Phonics for

Young Learners
Karen Elliott
12 May 2021

© Cambridge University Press

Webinar overview
1. Quick quiz: what do you know?
2. Phonics is everywhere!
3. First principles: the alphabetic code
4. Tips and tricks for teaching phonics
phases
5. Questions and answers

© Cambridge University Press

Fun Phonics Quiz

1. We don’t have to use the

English animal sounds
because the words don’t
mean anything!
(e.g. woof, cheep, hoot)
True, False or idk?

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© Cambridge
University University Press
Press
Fun Phonics Quiz

2. The Alphabetic Codes in

Spanish and English are
almost the same.

True or False (or idk)?

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© Cambridge
University University Press
Press
Fun Phonics Quiz

3. Phonics starts with

identifying sounds, not letters.

True or False (or idk)?

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© Cambridge
University University Press
Press
Fun Phonics Quiz

4. Friendly blends are letters

that like each other.

True or False (or idk)?

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© Cambridge
University University Press
Press
Fun Phonics Quiz

5. Alternative spellings are different

ways to spell the same word.

True or False (or idk)?

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© Cambridge
University University Press
Press
Fun Phonics Quiz

6. Tricky words are tricky

to teach.

True, False, Sometimes (or idk)?

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© Cambridge
University University Press
Press
Phase 1 Phonics
Learning to hear
sound qualities
• soft
• loud
• long
• short…
Phase 1: storytelling, funny games, puppets…
Phase 1 Phonics for Teachers
Phase 1 Phonics for Teachers

moo knock beep tick tock

cluck drip crunch splash

Initial letter sounds

Phonics in the classroom: flashcards and phonics wall

The English Alphabetic Code: Consonants with major alternative spellings
b c/k d f g h
bat cat dog fish golf hat
rabbit kick daddy puff bigger
elephant
j l m n p r
jam leg map net pig rock
giraffe silly mummy sunny happy hurry
orange know write
bridge
s t v w x y z
sun top van wind box yes zoo
dress kitty when buzz
horse cheese
circle legs

ch sh* th / th qu ng
ship
chips king
chef that / three queen
witch think
*zh: vision
The English Alphabetic Code: Consonants with major alternative spellings
b c/k d f g h
bat cat dog fish golf hat
rabbit kick daddy puff bigger
elephant
j l m n p r
jam leg map net pig rock
giraffe silly mummy sunny happy hurry
orange know write
bridge
s t v w x y z
sun top van wind box yes zoo
dress kitty when buzz
horse cheese
circle legs

ch sh* th / th qu ng
ship
chips king
chef that / three queen
witch think
*zh: vision
First sounds in words: classroom activities
a) Same letter sounds (phonics bag)
b) Mixed letter sounds (great for topics)
c) I spy with my little eye, something beginning with…
Jamboard: online activities for initial letter sounds:
What’s the first sound in the word?

https://jamboard.google.com/d/1Y1kahnlt-hzi__TW3SKfzlsSHYGELtqAAtS_CmfzW2g/viewer?f=0
Blending
a
c t

Friendly blends (initial position)

The English Alphabetic Code: Vowels with major alternative spellings

a e i o u
ant egg in on up
bread

ai ee ie oa ue oi
rain see pie boat cue oil
day eat my yellow new boy
lake scene light home cube
funny mine
ou oo /ʊ/ / oo /u:/ ar or er + /ǝ/
house look / moon park short her
brown blue talk bird
rule awful nurse
autumn sister
The English Alphabetic Code: Vowels with major alternative spellings

a e i o u
ant egg in on up

ai ee ie oa ue oi
rain see pie boat cue oil
day eat my yellow new boy
lake scene light home cube
funny mine
ou oo /ʊ/ / oo /u:/ ar or er + /ǝ/
house look / moon park short her
brown blue talk bird
rule awful nurse
autumn sister
Jamboard: online activities for short vowel letter sounds.
There are fewer words but we can expose children to text in a friendly way!
What’s the first sound in the word?

https://jamboard.google.com/d/1EwDGNCQOjrJBO_DHFbcysTzkNnlTWSP068
MSOXxFxHc/viewer?f=0
© Cambridge University Press
https://jamboard.google.com/d/1oaOIk7gxKJN8ADbZwt7c4VjkCPqb_dfYXNLzBky7mNI/vie
wer?f=0
Phase 2: bingo, mini-whiteboards, snap…
bingo

sun
bingo

ant
https://jamboard.google.com/d/1F_MIzoHMLao_mp9q6hkyLinlHYMFtfv7RBZMde_luj4/
viewer?f=0
KB2 PBp52
SM1WB
3 The Friendly Blenders Game

...also br, cr, dr, pr, thr, bl, cl, gl, pl, sk, sm, sn, squ, scr, spl, spr, str

fr gr tr fl sp st
Phase 3 phonics
Digraphs, trigraphs
Split digraphs
Alternative spellings
More tricky words
The English Alphabetic Code: Vowels with major alternative spellings

a e i o u
ant egg in on up
bread

ai ee ie oa ue oi
rain see pie boat cue oil
day eat my yellow new boy
lake scene light home cube
funny mine
ou oo /ʊ/ / oo /u:/ ar or er + /ǝ/
house look / moon park short her
brown blue talk bird
rule awful nurse
autumn sister
https://jamboard.google.com/d/1iOAJ38pIVclJ8xn83flUBLZq6s8XjDYp-
AT9jaZf12g/viewer?f=0
Teaching Tricky Words
1. How should it sound?
2. Drilling and repetition
3. Matching: sounds the same
4. Rhyming songs, chants and poems
5. A tricky word board, box or activity
sun peas
shoe

one

zoo keys
https://jamboard.google.com/d/1FDKl2g5yjumQaFS0FMXG4hFNl-
MlYAS7ss3typd0JR8/viewer?f=0
Questions…

© Cambridge University Press

© Cambridge University Press