Early Literacy Tool: Phonetic Flip Chart

Our oldest has learned her letters, the sounds that they make, and is starting to blend sounds. We have even begun learning sight words, but have yet to venture into the realm of phonics, till today! This is a really nifty phonics “tool” that we created to help her mix the sounds of letters. . What you will need to make your own phonics flip chart:

• Wirebound Index Card Book
• Scissors
• Tape
• Marker

I divided our phonics flip chart into three sections for three letter words, but I have also seen them split into four sections to help your early reader work on consonant blends. After you cut the number of sections that you want, label each card with a letter (a-z).   We added another section of vowels in the center section and several common blends on the ends (ex: ch, sh, th, gr, cl, etc.). The point of the phonics flip chart is not so much to “spell” words, but to practice sounding out words.   “P-A-G” is not a word, but the practice of sounding it out can help our kids in future words, helping them grasp the concept of letters and how they form words.   It is fun to see the “lights” turn on when my daughter figures out that the sound she is making is a “real” word! Use the tape to reinforce the top of your cards.   If they are like mine, they start to tear along the perforation. Happy sounding out words! What do you use to help your preschooler or kindergartner learn to sound out words?   I’d love to learn from you!

Check out these other great activities that can help your child learn to read:

• Story Cube Game
• It’s Playtime Fun with Phonics
• Phonics and the Alphabet