#3: The Best Order to Teach Phonics Skills: A Step-by-Step Guide
Teaching phonics is like helping students climb a ladder—each skill builds on the previous one. But what’s the best order to teach phonics skills? Understanding the right sequence can make a huge difference in helping young learners become confident readers.
If you’ve ever wondered where to start and how to progress effectively, this guide will walk you through the best order to teach phonics skills, ensuring that students master foundational reading skills step by step.
Why Teaching Phonics in Order Matters
Phonics is the bridge between knowing letter names and being able to decode words fluently. Teaching phonics skills in a structured sequence ensures that students develop confidence, avoid confusion, and progress smoothly from simple to more complex reading tasks.
When phonics skills are taught systematically, students build on what they already know, reinforcing prior learning and applying it to new words. This approach aligns with the Science of Reading, which emphasizes explicit and systematic phonics instruction.
The Best Order to Teach Phonics Skills
Here’s a step-by-step progression of phonics skills, ensuring students move from basic letter sounds to more advanced decoding strategies:
1. Letter-Sound Recognition
- Teach students to recognize and associate letters with their corresponding sounds.
- Example: The letter M says /m/, the letter S says /s/.
- Focus on a small set of letters first (around 8) before introducing more.
2. Blending CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) Words
- Once students know some letter sounds, they can begin blending them into simple three-letter words.
- Example: cat, dog, sun, man.
- Teach words in word families (e.g., -at, -in, -og) to reinforce patterns.
3. Digraphs (Two Letters, One Sound)
- Introduce common digraphs where two letters make one sound.
- Example: ch (chip), sh (ship), th (that), ph (phone), wh (whale).
4. Magic E (Silent E) Words
- Teach students how a silent ‘e’ at the end of a word changes a short vowel to a long vowel.
- Example: kit → kite, can → cane, hop → hope.
5. Beginning Blends (Two Consonants Together at the Start)
- Help students recognize blends at the beginning of words.
- Example: sl (slip), tr (trip), bl (blue), gr (green), st (stop).
6. Ending Blends (Two Consonants Together at the End)
- Similar to beginning blends, but at the end of words.
- Example: nd (hand), st (fist), nt (tent), mp (jump).
7. Vowel Teams (Two Vowels Making One Sound)
- Teach students how two vowels together make a single sound.
- Example: oa (boat), ai (rain), ee (tree), ea (meat).
8. Diphthongs (Vowel Sounds That Glide)
- These are vowel pairs that create a gliding sound.
- Example: oy (boy), ou (shout), ow (cow), oi (coin).
9. R-Controlled Vowels
- Teach how the letter r changes the sound of the vowel.
- Example: ar (car), or (fork), er (her), ir (bird), ur (turn).
10. Suffixes & Prefixes
- Show students how adding word parts can change meaning.
- Example: unhappy (un-), joyful (-ful), replay (re-), kindness (-ness).
11. Trigraphs & Triple Blends
- Three letters making one sound or blending quickly.
- Example: tch (match), spr (spring), str (strong).
How to Teach These Skills Effectively
When introducing a new phonics skill, start with a sound-first approach by focusing on how the sound is formed in the mouth before connecting it to the written letter(s). Use multisensory techniques like:
✔️ Hand mirrors – Have students observe their mouth movements.
✔️ Air writing – Trace letters in the air while saying the sound.
✔️ Elkonin boxes – Use boxes to help students segment and blend sounds.
✔️ Word sorts – Group words by patterns to reinforce recognition.
✔️ Decodable texts – Provide practice reading words with the new skill in context.
Bringing It All Together
By following this best order to teach phonics skills, you’ll help your students build a strong foundation in reading. Start with simple letter sounds, gradually introduce more complex skills, and provide ample practice at each step. With a structured approach, your students will be decoding words fluently in no time!
Want More Support? Join The Science of Reading Formula!
Looking for step-by-step phonics lesson plans and ready-to-use resources? Join The Science of Reading Formula to access brain-friendly strategies that make phonics instruction easy and effective.
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Click the big blue “DOWNLOAD HERE” button below to print your copy of the phonics cheat sheets I mentioned in this episode and then hop over to TPT to purchase our complete set of step-by-step phonics lessons.
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