A little reading about reading

Clear answers for
curious grown-ups.

Short, practical introductions to sounds, blending and reading together. Our editorial library will grow alongside the programme.

Start with a question. Choose an article.

A sound is something we hear. A letter is something we see.

An everyday distinction that makes phonics easier to understand.

A speech sound is part of a spoken word. A letter is a written symbol. Phonics connects the two so a child can begin to work out unfamiliar written words.

Sometimes one letter represents a sound. Sometimes two or more letters work together. For example, in the word ship, the letters sh work together to represent one sound.

For home practice, follow the sound–letter connections your child has already been taught. Letter names remain useful, but when blending a word, use the relevant speech sounds.

What does blending actually look like?

Helping a learner join individual sounds into a word.

Blending means joining speech sounds together to read a word. In a simple word such as sat, a learner connects the sounds represented by s, a and t, then says the whole word.

An adult can model this slowly and then repeat it more smoothly. Keep extra vowel sounds off consonants where possible: a stretched /s/ is more helpful for blending than saying ‘suh’.

Choose words made only from patterns the learner already knows. If a word is too difficult, model it calmly and try something more familiar. The aim is useful practice, not a race.

There is room for both reading practice and a wonderful story.

Decodable practice and reading aloud do different, valuable jobs.

A text matched to taught sound–letter patterns gives a child a chance to practise decoding. Check the fit with their educator: a book can look simple and still contain patterns the child has not met.

Reading aloud to a child can introduce richer language, ideas and stories than they are ready to decode independently. Children can listen, ask questions and enjoy the story without being asked to read every word.

Keep both experiences welcoming. During decoding practice, allow time to work through a word. During a shared story, make space for conversation, curiosity and pleasure.

A confident next step

Turn a little reading into a little practice.

Start with a printable listening activity or a calm reading routine for home.

Browse free resources