Learn the sounds each letter makes!
Which word starts with this letter sound?
Letter-sound correspondence — knowing which sound or sounds each letter makes — is the single most important skill for beginning readers. Research in reading science consistently identifies phonemic awareness and phonics as essential components of reading instruction. The National Reading Panel's landmark report confirmed that systematic phonics instruction significantly improves children's reading ability, particularly in kindergarten and first grade.
Our letter sounds tool introduces all 26 letters with their primary sounds, example words that begin with each letter, and an interactive matching game that reinforces the connections. The tool focuses on the most common sound for each letter, which is the starting point recommended by reading researchers. More complex phonics patterns (digraphs, blends, long vowels) are covered in our Phonics Builder tool.
When teaching letter sounds, emphasize the sound rather than the letter name. For reading purposes, knowing that the letter B makes the /b/ sound is more immediately useful than knowing it is called "bee." Connect each sound to words your child knows — B is for ball, bear, and banana. Multisensory approaches work best: have your child trace the letter while saying the sound, or find objects around the house that start with each letter. Consistency and short, frequent practice sessions are more effective than long, infrequent ones.
Last reviewed: April 2026 · Aligned with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.3
🔤 Phonics Builder — practice blending letter sounds into words
👀 Sight Words — learn common words that every beginning reader needs to know
🎵 Rhyme Wheel — practice hearing sounds in words through rhyming