Before children learn to read, they need to master letter sounds. Early readers are not yet ready to smoothly and fluently read the words on a page—instead, they must identify one alphabetical letter at a time, sound out each letter in each word, and then blend those sounds to form the word. This takes a lot of work!
Because of this, teaching letter sounds is an essential first step in literacy instruction. Quality of letter-sound education in kindergarten and prekindergarten can predict students’ literacy skills in years to come.
Want to know how to teach letter sounds to kids in a way that builds their reading skills? At Reading.com, we help parents and teachers embark on the early reading journey with their students. Follow these essential tips and read to the end for more educational resources!
Proper Instruction for Letter-Sound Correspondence
Teaching letter sounds is based on letter-sound correspondence, meaning each letter or combination of letters represents a specific sound in spoken language (for example, /ch/, /s/, /f/, or /oo/). The concept provides the knowledge children need to decode words by sounding them out through their series of letters.
For example, when teaching the letter “B,” teachers might start by introducing a flashcard with the bold letter “B” and a picture of a ball, explaining that the letter “B” makes the /b/ sound, as in “ball.” They then invite students to pronounce the /b/ sound and maybe use their fingers to trace the letter “B.” Next, instruction typically involves using this knowledge in everyday classroom settings. The class might play a game where students try to find or identify objects that start with the /b/ sound, such as a bag or book. This exercise helps build the connection between sounds and letters.
To make introductory letter-sound correspondences effective, start with basic sounds to progress to complex ones. More importantly, make sure learning is fun and engaging by incorporating games, participation, and songs to motivate kids and keep them interested.
Basic Strategies for Teaching Letter Sounds to Kids
Whether you homeschool your child or want to help them learn their letter sounds at home before they begin school, using different (and effective) strategies brings variety to this instructional phase.
Here are some important things to keep in mind as you begin teaching your child letter sounds!
Start With Short Vowels and Common Consonants
Some teachers start by teaching specific consonants like “B,” “A,” or “S” because they have clear, distinct sounds and are basic symbols to start with. It’s also common to begin with short vowel sounds since these are simpler than other complex letter sounds.
For every letter you introduce, be careful to pronounce the letter sound correctly. Demonstrate an exaggerated, accurate mouth shape when you pronounce the sound so your child can practice it correctly. This is also true for the schwa sound—the most common vowel sound in English. The schwa is pronounced like an unstressed short /u/ sound and can be represented by many or no vowels in a word (for example, ago, the, rhythm, brother, and system).
For more clarity on pronunciation, mouth shape, and the schwa sound, check out this video about English speech sounds.
Additionally, it helps to demonstrate letter sounds using example words (or key words) that are clear, easy to pronounce, and make sense to your child’s vocabulary level. Examples include the beginning letters of these example words:
- /b/ for ball
- /d/ for dog
- /m/ for mom
- /s/ for sun
- /a/ for apple
You can introduce the most common vowels and consonants to your child, or even the first letter of their first name.
Involve Multiple Senses in Learning
It’s helpful to incorporate multiple senses during your child’s learning experience. Instead of just pen and paper, use fun, tactile items such as rice, maize, and sand to help your child create or trace a new letter they’re learning.
According to Nell K. Duke, a professor of Education and Psychology at the University of Michigan, a multi-sensory method allows children to differentiate patterns and consistencies in phonics, improving their skills in decoding words efficiently. Encourage your kids to listen repeatedly to letter sounds whenever they come across objects with a sound they are learning.
Use Picture-Sound Associations
One way to make learning letter sounds easier for kids is to associate letter sounds with pictures of familiar objects. For example, give your child an apple and tell them to pronounce the letter name “A” and its sound, /a/. Associating visuals with the sounds enhances their memories when recollecting the sounds.
Practice With Alliteration
Remember tongue twisters? When multiple words contain the same beginning letter sound—such as “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”— this is called alliteration. Using developmentally appropriate alliteration is a fun way to teach and practice letter sounds with kids. This approach also brings musical elements to instruction and makes it easier for kids to differentiate between letter sounds in words.
Play Sound Matching Games
Playing letter games is an excellent way to teach letter sounds. You can create sound-matching games where you instruct your child to match objects or pictures with the sounds they give when pronounced. For instance, you can tell them to match a picture of a book with a picture of a ball with the /b/ sound.
Use Letter Songs and Rhymes
Sing songs that emphasize different letter sounds to help the kids remember them more easily. Nursery rhymes tend to do this! For example, “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” can be used to teach the /s/ sound to kids. You can also go further to creating your songs or use educational videos that include music and movement for easier engagement in their learning.
Practice Regularly
Consistency is key. It’s crucial to maintain a practice routine when teaching letter sounds to your child. Regularly teach and practice with your kids to reinforce learning and build confidence. You can have a specific time each day to practice this exercise with them, even if it’s a couple of minutes.
Use Technology Wisely
Technology is another useful, interactive, and engaging learning tool for kids. You can use digital games and educational apps that teach letter sounds. However, it’s necessary to use technology wisely and ensure you are present to guide your child while using them. Limit their screen time and balance digital learning with hands-on activities to prevent addiction.
Help Your Pre-Reader Learn Letter Sounds
From singing the alphabet song with your little one to helping them write their first name, letter-sound instruction is a fun and necessary process. With these essential strategies, you can help your child start recognizing letters in print and sounding out their very first words!
Still don’t know what order to teach your child their letter sounds in? With the Reading.com app, you and your early reader can take the journey through an evidence-based literacy program that helps kids begin reading with confidence. With our engaging, involved, and systematic approach, kids learn their letters and letter sounds so they can move on to reading words!
To get started, download the Reading.com app today for a 7-day free trial.