Reading & Phonics · Pre-K – Grade 1
Letter Sounds
Each letter (and a few letter pairs) maps to a sound the child can produce.
First, your child should already…
Nothing — this is a starting point on the path to reading.
What your child is learning
The child learns the individual sound each letter stands for — not the letter name, the sound. This is the bedrock of decoding: before a child can read a word, they must reliably turn each letter into its sound.
Signs your child is ready
- Recognizes and names most letters
- Hears the first sound in a spoken word (“what does sun start with?”)
- Enjoys rhyming and sound play
The common stumbling point
Confusing the letter name with its sound (saying “bee” for b instead of /b/), and mixing up visually similar letters like b/d/p.
Practice this skill
Worksheets and decodable practice for Letter Sounds are in the library.
Practice this skill with All AccessHow to know it’s mastered
Shown letters in random order, the child produces the correct sound for at least 24 of 26 letters within a few seconds each.
What comes next
Once this is solid, move on to:
Oral Blending →