How to Teach Phonics at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide

1What phonics is

Phonics is knowing which sounds the letters make, and using that to read and spell words. A child who knows that c, a and t make the sounds of cat can read cat without having seen it before.

Research on teaching reading finds that teaching phonics step by step, in a planned order, helps children learn to read.

2The order to teach it

First, listening: can your child hear that sun starts with the sound s? Then the letter sounds, a few at a time. Then blending: saying the sounds of a short word and joining them into the word.

After that come words with four or five sounds, letter teams such as sh, ch and th, the silent e in words such as cake, and longer words.

3A practice session

Start with two minutes of yesterday’s sounds or words. Add one new sound or one new kind of word. Read a few words with it, then one short sentence.

Stop while it is still going well. Ten good minutes beat a long session that ends in tears.

4When to move on

Move to the next step when your child does the current one easily, most days, without help. If a step is still hard after a week or two, stay there, or go back one step.

If you are not sure which step your child is on, a free check can show it in a few minutes.

Practice this in the free reading appReading games your child can play on a phone, tablet or computer. Every word can be sounded out. No sign-up.Open the app

Quick tips

• Say letter sounds short, with no extra uh: s, not suh.
• Use only words your child can sound out with the sounds taught so far.
• Start each session with yesterday’s work.
• Keep sessions short and daily.
• Read good books aloud to your child too.

Not sure where to start? Get a free plan for your child