10 Mistakes Teachers & Parents Make When Teaching Phonics—and How to Avoid Them

Hey Teacher and Parents,

Today's blog is one that is close to my heart. All about phonics ,which I will say I have a love-love relationship with. lol. This blog won't be my usual chatty style all the way though  as there is so much technical language which I have to use but hopefully I have made things clear and easy to understand. So without further ado, let's dive in.

Teaching a child to read using phonics is one of the best ways to set them up for success. Research consistently highlights phonics as the most effective method for teaching reading. The landmark Rose Report (2006) laid the foundation for modern phonics instruction in the UK, emphasising the importance of systematic synthetic phonics. Since then, numerous studies, including a 2022 meta-analysis published in the Review of Educational Research, have confirmed that phonics significantly improves reading accuracy and comprehension, especially for early learners and those struggling with literacy. Additionally, Castles, Nation, and Rastle (2018) posit that, “there is strong scientific consensus on the effectiveness of systematic phonics instruction during the initial periods of reading instruction.”

While phonics is a proven approach, it’s not always straightforward. Parents, and even teachers, can sometimes make mistakes that hinder a child’s progress. But don’t worry—this guide will help you avoid those pitfalls with practical advice and expert tips. Together, we’ll build your child’s confidence and reading skills, one sound at a time.

1. Teaching Letter Names Instead of Sounds

At the heart of phonics lies the alphabetic principle. The alphabetic principle is the understanding that there is a simple, predictable relationship between letters (graphemes) and their corresponding sounds (phonemes). It means that each letter or group of letters represents a specific sound and this relationship helps children decode (read) and encode (spell) words. Mastery of the alphabetic principle is crucial for early reading development, as it allows children to sound out words and understand how written language works.

For example, the letter "c" corresponds to the /c/ sound in "cat," and the grapheme "ay" makes the long /a/ sound as in "play."

When starting with phonics, it’s crucial to focus on teaching letter sounds rather than names. I have seen many parents focus on letter names which the children have to unlearn for a bit to focus on letter sounds. Why is this important? Because blending sounds, such as /c/-/a/-/t/, is how children decode and read words. Teaching names first can confuse this process. While names like “see” for "C" or “double-u” for "W" will come later, start with sounds to lay a strong foundation for reading success.

2. Not Using Pure Sounds (Please Avoid the Schwa)

Teaching sounds is essential but teaching pure sounds is even more important. Pure sounds are the isolated phonemes without any added “uh” (schwa) sound at the end. For instance:

• The sound for "s" should be a continuous /ssss/ (like a hissing snake), not “suh.”
• The sound for "p" is a sharp /p/, not “puh.”

Why does this matter? Adding the schwa can make blending difficult. If a child learns to say the sounds in "cat" as /cuh/-/a/-/tuh/, they’ll struggle to blend them into "cat." It might sound like "cuhatuh".  Instead, model pure sounds yourself and encourage your child to mimic you. Using a mirror to observe mouth shapes can also be helpful.

Fun Fact: The schwa is the most common vowel sound in English. Found in words like balloon or father. While it’s useful for natural speech, it’s important to avoid introducing it when teaching phonics.

3. Skipping a Systematic, Explicit Approach

Phonics instruction should be both systematic and explicit:

• Systematic: Teach phonics in a logical sequence, starting with simple, frequently used sounds and progressing to more complex ones. For example, begin with single-letter sounds (like /s/, /a/, /t/) before moving to digraphs (like "sh" or "ch"). By starting off like this, children are able to form and read words early on in the reading process.
• Explicit: Directly teach the relationships between graphemes and phonemes rather than leaving children to infer them. Clear guidance prevents confusion and ensures all children, regardless of their starting point, can succeed.

As opposed the meaning based or whole language approaches, an explicit systematic approach is tried and tested and helps  children to learn to decode quickly and confidently.

4. Neglecting Oral Blending Practise

Oral blending—blending sounds together without written letters—is an essential skill for early readers. It helps children hear how individual sounds combine to form words, building phonemic awareness.

You can practise oral blending through simple games, like Simon says:

• “Touch your b-a-ck” (child responds “back”)
• “Put on your c-oa-t” (child responds “coat”)

Start with three-sound (CVC) words, such as "cat" or "dog," before introducing longer words. If your child struggles, emphasize the first sound slightly to make blending easier.

Don’t mix up oral blending with blending to read. Oral blending does not include any letters, just sounds. When blending to read (decoding) the sound each grapheme makes is blended to together to say the written word.

Want to make practise fun? Download my FREEBIE: 150+ Oral Blending Words on Game Cards, packed with phonics games that progress from simple to more challenging. 

5. Sounding Out Tricky Words

Not all words play by the phonics rules, especially in English. Words like "the," "I," or "was" don’t follow predictable letter-sound correspondences and are called tricky words or common exception words.

These words should be taught by sight using simple phonics activities rather than sounding out. For example, instead of trying to phonetically decode "the," explain that it’s a tricky word and must be memorized. Repeated exposure through games, flashcards or daily reading practise helps these words stick. It is perfectly ok to dissect the word and identify which grapheme(s) are tricky when the word is introduced but remember to focus on “on sight” recognition of the word.

