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 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...

Discover phonics rules by age to support children's literacy development with clear, age-specific milestones.

What Phonics Rules Should Children Know (By Age)?

Understanding phonics milestones by age helps parents and educators effectively support children’s literacy development....

Learn how to become a phonics tutor with this guide on training, effective instruction, and starting your practice.

How to Become a Phonics Tutor

Are you passionate about helping children learn to read? Whether you’re a parent who...

Phonics Plateau: Why Some Students Stop Progressing

Phonics Plateau: Why Some Students Stop Progressing

Your child was making steady progress. Each week brought new letter sounds, longer words, and growing confidence. Then suddenly, nothing. The forward momentum stopped. Your once-enthusiastic reader now struggles with…

Can Word Games Like Bookworm Support Literacy Development?

Can Word Games Like Bookworm Support Literacy Development?

Your child loves playing Bookworm on your tablet. They’re making long words and racking up points. You’re wondering: Is this actually helping them learn to read? It’s a fair question.…

Reading Mastery vs. Saxon Phonics: Which Delivers Better Results?

Reading Mastery vs. Saxon Phonics: Which Delivers Better Results?

Imagine two classrooms down the hall from each other. Same grade level, similar student demographics, but strikingly different reading outcomes by mid-year. The difference? The phonics program that each teacher…

Phonics and Speech Delays: When Articulation Affects Decoding

Phonics and Speech Delays: When Articulation Affects Decoding

When your child mispronounces words during conversation, you might think it’s adorable—and it often is! But what happens when those same articulation challenges show up during reading lessons? Many parents…

ChatGPT for Phonics: Why AI Can’t Replace Systematic Instruction

ChatGPT for Phonics: Why AI Can’t Replace Systematic Instruction

A frustrated parent sits at the kitchen table with their struggling six-year-old, laptop open to ChatGPT. “Can you help my child learn to read?” they type. Within seconds, the AI…

Why Some Reading Programs Are Abandoning Phonics (And Why That’s Wrong)

Why Some Reading Programs Are Abandoning Phonics (And Why That’s Wrong)

Walk into some elementary school classrooms today and you’ll witness a troubling trend. Teachers are putting away phonics workbooks. Reading programs are promoting “authentic literature experiences” over systematic letter-sound instruction. …

Debunking ‘Natural Reading’: Why Phonics Isn’t Optional

Debunking ‘Natural Reading’: Why Phonics Isn’t Optional

A well-meaning parent watches their 4-year-old “read” their favorite bedtime story word-for-word, flipping pages at just the right moments. The child has memorized every line perfectly, leading the parent to…

The 2025 National Reading Panel Update: What’s Changed in Phonics Research?

The 2025 National Reading Panel Update: What’s Changed in Phonics Research?

Has our understanding of phonics instruction changed since the landmark National Reading Panel Report of 2000? What does the latest research tell us about the most effective ways to teach…

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…