Phonics websites for teaching
Best Phonics Websites - EducationalAppStore
Reading Eggs is an online reading program that helps children learn to read. Hundreds of online reading lessons, phonics games, and books for ages 2–13. The program is a great way for your child to prepare for school, or help them catch up with their classmates if they are struggling with phonics.
Reading Eggs is a fun phonics site that explores the reading process through the use of games. Reading Eggs teaches letter-sound combinations with one-on-one instructional lessons, games and e-books. This website has short games that build phonemic awareness to help children apply word knowledge and decode text. Teachers also get instant feedback on student progress and target in-class reading teaching.
PBS Kids is a free website that helps children to learn phonics in a fun and interactive way. PBS Kids features all of the educational programs the television station PBS offers for kids. Each program has different types of engaging games and activities to help kids learn several skill sets. PBS Kids games and activities include many different alphabet learning tools addressing all learning aspects of the alphabetic principle such as alphabet order, letter names and sounds; initial, middle, and ending sounds in words, and sound blending. PBS Kids has a reading, spelling, and thinking component.
Kids can have stories read to them while watching their favorite characters and seeing the words across the bottom of the screen. Kids can learn how to spell words with many games and songs specifically targeting spelling. PBS Kids has a printable section where kids can learn through coloring and following directions. PBS Kids also addresses math, science, and other subjects. Kids get the unique opportunity to interact with characters from their favorite programs in a fun learning environment. Children ages 2-10 can benefit immensely by using PBS kids.
ReadWriteThink is a terrific interactive phonics and reading site for K-12. This site is backed by the International Reading Association and NCTE. ReadWriteThink has resources for classrooms, professional development, and for parents to use at home. ReadWriteThink offers 59 different student interactives ranging throughout the grades. Each interactive provides a grade suggested guide.
These interactives cover various topics including alphabetic principle, poetry, writing tools, reading comprehension, character, plot, book covers, story outlines, graphing, thinking, processing, organizing, summarizing, and many others. ReadWriteThink also offers printouts, lesson plans, and author calendar resources.
This award-winning phonics game is completely free to use on a PC and an app can be purchased relatively inexpensively for use with tablets. The game is designed for children of primary school age in the UK. However, some of the activities in the Classroom Toolkit section would be suitable for using at home with younger children.
The site gives your child free access to a series of activities with a common storyline and increasing levels of difficulty. Teach Your Monster to Read isn’t a stand alone phonics programme, but it’s certainly a good way of providing variety and reinforcing key ideas.
Starfall is an excellent free interactive phonics website that is suitable for grades PreK-2nd. Starfall has many different components for kids to explore the reading process. There is an alphabet component where each letter is broken down in its own little book. The book goes over the sound of the letter, words that begin with that letter, how to sign each letter, and the name of each letter. Starfall also has a creativity section.
Kids can build and decorate things like snowmen and pumpkins in their own fun creative way while reading a book. Another component of Starfall is reading. There are several interactive stories that help foster learning to read in 4 graduated levels. Starfall has word building games, and also has a math component where kids can learn early math skills from basic number sense to early addition and subtraction. All of these learning components are offered to the public at no charge. There is an additional Starfall you can purchase for a small fee. The additional Starfall is an extension of the learning components discussed previously.
6. Softschools
Softschools is a terrific site to help learners from Pre-K through Middle School develop a strong reading sense. The site has grade specific tabs you can click on to customize your learning outcome. Softschools has quizzes, games, worksheets, and flashcards designed to highlight specific topics within phonics and language arts. A few of these topics include grammar, spelling, reading comprehension, lowercase/uppercase letters, abc order, beginning/middle/ending sounds, r controlled words, digraphs, diphthongs, synonyms/antonyms, pronoun/noun, adjective/adverb, rhyming words, syllables, and many more.
The worksheets and quizzes can either be automatically generated or custom made by the teacher. Softschools also has a test prep section for 3rd grade and up. Softschools is not just a fantastic phonics and language arts site. It is also excellent for many other subjects including math, science, social studies, Spanish, handwriting, and others.
