Whether you are homeschooling a child, helping a student who is struggling to learn to read or working with learning disabled adults, using phonics to teach reaching should be part of your reading instruction program.

So how should you get started with phonics and what do you need to heave ready?

Getting Started:

1. A systematic phonics program, usually available as a software or online program.
A good phonics program can make your reading instruction much stronger and help you to stay organized and on-track. You can learn about some of the phonics programs we prefer in this site.
2. Purchase a set of phonics flashcards or print out for free from the web: http://www.mes-english.com/phonics/files/az_flash.pdf
3. Decodable stories. The reading program you choose should include decodable stories, but you can always use more. Here are some free decodable stories: http://www.freereading.net/index.php?title=Illustrated_Decodable_fiction_passages.
4. Good writing supplies like: index cards, file for the cards, wide-tip markers, beginner’s wide-ruled writing tablet, pencils, erasers.

Lesson 1 – Week 1 (continue for 4 weeks until fully memorized)
The 5 short-vowel sounds and consonant sounds.
Students need to be drilled in these sounds until they are memorized. Doing the drills frequently and consistently is the key to success. This can be done by using the flashcards. Add some consonant sounds each day until you are drilling all short-vowel sounds and consonant sounds daily.

Lesson 2
Two-letter blends.
Drill until blending is automatic.
After the student knows the short-vowel sounds and consonant sounds, next is orally blending two letters (b-a, ba) and reading two-letter blends such as: ba, be, bi, bo, bu.

Lesson 3
Three-letter blends.
Drill until blending is automatic.
Once a student can read two-letter blends, he can progress to three-letter blends – actual words. Each day, the student should practice reading a set of short-vowel words, then dictate these same words to him.

Lesson 4
Teach the twin-consonant endings, plurals, and two-consonant blends.
Drill until blending is automatic.

Lesson 5
Digraphs (ch, sh, th, wh, ng, nk).
A digraph consists of two consonants that form a new sound when combined. Also teach three-consonant blends.

Lesson 6
Introduce some high-frequency words necessary to read most sentences.
Once a student can read three-letter and four-letter words easily, move on to high-frequency words that are necessary to read sentences. Some high-frequency words are phonetically regular (such as “or”), but are introduced out of sequence because of their importance. Other words are irregular, because they don’t follow the rules of phonics (such as “once” and “who”).
Write the Basic High-Frequency Words index cards and introduce a few new words each week. The students should practice these words every day.

Lesson 7
Long-vowel sounds
There are five common spellings for each long-vowel sound. Also teach the “Silent-e Rule”: When a one-syllable word ends in “e” and has the pattern vce (vowel-consonant-e), the first vowel says its name and the “e” is silent.

Lesson 8
R-controlled vowel sounds and their spellings.

Lesson 9
Diphthongs /oi/ and /ow/ and their spellings.
A diphthong consists of two vowels that form a new sound when combined. Teach other special sounds.

Lesson 10
Teach /aw/, /awl/, /awk/ and their spellings.

Lesson 11
Teach these sounds and spelling patterns.

/s/ spelled c
Rule: c followed by e, i, or y sounds like /s/.
/j/ spelled g, ge, dge
Rule: g followed by e, i, or y usually sounds like /j/.
/f/ spelled ph
Rule: ph sounds like /f/ in words of Greek origin.
/k/ spelled ch
Rule: ch sounds like /k/ in words of Greek origin.
/sh/ spelled ch
Rule: ch sounds like /sh/ in words of French origin.

Lesson 12
Students should be ready for reading decodable stories after 3-4 months of the previous lessons and continuous practicing.

Once a student has mastered decodable stories, it is time to move to simple stories and books. In general, it takes 1-2 years for phonics understanding to be completely internalized.

Introduce phonics activities to your children early on.
With phonics, kids are taught to read in a systematic, methodical way. Preschool children naturally learn to read through pronouncing sounds and syllables, in addition to recognizing letter-sound relationships.

• Combine reading a good children’s book out loud with reading worksheets and reading skills activities.
• Tailor a program suitable for your child at home or at a school and teach reading skills according to your child’s learning needs.
• Integrate books and writing skills with your phonics activities to determine what works best for him.
• Compose a short story with your child and have him/her write it down. Sound the words out while writing.
• Build a personal library and have your children browse, read and discuss their stories together

Topics in Reading Keeping it Fun

Phonics at Home Recommended Magazines Ready to Read? Phonics Movies Make reading fun with a magazine! Subscribing to a magazine is a great way to encourage a child to read.  Try Zoobooks -The #1 Kids Magazine about Animals! Learning to read is THE most important skill a child will learn. It is the basis for his entire education. But it should not feel like a chore. It should be fun and satisfying! If you see your child struggling, help is readily available – phonics software, guide books, tutors, online information. You can help ensure their success in learning to read!

Start Learning to read . . .

What is the best way for your child to learn to read?

Introduce phonics activities to your children early on.
With phonics, kids are taught to read in a systematic, methodical way. Preschool children naturally learn to read through pronouncing sounds and syllables, in addition to recognizing letter-sound relationships.

• Combine reading a good children’s book out loud with reading worksheets and reading skills activities.
• Tailor a program suitable for your child at home or at a school and teach reading skills according to your child’s learning needs.

• Integrate books and writing skills with your phonics activities to determine what works best for him.
• Compose a short story with your child and have him/her write it down. Sound the words out while writing.
• Build a personal library and have your children browse, read and