Phonics is the foundation of learning to read and write — but it can feel confusing if you’re just starting out. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what phonics is, how it works, and why following a specific sequence of sounds (from simple letters like s, a, t, p, i, n to trickier digraphs and trigraphs) helps children become confident, fluent readers.
When I first moved from teaching Upper Primary classes to Lower Primary, teaching Phonics was the one area that completely overwhelmed me. It was like people were speaking a different language!
So, if you are a new teacher or a parent trying to make sense of Phonics, check out this simple guide:
What is Phonics?
Phonics is the method of teaching children the relationship between sounds (we call them phonemes) and the letters or letter groups that represent them (graphemes).
Every word we say is built from sounds. When children learn to recognise, blend, and segment those sounds, they unlock the code of written language. (You might hear it called ‘The Science of Reading’).
For example, in the word ship, there are three sounds: /sh/ /i/ /p/.
When a child blends those together, they can read the word. When they break them apart, they can spell it.
That’s the magic of phonics — it teaches children to decode and encode words logically, rather than memorising them.
Why We Follow a Specific Order
Phonics teaching isn’t random — it follows a carefully planned sequence that builds confidence step by step.
We start with the first six sounds: s, a, t, p, i, n.
Why? Because with just those, children can read and write dozens of simple words — sat, pin, tap, nap, tin. Instant success!
Next come the remaining single sounds and some early digraphs (two letters that make one sound), such as ck, sh, ch, th, ng. Once those are mastered, we introduce vowel digraphs like ai, ee, igh, oa, oo, and finally trigraphs (three-letter sounds) such as air, ear, ure.
This order moves from simple to complex — helping children build solid blending and segmenting skills before tackling trickier sound combinations. It’s a bit like learning to walk before you run: each new sound builds on what came before.
The Bigger Picture
Phonics works best when it’s systematic, consistent, and fun.
Short daily practice, decodable books, and lots of praise go a long way. When parents and teachers follow this progression together, children develop real reading fluency and confidence — the kind that sets them up for a lifetime of literacy success.
So whether you’re teaching in the classroom or around the kitchen table, remember:
Phonics isn’t just about letters — it’s about giving every child the key to reading.
To help you with this, I have created a simple Phonics Sounds Sequence Chart to show you how this progression looks.
Download it here for FREE from my TPT Store.
David Wright | Mr Wright Teaching
Mr Wright Teaching 
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