Phonics is a method of teaching children to read by teaching them the sounds that letters and letter groups make. There are 44 sounds in the English language, which are made up of 20 vowel sounds and 24 consonant sounds! Because of the complexity, these sounds are often taught in a specific order so that children can build up their knowledge of the sounds gradually.
The order in which the sounds are taught is based on the frequency of the sounds in the English language. The most common sounds are taught first, followed by the less common sounds. This helps children to start reading words as quickly as possible. If you are a teacher or are teaching your own children to read at home, it’s very helpful to know and understand the most effective phonics instruction sequence.
Why Phonics is Taught in a Specific Order
The most common approach is to teach children the sounds of letters in a specific order. This order is generally based on the most common letter combinations that occur in the English language. By starting with the most common letter combinations, children can quickly learn to read basic words. As they progress, they can learn to read more complex words that contain less common letter combinations.
While the order of teaching phonics may seem arbitrary, there is actually a great deal of research that has gone into determining the most effective way to teach children the sounds of letters. By following this research-based approach, teachers can help ensure that children learn to read as quickly and effectively as possible.
The Order of Teaching Phonics
- Letter names - It’s important for letters and their sounds to be introduced to children at the very start of teaching phonics. Children need to be able to recognize letters and the sounds they make before moving on to combining letters and forming words.
- Short vowels: a, e, i, o, u. - In English, short vowels are those that are pronounced with the mouth in a relatively closed position.
- Long vowels: a, e, i, o, u. - Long vowels are held for a longer duration than short vowels. This difference is due to the position of the tongue and the shape of the mouth when producing these sounds.
- Digraphs - Digraphs are two letter combinations that represent a single sound. The most common digraphs are ch, sh, th, and ph.
- Blends - Blends are two letter combinations that represent a single sound, but the sound is made up of the individual sounds of the letters. The most common blends are st, sp, and tr.
- Trigraphs - Trigraphs are three letter combinations that represent a single sound. The most common trigraphs are ight, tch, and dge.
- Complex consonants - Complex consonants are consonant sounds that are made up of two or more individual sounds. The most common complex consonants are ck, ng, and nk. With these consonants it’s critical to make sure to emphasize the most common consonants first.
- R-controlled vowels - R-controlled vowels can be a bit tricky when teaching phonics. They occur when a vowel is followed by an "r" in the same syllable. The most common r-controlled vowel is the "ar" sound, as in the word "car." Other r-controlled vowels include the "er," "ir," and "ur" sounds.
- Diphthongs - Diphthongs are two-vowel sounds that occur in the same syllable. The most common diphthongs are the "ai" sound, as in the word "rain," and the "oi" sound, as in the word "coin."
Resources for Teaching Phonics
There are many resources available to help teachers and parents teach phonics. Two of the most popular phonics resources are “The National Reading Panel Report,” which provides an overview of the evidence supporting the teaching of phonics. And, “The National Literacy Strategy,” which offers guidance on the teaching of reading, including the use of phonics.
Phonics is a complex system, and children require a systematic approach in order to learn it effectively. Following a specific set of steps can help to ensure that all children are able to learn phonics at their own pace. For more phonics resources and printables that you can use in your classroom, click here.