7. ICTgames
ICTgames is a fun phonics site that explores the reading process through the use of games. This site is geared toward PK-2nd. ICTgames has around 35 games covering various literacy topics. The topics included in these games are abc order, letter sounds, letter matching, cvc, sound blends, word building, spelling, sentence writing, and several others. The games are centered around dinosaurs, planes, dragons, rockets, and other age-appropriate subjects designed to engage students. ICTgames also has a math game component that is extremely helpful.
5 Shockingly Free Phonics Websites for Kids
I’m a reading teacher that scoured the Internet to find the very best, and free, phonics websites for kids. These websites allow students to learn phonics and practice reading through online games.
Are you looking for free websites that can help teach kids how to read through phonics?
Kids already love to play on the computer – so let’s meet them where they’re at!
I’ve spent hours scouring the Internet for the BEST phonics & reading based websites for kids. I can honestly say that I am shocked that these are free.
Note: Due to school closures (March 2020), many of these websites are offering their services for free for a limited time. While I am working on updating this post, it is important to note that these websites were free as of March 26, 2020.
Free Phonics Websites for Kids Learning to Read
For each website or app, I’ve included a brief description of what the website has to offer and any current limitations on free trials.
Free trials include parents unless otherwise noted. =)
Reading Eggs
When I started the search for free phonics websites for kids, this was one of the first “worthy” websites that I found!
What is it: Reading Eggs is a website and app where kids can follow structured, self-paced lessons for learning phonics, sight words, spelling, and more! It is truly individualized, which I find amazing. 😍
I love that these online reading games and activities are based on scientific research!
It also shows reading level growth, books read, quiz scores, and motivates kids with certificates that they can earn! (Ages range from 2-13 and it includes Mathseeds, too!)
Free Offer Details: Until March 31, 2020, Reading eggs is offering one month [30 days] free. This includes the website and the app. There is no credit card required, although you do have to make an account.
click here to sign up for reading eggs
Raz-Kids: Headsprout
What is it? Headsprout is an adaptive online reading program. The program is individualized for each student based on their responses.
It provides instant feedback, assesses mastery, and generates reports. All of this is happening while students play online interactive learning games!
Free Offer Details: They are currently offering a free 90-day trial. When you sign up for the 14-day free trial, and it will automatically extend it to 90-days.
Note: Headsprout and Reading A-Z are under the same umbrella company, Raz-Kids. If you made an account after reading my blog post about free online books for kids, you’ll want to use the same log-in!
Click here to sign up for Headsprout
Teach Your Monster to Read
What is it? Teach Your Monster to Read is an award-winning series of games that have helped millions of kids learn how to read.
It teaches students reading by teaching letters, sounds, blending, and all of the phonics skills. The best part is there are enough games to last 2 years!
Teachers: You can go to this page to see exactly which skills are covered in which games. Talk about targeting & differentiation! 😍
Free Offer Details: Great news! The desktop version of Teach Your Monster to Read is always free.
click here to sign up for teach your monster to read
Learn with Homer
Ok, I really debated on whether or not to include this website!
I hesitate because it does require a credit card (or PayPal) in order to sign up for your 30 day free trial. [After 30 days, the cost is $7.95/month.] If you’re not interested in doing that, skip down to the next website.
However, I decided to list it because it is AMAZING. And also, I really hope that schools will open again in the next 30 days. 😭
So be like me and sign up, but put a reminder on your phone for 28 days out to cancel. And add another reminder for 29 days out, in case you forget to cancel the first time! 😉
Then in the end, your kids got 28 days of reading practice while school was out. #winning 💃🏻
What is it? Learn with Homer is a personalized step by step learning plan that includes over 1,000 guided lessons and games for phonics, sight words, handwriting, comprehension, and more.
When you sign up, it asks you the child’s “passions”, figures out their current reading level, and generates a plan/program for them. It’s research-based and it shows!
Free Offer Details: As I previously mentioned, it is free for 30 days, but it does require a credit card in order to activate the free trial.
