Reading & phonics
From letter sounds to first words on the page — playful, patient and in the right order.
Articles in this topic
12 phonics games for online lessons (one sound at a time)
Letter-sound games that work over video: sound hunts, odd-one-out, air writing and blending races for young ESL readers.
July 29, 2026 · 7 min read · Read →
Teaching the alphabet without killing it: games, order, pace
Why A-to-Z order is the worst way to start, which letters to teach first, and alphabet games for online and offline lessons.
July 16, 2026 · 6 min read · Read →
CVC word games: the 'cat-dog-sun' stage done joyfully
Consonant-vowel-consonant words are reading's first real wins. Blending races, word families and swap games for the CVC stage.
July 3, 2026 · 6 min read · Read →
Sight words: the 20 little words that unlock real sentences
The, I, you, is, and — words kids must know by sight. Which twenty to start with and games to make them automatic.
June 22, 2026 · 5 min read · Read →
Is the child ready to read? Six signs that say yes (and three that say wait)
How to tell a child is ready for English reading instruction — and why starting too early costs more than starting late.
June 12, 2026 · 5 min read · Read →
First English books: choosing, reading aloud, and when kids take over
What makes a great first English book for a non-native child, read-aloud technique that teaches, and the handover moment.
June 5, 2026 · 6 min read · Read →