How to teach letter sound relationship

Knowing the connection between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes) is one of the first concepts your child will have to grasp as they begin their reading journey. Knowing which letters represent which sounds of speech (and vice versa) is crucial to overall literacy success.

What’s the best way to teach letter sounds and how can you help your child start learning the alphabet effectively? Discover some practical tips from phonics.org below.

How Children Learn the Sounds of the Alphabet

Before children can develop the phonics skills they need to read and learn on their own, they first need to implement the alphabetic principle. This principle is the knowledge of how individual letters and combinations of letters are used to represent sounds of spoken language.

This principle is most effectively taught when:

• Instruction happens in a fun, positive environment
• A structured, systematic approach is used
• Children have developed some phonemic awareness skills
• Letters are provided in context (in the classroom, at home, during play)
• Each letter sound is taught in complete isolation (for example, makes the /p/ sound, not /puh/.)
• Letter-sound correspondences are practiced consistently with modeling, guidance, and feedback from educators

Some kids may pick up letter-sound correspondence quickly whereas others might benefit from a multisensory approach that suits their needs.

A common example of these learning differences is that some children might have an easier time learning sounds (i.e., ‘truck’ begins with the /t/ sound), while others may find it more natural to identify letters first and then learn their sounds (i.e., this is the letter which makes the beginning sound of ‘apple’).

If your child leans toward one process over the other, start there! But remember to be consistent, review previously learned letters, and cover all letter sounds.

Beginner Phonics: Letter Sound Activities for Kids

Learning English alphabet sounds involves more than just flashcards and verbal repetition (although that can be part of it). Children learn best when they use multiple senses, activating different parts of the brain during literacy development.

Multisensory learning works well with letter-sound instruction. This involves sight, sound, and touch. Some activities may focus on one but often include multiple. All are important for the developmental process. Let’s cover some examples.

Tactile Activities to Teach Letter Sounds

Hands-on letter sound activities help your child engage in educational play using movement and touch, building a stronger awareness of the letters they’re learning. Here are some ideas.

• Playdough letters: On a sheet of paper, outline a large, individual letter using paint or a thick marker. Tell your child what letter it is and ask them if they know what sound it makes. If not, show them and have them repeat. Give your child playdough to roll or squish with their hands and fill in the letter. While they fill in the letter, come up with words together that start with that letter sound.
• Match items to their sounds: Arrange several toy letters on the floor. Grab a few of your child’s favorite items that begin with those letters and lay them out. Play a game with your child to see which items they can match to the corresponding letter sounds.
• Finger tracing: Have your child trace a letter using their finger. This can be done using sand, finger paint, or on a touchscreen device.
• Finger Cues: Use a simple, consistent finger cue in association with a single speech sound. Practice using the cue every time your child says the sound or sees the letter.

Playing tactile letter-sound activities that are fun and personal can help your child stay engaged.

Auditory Letter Sound Activities

Teaching alphabet sounds requires verbal and auditory games! Kids need to hear, repeat, and experiment with the language sounds of each letter.

• “I Spy”: In addition to learning the names and sounds of letters in print, your child should practice matching letter sounds to items in real life. “I Spy” is a fun game that activates kids’ curiosity, imagination, and existing knowledge of the alphabet. Take turns using the “I Spy” prompt with your child. For example, say, “I Spy something that starts with the sound /f/.” Your child may identify things like fridge, flower, fork, etc.
• Letter sound songs: Singing songs that help kids practice letter sounds is a classic and effective learning activity. The song Apples and Bananas is a popular example.
• Words that share sounds: Share a letter and its sound with your child. See if they can come up with other words that begin with the same letter. For example, your word is ‘mat’. They can match the beginning /m/ sound with words like ‘mom,’ ‘milk,’ ‘mine,’ etc.
• Articulation: Children learn to pronounce different sounds at different developmental ages. Showing your child how to make a specific sound accurately will help them associate that sound with a letter. Consult a speech language pathologist if you are concerned your child isn’t meeting developmental milestones with the pronunciation of speech sounds.

Verbal letter games can be played anywhere, any time. Make it fun and practice while at home, at the park, at the grocery store, and other everyday settings.

Visual Activities to Teach Letter-Sound Correspondence

Children learn to visually identify letters at their own pace. By kindergarten, some kids might know the entire alphabet while others are just beginning to learn the letters in their names. Either way, give these visual letter exercises a try.

• Alphabet books: There are many children’s alphabet books that help you practice letter identification and letter sounds at home. Look into age-appropriate books that support your child’s skill level including Eating the Alphabet and Llama Llama ABC.
• Name the letter: Use posters or flashcards to help your child review letters and their sounds. You can start with cards with uppercase/lowercase letters and related illustrations (like a honey bee on the card for the letter ). As your child learns more letter sounds, remove the illustration component and review the letters themselves.
• Embedded Picture Mnemonics: Some evidence supports the integration of letters with a picture that begins with that word. For example, see the embedded picture mnemonics created by artist Cat MacInnes.

Practice visual letter identification and letter sounds together. This is called Paired-Associate Learning. Repetition helps your child remember what they’re learning and build confidence in what they already know! Remember to switch things up and practice multiple activities that involve their other senses.

More Activities to Teach Kids Phonics

There are many ways to help your child learn letter sounds as they lay a solid foundation for reading success. With evidence-based instruction methods, plenty of encouragement, and diverse learning opportunities, your child will grow into an empowered learner!

To discover more tips and interactive activities that support early readers, explore the resources at phonics.org.