#69: The Top 5 Things Phonics Programs Get Wrong (And How to Fix Them)
1. No Clear Scope and Sequence
Think of learning to read like building a house. If your phonics program isn’t teaching skills in a clear, step-by-step order — from basic to complex — it’s like handing a baby a pair of running shoes before they’ve learned to crawl.
What to look for: Are skills taught in a logical progression?
Red flag: Teaching digraphs like th just because it’s November (hello, Thanksgiving) — not because students are ready for them.
How to fix it: Use a systematic scope and sequence that scaffolds skills thoughtfully. This ensures every student has the foundational knowledge they need before moving forward.
2. Teaching Letter Sounds Without Building Automaticity
Ever teach the letter b and t — only to find students still struggle with reading “bat”? That’s because they haven’t had enough time to internalize and apply what they’ve learned.
How to fix it: Build fluency through repetition.
- Use decodable texts packed with the target sound (like short a words: can, sat, tap).
- Encourage repeated readings and make it fun by letting kids collect signatures from classmates or family members after each read.
3. Not Using Decodable Texts to Reinforce Skills
If your phonics program doesn’t provide decodable texts, students won’t have the chance to practice new skills in context. That’s like teaching kids where the C key is on the piano — but never letting them play a song.
How to fix it: Match every phonics lesson with targeted decodable texts.
- Reinforce the skill immediately after teaching.
- Add playful literacy centers (like Phonics Four in a Row) to extend practice through fun.
4. Skipping or Rushing Through Phonemic Awareness
Phonemic awareness is the concrete foundation beneath all reading instruction. If students can’t hear and manipulate sounds, they’ll struggle to connect them to written letters and spelling patterns.
How to fix it: Add daily phonemic awareness warm-ups — just 5 minutes a day.
- Focus on segmenting, blending, and manipulating sounds.
- These quick routines can completely transform decoding and spelling skills.
5. No Built-In Differentiation Support
Kids don’t learn to read at the same pace — and they shouldn’t be taught as if they do. If your phonics program is one-size-fits-all, it’s going to leave students behind (or hold others back).
How to fix it: Group students by skill level.
- Start by assessing: Are they working on letter sounds? Digraphs? Vowel teams?
- Use print-and-go materials for small-group instruction.
You likely only need 3–4 groups, not 25 different lesson plans.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- Why following your phonics program “perfectly” might still leave students behind
- The biggest red flag in your scope and sequence (and how to fix it)
- How to turn decodable texts into a fun fluency game
- What phonemic awareness has to do with a leaky roof
- The secret to differentiation that takes 5 minutes or less
Bringing It All Together
It’s not you. It’s the program. But thankfully — you don’t have to stay stuck. When you recognize the gaps and know how to fill them, everything changes.
By avoiding these five common phonics pitfalls and making a few smart tweaks, you’ll be able to support every reader in your room — no matter where they’re starting from.
Want More Support? Join The Science of Reading Formula
If you’re tired of guesswork and ready for done-for-you lesson plans, decodable texts, and literacy centers that are actually fun to prep and teach — join us inside The Science of Reading Formula.
You’ll get everything you need to make phonics click for your students (and make teaching feel a whole lot easier).
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