Do note: Some words start off as tricky words until the letter-sound correspondence that is tricky in that word, is learnt. For example “he” or “we” are tricky words because the letter “e” doesn’t make a short vowel sound. When a child is taught that the grapheme ‘e’ can also make the long /ee/ sound, the word no longer is tricky.

6. Encouraging the Child to Guess Words

Guessing words from pictures or context clues might seem helpful but it undermines phonics instruction. Phonics is about giving children a predictable framework for decoding words. When children guess, they’re relying on inconsistent strategies that can hinder their progress.

Instead, guide your child to sound out words step by step. Remind them that each letter or grapheme corresponds to a specific sound and encourage them to trust their phonics knowledge.

7. Using Books with Unfamiliar Sounds

Confidence is the foundation of learning to read and choosing the right books plays a critical role in nurturing it. It’s essential to provide reading materials that match the sounds your child has already mastered. For instance, if your child has learnt 10 sounds (which includes the sounds -d,o,g, i, b, g, t, a, s) then they can read simple sentences about dogs, such as  “It is a big dog” . A sentence such as “The dog can bark” has unfamiliar graphemes such as the ‘ar’ in “bark”.  Reading material with unfamiliar sounds can lead to frustration and erode confidence, so sticking to familiar ground is key.

There are many phonics reading books available, often as part of structured schemes, but it’s important to carefully evaluate them. Teachers need to ensure the books they assign align with the phonics progression their students are following. Parents, on the other hand, should double-check the content of books borrowed from libraries or purchased online. While many are labelled as "phonics books," not all follow a systematic progression.

Pro Tip: Teach four sounds a week to keep momentum while ensuring your child retains their learning. This steady pace builds confidence and avoids overwhelm.

8. Neglecting Segmenting for Spelling

While blending sounds together to read is a foundational skill in phonics, segmenting—the process of breaking words into their individual sounds for spelling—is equally important. These two skills are inversely related: blending involves combining phonemes to form a word, while segmenting requires isolating each sound within a word. For example, in blending, the sounds /d/, /o/, and /g/ are merged to form the word dog. Conversely, in segmenting, a child hears the word dog and identifies its constituent sounds as /d/, /o/ and /g/.

Segmenting is often overlooked but it is vital for developing strong spelling skills and deepening a child's understanding of the phoneme-grapheme relationship—the connection between sounds and their written representations. Without segmenting, children may struggle to spell unfamiliar words or recognise patterns in phonics.

To ensure segmenting gets the attention it deserves, try incorporating it into fun, engaging activities. For instance, you could play “robot talk,” where children pretend to be robots and segment words by speaking each sound separately in a robotic tone (e.g., "c-a-t"). Alternatively, use finger counting to mark each sound in a word, helping children visualize the structure of the word as they break it down.

Remember, segmenting is not just a spelling exercise—it’s an essential part of the reading and writing journey that complements blending. By fostering both skills, you equip children with the tools they need to decode and encode words confidently.

9. Not Transitioning to Silent Blending

Blending out loud is an important first step. However, as  a child becomes more confident with blending, transitioning to silent blending—where they combine sounds in their head—is essential for building fluency and reading speed. Silent blending enables children to process words more quickly, laying the foundation for seamless, fluent reading.

To encourage this, ask your child to read familiar words silently and only say the whole word aloud. Gradually increase the number of words they read this way to build fluency.

Pro tip: Not sure when to start silent blending? Is there a specific time frame? I suggest when your  child confidently blends CVC words (words with three sounds) they should be introduced to and encouraged to silently blend. This may be three (3)  weeks into instruction or six (6) weeks. Evaluate what works best for the learner but don’t forget to teach this important skill.

10. Being Inconsistent

It goes without saying but consistency is KEY. Phonics requires daily practise to reinforce learning and build fluency. Phonics time is protected time. If you are a teacher, ensure parents understand how important it is that their child does not miss any lessons. Parents if you are working at home with your child, you must ensure you keep up with the programme you are following. A few days off here and there can impede progress. It is also essential to make time each day for revision of previously learnt sounds as well as time to practise blending and segmenting and time to apply skills by reading fully decodable books.

Remember: Consistency also means sticking with a proven programme. Jumping between different methods or skipping lessons can confuse your child and slow progress.

BONUS: Not Asking for Help

If your child struggles, don’t hesitate to seek support. Early intervention, such as one-on-one tutoring, can make a huge difference. Whether it’s speech therapy for articulation issues, tutoring to close gaps in phonics knowledge or support to build fluency, addressing challenges early prevents bigger issues later on.

Daily targeted practise alongside regular lessons ensures children stay on track and feel confident in their abilities.

That’s it!

I hope this blog was helpful! Phonics is a powerful tool for teaching reading but success depends on using the right strategies. By avoiding these common mistakes and following these expert tips, you’ll help your child build a strong foundation for reading and spelling.

Ready to supercharge your child’s phonics and letter formation skills? Download my phonics for kids FREEBIES:

• 150+ Oral Blending Words on Game Cards
• Reversible Letter Posters
• Printable Tracing Worksheets (with stroke direction arrows)

These resources make phonics engaging and stress-free for teachers, parents and children. You’ve got this—happy teaching!

 

Kizzy xx

Looking for more Phonics activities? Coming soon are more resources which are great for EYFS Phonics, Kindergarten Phonics classes and more! Bookmark this page to come back.