Phonics Help for Struggling Readers: Strategies and Activities That Work

Reading is one of the most important skills a child will ever learn, and phonics plays a critical role in building strong, confident readers. 

However, for many children, especially struggling readers, mastering phonics doesn’t come easily. 

If you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver looking for practical ways to support a struggling reader, you’re in the right place. 

This post outlines effective, research-based strategies and engaging activities to build essential phonics skills.

Phonics Help for Struggling Readers: Strategies and Activities That Work

Understanding the Basics of Phonics

Phonics is the method of teaching reading by correlating sounds with letters or groups of letters. 

It helps children decode (sound out) words and is foundational for reading success. 

Struggling readers often need extra support in connecting these sounds and symbols.

Why phonics matters:

Strong phonics skills allow children to read unfamiliar words by breaking them down into sounds. Without this ability, reading becomes a guessing game.

Multi-sensory learning

Multi-sensory play is particularly helpful; let children see the letter, say the sound, hear it spoken, and write it. Engaging multiple senses helps cement these connections in the brain.

Start Simple: Building a Strong Foundation

Start with basic letter-sound relationships before moving to more complex patterns. Teach phonics in a systematic, explicit way, beginning with:

• Short vowels
• Consonant sounds
• Simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words

Practice regularly and revisit frequently to reinforce learning. Repetition and consistency are key.

The Power of Decodable Texts

Decodable texts are books written with phonics patterns that match what the child has learned.

They allow struggling readers to practice decoding in a controlled, confidence-building environment.

Tips:

• Choose books aligned with current phonics instruction
• Encourage rereading for fluency
• Celebrate progress, no matter how small

Phonemic Awareness: Segmenting and Blending

Before a child can decode, they must develop phonemic awareness: the ability to hear and manipulate individual sounds in words.

Segmenting: Breaking words into individual sounds (e.g., “cat” = /k/ /a/ /t/) Blending: Putting individual sounds together to make words

Activities:

• Clap out sounds in words
• Use blocks or counters for each sound
• Say a word slowly and ask the child to guess it

Engaging Games and Activities to Reinforce Phonics

Games make learning phonics fun and memorable. Try:

• Phonics Bingo: Match letters or words to sounds
• Rhyming games: Build awareness of word patterns
• Word sorts: Group words by common patterns (e.g., -at, -an)

These activities also reinforce pattern recognition and boost vocabulary.

Multi-Sensory Techniques for Deeper Learning

Multi-sensory approaches involve sight, sound, touch, and movement.

Ideas to try:

• Write letters in sand, shaving cream, or on textured surfaces
• Use magnetic letters for word-building
• Air write letters while saying the sound

These techniques are especially effective for kids with dyslexia or other reading challenges.

Balancing Phonics with Sight Words

Not all words follow standard phonics rules (e.g., “said,” “was,” “they”). These are called sight words and must be memorized.

Tips:

• Use flashcards for daily review
• Practice in short, focused sessions
• Incorporate into games and reading time

Balancing phonics with sight word instruction supports both decoding and fluency.

Encouraging Reading Aloud for Fluency and Confidence

Reading aloud gives children the chance to practice phonics in real-time. It also allows adults to spot errors and gently guide corrections.

Benefits:

• Improves decoding and comprehension
• Builds oral language skills
• Increases reading confidence

Encourage daily read-alouds and celebrate every effort.

Sample Phonics Activities to Try Today

Here are a few ready-to-use ideas:

1. Sound Boxes (Elkonin Boxes): Draw boxes for each sound in a word. Place a token in each box as the child says the sound aloud.

2. Phonics Bingo: Create bingo cards with letters, sounds, or words. Call out a sound and have the child cover the matching square.

3. Word Building: Use letter tiles or magnets to build and change words by swapping one letter at a time (e.g., cat > hat > hot > hop).

Phonics Help for Struggling Readers

Supporting a struggling reader takes patience, consistency, and the right tools. 

By focusing on phonics and using multi-sensory, engaging methods, you can make a big difference in a child’s reading journey. 

Remember: celebrate the small wins, keep it fun, and never underestimate the power of encouragement.

Have questions or favourite phonics activities? 

Share them in the comments below!