nine-year-old Marcus sits down with his fourth-grade chapter book, he looks confident and ready. But after just a few sentences, frustration creeps across his face. He’s stumbling over words…

Third Grade Reading Crisis: Why This Year Makes or Breaks Literacy

Third Grade Reading Crisis: Why This Year Makes or Breaks Literacy

A classroom full of third graders opens their science textbooks, ready to learn about butterflies and volcanoes. But for many eight-year-olds, the words might as well be written in a…

Phonics for Preschoolers: What’s Too Early vs. Just Right?

Phonics for Preschoolers: What’s Too Early vs. Just Right?

Your three-year-old walks up to you holding a book, points to the letter ‘M’, and declares, “That’s my letter!” Your heart swells with pride, but then doubt creeps in. Should…