The Phonics Blog
Practical phonics articles for parents and teachers. Research-backed methods, age-by-age guides, free printables, and tried-at-home tips. 93 articles and counting.
DGE vs GE: The Soft-Sound Spelling Rule
Why 'bridge' and 'orange' spell the same /j/ sound differently, and how to teach the pattern instead of rote memorization.
CK vs K: The Spelling Rule Explained (with Word List)
The short-vowel-before-ck rule in one sentence, plus a full word list sorted by pattern.
5 min read
Letter Pals: A Free Alphabet Game in 4 Languages
Play Letter Pals free in your browser: meet, trace and play with the English ABC, Vietnamese letters with tone marks, Korean hangul and Japanese hiragana.
5 min read
Signs of Dyslexia in Early Phonics: What to Watch For
Not a diagnostic tool — only a professional can diagnose dyslexia. But knowing the early patterns worth watching helps you know when to ask for one.
7 min read
The 1-1-1 Doubling Rule for Adding Suffixes
One syllable, one vowel, one consonant — the rule that decides whether 'run' becomes 'runing' or 'running'.
6 min readHow to Teach Irregular Words Without Rote Memorisation
Most 'tricky' words are only partially irregular — 80% of the letters follow phonics rules. The partial-alphabetic strategy that teaches them 4× faster than flashcard drills.
7 min readBest Free Phonics Resources in 2026: Tested by a Parent
Flashcard sets, decodable reader libraries, printable worksheets, and browser games — every free resource we've tested, ranked by quality and ease of use.
6 min readPhonics Curriculum Comparison: Jolly Phonics, Read Write Inc, SPIRE, and More
Side-by-side comparison of 6 popular phonics programs — sequence, pace, cost, and parent-friendliness. Which one fits your child's age, budget, and learning style?
9 min read
Best Phonics Apps in 2026: Tested and Ranked
What actually matters in a phonics app — native-voice audio, a systematic sequence, no ad pressure — and how the most popular options compare.
7 min readThe Schwa Sound: Why the Most Common English Vowel Has No Letter
The schwa (ə) appears in 1 in 4 English syllables yet it's never taught explicitly. What it is, why it makes spelling hard, and how to teach kids to recognize it.
6 min read
Thanksgiving Phonics Words and Activities for Early Readers
Turkey, pie, corn, feast — a seasonal word list sorted by pattern, plus 3 quick games that turn Thanksgiving vocabulary into real decoding practice.
5 min read
Halloween Phonics Activities: Spooky Words to Sound Out
Spider, ghost, witch, moon — a seasonal word list plus 4 no-prep games that turn Halloween vocabulary into real decoding practice.
5 min read
Popular phonics resources
Teach phonics online — one short lesson a day
Sign in free and follow a plan that remembers where you are. Right here in your browser, on phone, tablet or computer — nothing to download.
- 92 step-by-step lessons, SATPIN first
- Big flashcards to show your child
- Games, checkpoints and progress for every sound
For little ones (2–6) there’s also our sound-play game on iPhone & iPad and Android.