(It was also advertised on the site that it is free for educators, however, I could not get that page to work. The individual student page free trial worked perfectly.)
click here to sign up for learn with homer
Lalilo
What is it? Lalilo is a free online tool for K-2 teachers and students. It provides kids with personalized exercises that are playful and interactive.
Then it takes information from that and provides teachers with data to track whole class and individual progress. Teachers can assign specific lessons to their students, too!
Free Offer Details: Their website says that in order to support educators and their students, all of Lalilo is entirely free. Whohoo!
click here to sign up for Lalilo
Note for Parents: You do need a code from your child’s teacher in order to access Lalilo. They’ve made it easy for you to request a code on their website. They’ll send that request straight to the teacher!
Do you know of any shockingly free phonics websites for kids?
If you know of any other amazing websites that offer free phonics lessons and games, please (with a 🍒on top) let me know in the comments below! 👇🏼
Let’s keep fueling every child’s passion for reading (even when schools are closed)!
More Free Phonics & Reading Resources!
Have you checked out these free websites where kids can read books online?
Did you download and share this free at home reading challenge?
Short phonetic course
Contacts
Academic buildings:
m. Sokolniki, st. Babaevskaya, 3 View on the map;
m. Kyiv, st. B. Dorogomilovskaya, 7/2 View on the map
For education:
8-968-987-23-21
8-499-240-22-65
For inquiries:
8-916-77-99-787
Feedback:
email Email: [email protected]
Program and fees for the 2022/23 academic year:
Course name | Qty | Duration | Cost | Issued documents |
Short English phonetic course intermediate and advanced baseline to choose from: in the classrooms of the university or remotely | 30 | 3-4. 5 months depending on schedule | 18 000 | Certificate University pattern |
One-time payment!
Training is conducted in groups of 6-9 people.
Schedule :
Course | weekday evening 1 lesson per week for 2-4 academic hours (80-160 min.) in the classrooms of the university or remotely | Weekend: Sat or Sun 1 lesson per week for 2-4 academic hours (80-160 min. ) in the classrooms of the university or remotely |
Short English Phonetic Course | Evening | Morning / afternoon / evening |
Education at the STATE COURSES IN-YAZ MSLU is carried out according to the classical method .
A short phonetic course is aimed at students who already have certain knowledge in the field of a foreign language and can be useful, incl. advanced level students who need to consolidate and improve pronunciation skills and to systematize and deepen theoretical knowledge in the field of phonetics. The initial level for admission to the course is B1 - C1.
Development of speaking (communication) skills is not provided for by the program of the phonetic course.
If your level is significantly lower than the specified one, we invite you to the general course - phonetics is already included in the first 3 levels of education.
Course enrollment:
Recruitment is held twice a year: September (beginning of training - October) and immediately after the New Year holidays (beginning of training - February-April).
Documents required for enrollment in courses: passport, application addressed to the rector, photo 3x4 for a pass (for full-time study), contract 2 copies (or scanned copy), receipt with payment stamp (cheque).
Reviews of the course
Study period: 1 semester 2020-2021 academic year (classes in a remote format)
Teacher: Alina Viktorovna Kabazova
I’ll start with a minus, or rather, justify myself - in January I didn’t have enough time to write down my homework for verification and I’m very worried about this and I was very upset, but my ailing colleagues and a 13-hour working day are to blame, because I don’t feel like doing the task at all and “by the way” I didn’t feel like it at all, but I didn’t have the strength thoughtfully and thoroughly. But otherwise, I am frankly delighted with the course and you and as a teacher! I really just now realized why they told me at school that I had a "very Russian T or Ch", I already pay a completely different attention to the sound of English speech. For me, it’s as if colors have increased in the language, and most importantly, despite all my mistakes, I understand in which direction I need to move, it’s such a wonderful feeling, as if they were given a map in my hands. Thank you! (I even wanted to learn English again, and not just read or watch something)💙 Natalya Timofeeva
Alina, I would like to say thank you for the lessons, easy explanations, additional materials and detailed feedback on each homework assignment. Each lesson opened up new nuances of pronunciation for me. Before starting classes, I did not think about the role played by intonation, reduction, stress in sentences, depending on the situation. I think that all English learners will benefit from this course. I recommend the course to those who want to sound beautiful, and I look forward to continuing. Marina Tkach
I wanted to expand my knowledge of phonetics for a very long time and was glad when I saw that MSLU was enrolling in a phonetics course, but I had no idea how useful and interesting it would be. Each lesson is new knowledge, emotions, time flies by unnoticed, and after classes I always have a huge level of motivation: listen, do, write down, improve my skills. Thank you so much for giving us knowledge, charging us with positive energy, supporting and suggesting. I am very happy and have never regretted that I decided to take these courses. I can say with absolute certainty that these are not just classes "for show", but a fascinating journey into the world of phonetics. It is even unusual and sad that soon it will not be necessary to gather on Saturdays for classes. Anna Selezneva
Specifically, this phonetic course is an excellent start (immersion) in the sound world of the language.
