Simple Strategies For Teaching Phonics At Home

If you've ever questioned whether you're teaching phonics the "right" way, you're not alone. It doesn’t have to be on the list of things that may intimidate you as a homeschool parent. Let’s use our simple strategies to help.

Teaching your child to read is one of the most rewarding, yet intimidating, challenges of homeschooling. Many parents feel confident about fostering a love of books but struggle when it comes to structured literacy—especially phonics and comprehension beyond fluency. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to be a reading specialist to teach foundational reading skills effectively.

The Importance of Teaching Phonics

Phonics is the foundation of reading. It teaches children how letters and sounds work together to form words, which is crucial for independent reading. Without a strong grasp of phonics, kids rely on guessing or memorization, which only gets them so far. Eventually, they hit a wall where they can’t decode new words—and that’s where reading struggles begin.

The key? Start with simple steps. Follow these 4 helpful strategies for teaching phonics at home.

1. Break It Down -One Sound at a Time‍

Teach your child to break words into smaller parts. Look at the first letter and say the sound. Move to the next sound and blend as you go.

S-U-N ➝ “/s/ - /u/ - /n/” ➝ “SUN!”

2. Look for Word Families & Patterns

Several words follow patterns! Take the time to teach word families to your child like -at, -op, -ing. When they know one, they can decode others easily!

C-AT, M-AT, H-AT

3. Use Finger Tracking to Blend

Encourage your child to slide their finger under the word as they read. This helps them connect sounds smoothly instead of guessing.

B-A-T ➝ BAT!

4. Practice, Praise & Make It Fun!

When you think they are ready, try decodable books to reinforce phonics skills! Celebrate every small win to build confidence. Want to know our personal favorite? Practicing phonics with a fun game!

How to Make Phonics Fun: Use An At-Home Phonics Game!

To help build confidence in phonics, it’s important to use hands-on, interactive activities that reinforce sound recognition. Our Phonics Step 1 BINGO Game is designed for beginner readers and helps them practice letter sounds in a way that’s engaging, stress-free, and perfect for homeschool settings.

Free Fun Phonics Game For Beginner Readers

Using our free phonics bingo game is a great tool to master this teaching point and make this lesson a success, and here’s why. 

• It builds automatic recognition of letter sounds.
• It strengthens listening skills—an essential component of phonemic awareness.
• It gives kids a chance to practice decoding sounds in a fun, low-pressure way.
• It makes phonics feel like playtime instead of a lesson.

You Can Teach Phonics—Even If You Feel Unqualified

If you're feeling unsure about teaching phonics, know this: You don’t need an advanced degree to help your child build strong reading foundations. What you do need is a simple approach that works. By using tools like our free Phonics BINGO printable, you can take structured literacy and make it hands-on, engaging, and achievable at home.

You can check out our FREE Phonics Step 1 BINGO Game here. Download it today!