Phonics Skills
The strategies that build and reinforce decoding.
What Are Phonics Skills?
Phonics skills are the building blocks of decoding — connecting sounds to letters, blending them into words, and recognizing the patterns that make reading automatic.
These guides cover practical, classroom-tested strategies for building and reinforcing those skills, whether you're teaching them for the first time or shoring up gaps.
Reading Motivation For Kids Who Are Still Learning To Decode
Learning to decode is slow, effortful work, and it can wear down a child’s enthusiasm for reading long before the skill itself is solid. A child who…
Read articleIs Your Preschooler Ready To Learn Letter Sounds?
Many parents assume letter sounds are where reading instruction should start. There is actually a step that comes first, and it has nothing to do…
Read articleRed Flags In Popular Reading Curricula
Not every reading curriculum labeled “research-based” reflects current reading research. Some widely used programs still contain instructional…
Read articleAI Storytelling Apps vs Structured Literacy
AI storytelling apps are becoming a regular presence on tablets in homes and classrooms. These are tools that generate and narrate original stories…
Read articleHow Much Phonics Instruction Does A Child Need Per Day?
Parents often wonder exactly how many minutes of phonics instruction their child needs each day, and it’s a fair question to ask. Too little…
Read articleAI Reading Apps for Dyslexia: What Works?
Search the app store for dyslexia, and you will find a wave of apps promising to help. Some are built on solid ground. Others offer little more than…
Read articleWhy Some Children Learn to Read Earlier Than Others
In any kindergarten classroom, one child is already reading chapter books while another is still working out that letters make sounds. Both can be…
Read articleCan You Combine Multiple Phonics Programs?
It happens in a lot of homes. The school sends one phonics program, you downloaded a reading app that everyone recommends, and a well-meaning…
Read articleFrequently asked questions
Where should I start with phonics skills?
Start with the overview at the top, then use the topics list to jump to the area that matches your needs. Each topic links to a fuller guide.
Who are these phonics skills pages for?
Both parents and teachers. The guidance is practical and jargon-free, with classroom and at-home applications throughout.
How often is this guidance updated?
We review our phonics guidance regularly against current reading research, so recommendations stay evidence-based.
Related Sections
Phonics 101
Core concepts, sequencing, and the instructional foundations behind effective phonics teaching.
Explore Phonics 101 →
Struggling Readers
Intervention, dyslexia-informed support, multilingual considerations, and progress monitoring.
Explore Support →
Science of Reading
The research behind how children learn to read, and what it means for instruction.
Explore Research →