The course is quite structured theoretically, special attention is paid to practice and development. The teacher of this course is very competent, multifaceted and reveals the laws of phonetics from different aspects, as well as being as generous as possible with feedback.
My impression is extremely positive. Karina Tupitsyna
English phonetics for beginners ∣ Enguide.ru
You need to know the correct pronunciation in order to learn how to speak English correctly. The study of speech sounds is phonetics, which we will talk about in this article. And we will try to make the phonetics of the English language become understandable for you and not cause problems.
The study of any foreign language begins with the study of its alphabet. After that, it turns out that these letters sound and are used in words in different ways. So in English there are 26 letters, but as many as 48 sounds, which are indicated by these letters. The rules for pronunciation of sounds, letters and, accordingly, words are studied by the phonetics of the English language.
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies the sounds of speech and the sound structure of the language (syllables, sound combinations, patterns of connecting sounds in a speech chain).
Theoretical phonetics of the English language explores the close relationship between oral, internal and written speech. But phonetics as a whole explores not only the language function, but also the material side of its object: the work of the pronunciation apparatus, as well as the acoustic characteristics of sound phenomena and their perception by native speakers. This is the practical phonetics of the English language. It is not by chance that we mention the theoretical and practical components. The thing is, sounds as intangible phenomena are those elements of the language system that allow you to translate words and sentences into a material sound form. Otherwise, oral communication would be impossible. That is the importance of English phonetics and that is why we have devoted a separate article to it.
English phonetics for beginners
In one of the recent articles devoted to the rules of reading in English, we talked about how to pronounce English sounds and the syllables in which they are used, and presented them in tables with pronunciation - transcription. Then they found out that transcription is a very convenient tool for understanding how English sounds.
Transcriptions are special characters that indicate how to pronounce speech sounds. Transcription helps to understand the difference between spelling and pronunciation in English.
As we have already said, there are 48 sounds in the English language. This means that 48 signs of English transcription have been created - one sign for each sound:
Vowels. 6 letters: a, e, i, o, u, y | |||
[i:] eat | [ei] lake | [ i ] it | [ai] like |
[ e ] pen | [au] house | [æ] bad | [ɔi] boy |
[ a: ] art | [ou] home | [ɔ] box | [iə] ear |
[ʌ] cup | [ɛə] air | [u] cook | [uə] poor |
[u:] school | [juə] Europe | [ju:] tune | [aiə] fire |
[ə:] girl | [auə] hour | [ə] paper | [ɔ:] all |
Consonants. 21 letters: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z | |||
[ f ] five | [d] do | [ v ] very | [ k ] key |
[θ] thick | [g] gas | [ð] this | [tʃ]chin |
[ s ] so | [dʒ] Jim | [z] zoo | [ m ] mother |
[ʃ] ship | [ n ] no | [ʒ] pleasure | [ŋ] long |
[ h ] horse | [ l ] less | [p] park | [r] river |
[ b ] book | [j] yellow | [ t ] tea | [ w ] white |
Each letter sounds in a certain way, but sometimes two letters at once denote one sound, as can be seen in the tables. This combination of letters is called a digraph. Examples of digraphs:
- gh [g] - ghost [gəʋst]
- ph [f] – photo [‘foutou]
- sh [ʃ] – shine [ʃaɪn]
- th [ð], [θ] – think [θɪŋk]
- ch [tʃ] - chess [tʃes].
