#35: Advanced Phonics Instruction
Unlocking Advanced Phonics Skills for Your Students
When I first started teaching phonics, I thought it was all about the basics. Matching letters to sounds. Sounding out those simple CVC words like cat and log. And don’t get me wrong, watching my students light up when they decoded their first word was pure joy. But over time, I realized there was so much more to phonics—especially as students grew and their needs changed.
If we’re not ready to teach advanced phonics, we risk leaving some kids behind—especially the ones who are ready for a challenge and eager to stretch their skills. That’s why today’s episode is all about helping you feel confident tackling advanced phonics. From vowel teams to multi-syllable words, I’ll break it all down step by step so you can start using these tips tomorrow.
What Exactly Is Advanced Phonics?
There’s no hard-and-fast rule, but I like to think of advanced phonics as everything beyond blends and digraphs. Once your students can handle skills like the sh in ship or the ft in left, they’re ready for the next steps—silent e, vowel teams, multi-syllable words, and beyond.
In a nutshell, advanced phonics is about equipping students with the tools they need to decode longer, more complex words with confidence.
why advanced phonics matters
Have you ever had a student sail through early phonics, only to hit a wall with longer words? Words like elephant or Mississippi can feel overwhelming if they don’t have the strategies to decode them.
Advanced phonics gives students the skills to break those big words down. It also challenges advanced readers who might be ready to take their skills to the next level. Plus, it’s the foundation for spelling, vocabulary growth, and overall reading fluency. When we teach these skills explicitly, we’re setting our students up for long-term success—not just in school, but in life.
Key Advanced Phonics Skills to Teach
1. Multi-Syllable Decoding: Big words don’t have to be scary! Teach your students to break them into smaller chunks by identifying syllables. Start by showing them how to spot syllables, what they are, and how the type of syllable affects the vowel sound.
For example, take the word elephant. Break it down: el-e-phant. Then teach them about open syllables (like me, where the vowel makes its long sound) and closed syllables (like men, where the vowel is short). With practice, this strategy becomes a go-to for decoding unfamiliar words.
2. Vowel Teams: Remember the old saying, “When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking”? It’s catchy, but not always reliable. Instead, help students practice common vowel teams like ai (as in rain), ay (as in say), and ea (as in team). Once they’ve mastered those, move on to trickier patterns like ie, igh, and vowel teams for long o (oa, oe) or long u (ew, ui). It’s all about exposure and repetition.
3. Dipthongs: Diphthongs are the dynamic duo of vowel sounds—they shift as you say them. Think of words like coin or cow. Your mouth starts in one position and moves as the sound progresses. Teaching diphthongs can be a blast! Have your students watch themselves in a mirror or record videos to see how their mouths move. It’s engaging and effective.
4. R-Influenced Vowels: Ah, the infamous “bossy R.” When a vowel is followed by an r, it tends to change the vowel’s sound completely. For example:
- ar in car
- or in for
- ir in bird
Help your students recognize these patterns so they’re not thrown off when they encounter them in text. And remember—like with any phonics skill, lots of practice is key!
5. Morphology- Suffixes and Prefixes: As your students progress, it’s time to dive into prefixes and suffixes. These small additions pack a big punch. Show them how adding -ing to run changes it to running or how un- and re- can transform a word’s meaning (fortunate vs. unfortunate). Start with a few common examples and build from there. Morphology isn’t just about decoding—it’s about building vocabulary and comprehension.
6. Trigraphs and Triple Blends: Ready for the next challenge? Trigraphs are three-letter combos that make one sound, like tch in match or dge in badge. Triple blends, on the other hand, keep their individual sounds but blend smoothly, like scr in scream or spr in spring. Teaching these patterns equips your students to tackle complex words with confidence..
Resources to support your teaching
Feeling a little overwhelmed? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. The Science of Reading Formula is packed with everything you need to teach advanced phonics. From lesson plans and reading passages to literacy centers and a full scope and sequence, we’ve got you covered.
With our step-by-step approach, you’ll save time and feel confident knowing you’re giving your students exactly what they need, when they need it.
IN THIS EPISODE, we’ll talk about…
- What advanced phonics really is and why it’s critical for fluency and comprehension.
- Common challenges students (and teachers!) face when tackling complex phonics patterns.
- Proven strategies, like syllable division rules and morphology that make advanced phonics instruction effective and manageable.
Ready to dive into advanced phonics?
Here’s how to get started:
- Assess your students to see which advanced phonics skills they’ve already mastered.
- Use the results to plan your lessons, focusing on one skill at a time.
- Incorporate plenty of practice opportunities, both in reading and writing.
- Stay consistent and explicit in your instruction, ensuring that students understand the “why” behind each concept.
If you’re looking for more support, consider joining our Science of Reading Formula membership. It’s packed with print-and-go tools, resources, and strategies that make aligning with the science of reading easy and enjoyable.
You’ve got this—one small step at a time.
Download your free scope and sequence
Ready to tackle advanced phonics instruction with strategy and best practices? Download your FREE Scope and Sequence below!
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