A vowel sound that smoothly passes from one to another is a diphthong. Examples of diphthongs:
- ea – bread [bred]
- ie – friend [friend]
- ai – again [əˈɡen]
- au - autumn [ˈɔːtəm].
It is important to consider that the number of letters and sounds in a word may vary. For example, the word “help” has 4 letters and 4 sounds [help], and the word “six” has three letters, but 4 sounds [sɪks].
Practical phonetics of the English language
In the article about English pronunciation training, we mentioned the inseparable connection between English phonetics and anatomy. Phonetics exercises are designed specifically to turn theoretical knowledge into the skills of correct English pronunciation of words and sentences. In addition, the practical phonetics of the English language helps to hear and understand the speech of its native speakers.
We also advise you to pay attention to English courses for beginners.
In practice, we all feel how, during the pronunciation of sounds, the air meets barriers formed by our tongue, lips, teeth, and even alveoli. Depending on this, two types of consonants are distinguished: deaf and voiced:
Voiced consonants (the vocal cords are close and tense, and the exhaled air makes them vibrate): | Voiceless consonants (the glottis is open and the exhaled air passes silently through the larynx): |
[ b ] [v] [g] [d] [ʒ] [z] [l] [m] [n] [r] [dʒ] - [ð] | [k] [p] [s] [t] [f] [h] [tʃ] [ʃ] [θ] |
But these are not all options. A more detailed classification distinguishes consonants in English according to those specific barriers that the air meets:
- Stop consonants . The organs of speech close in such a way that they completely block the passage for air: [p, b, t, d, k, g].
- Nasal consonants . Air passes out through the nasal cavity: [n, m, ŋ].
- Slotted consonants . The organs of speech do not close completely and a narrow passage remains - a gap for air: [θ, ð, ʃ, ʒ, s, z, h, f, v, w, r, j, l].
- Stop-fricative consonants . The barrier opens slowly and at the same time passes into the gap: [tʃ, dʒ].
- Labial consonants . The lower lip approaches the upper one: [f, v].
- Interdental consonants . The tip of the tongue is between the lower and upper front teeth: [θ, ð].
- Alveolar consonants . The tip of the tongue touches or rises to the alveoli: [t, d, l, s, z].
As for vowels, they are also not the same. They are affected by different positions of the tongue relative to the palate:
- Front vowels. The tip of the tongue rests against the base of the lower teeth, and the back of the tongue comes quite close to the palate: [ i: ].
- Back vowels. The tongue is pulled back and the tip of the tongue is lowered, and the back of the tongue is raised to the soft palate: [a:].
At first glance, this classification may seem difficult, but believe me, in practice you will feel and immediately understand what's what. And understanding the origin of the sound will help pronounce it correctly. Well, for children, it is desirable to combine the study of English phonetics with the game. For example, as in this phonetics exercise:
Exercises in English phonetics
To practice English pronunciation, it is also necessary to take into account stress - that is, the selection of one or more syllables in a word. The stressed syllable is pronounced more vigorously, with greater tension of the organs of speech. Stress helps to distinguish words and understand their meaning both in themselves and in context. For example:
- to ex`port (verb “to export”)
- ` export (noun “export”).
The second important aspect of pronunciation of phrases and sentences is intonation . Through intonation, we understand or “explain” whether a sentence is a narrative, a question, a request, or an exclamation.
The easiest exercise in English phonetics is done at the Beginner (Elementary) level:
- Write your name in English.
- Now spell your name.
- Do the same with three to five more names (you can think of friends, family members and/or classmates).
You can practice English phonetics like this:
- Spell the words: Yes, Last, Key, Yellow, Funny, Girl, Toy, Now, Sleep, Drama, Kiss, King.
Learn more