{"id":47755,"date":"2026-02-27T09:00:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T15:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.allaboutlearningpress.com\/?p=47755"},"modified":"2026-03-13T14:38:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T19:38:09","slug":"how-to-teach-letter-sounds-to-struggling-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.allaboutlearningpress.com\/how-to-teach-letter-sounds-to-struggling-students\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Teach Letter Sounds to Struggling Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why Some Students Struggle with Letter Sounds<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n\"Child\r\n

It\u2019s not uncommon for some students, especially those with dyslexia, to struggle with letter sounds. Reading begins with the ability to hear and manipulate the individual sounds in language (phonemes). This weak phonemic awareness makes it hard to connect those sounds to written letters when learning to read.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

(\u201cWhat sound do you hear at the start of bat<\/span>?\u201d)<\/p>\r\n

The good news is that with explicit, systematic, and multisensory instruction, all students can master sounds and progress with their reading.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

Step-by-Step: How to Teach Letter Sounds to Struggling Students<\/h2>\r\n

Here is a research-based, step-by-step strategy for teaching letter sounds so they stick - even with struggling learners.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Step 1: Strengthen Phonemic Awareness<\/h3>\r\n

Before kids can connect letters to sounds, they must hear and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words.<\/p>\r\n

Phonemic awareness is the foundation for reading success. Spend time playing simple sound games that don't require print, such as clapping out syllables, identifying the first or last sound in a word, or changing one sound to make a new word (cat<\/span> => hat<\/span>).<\/p>\r\n

These activities build the child's ability to hear sounds in their head, an essential skill for decoding later on.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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A few tools for teaching Phonemic and Phonological Awareness<\/h3>\r\n

Phonological awareness is similar to phonemic awareness but includes the broad ability to recognize and manipulate not just sounds, but also words in a sentence and syllables within a word.<\/p>\r\n

Both are foundational skills for students learning to read.<\/p>\r\n

See this post for 6 Fun Ways to Develop Phonological Awareness<\/a> that includes free printables and activities you can implement into your lessons today.<\/p>\r\n

The Pre-Reading level<\/a> of All About Reading<\/span> includes fun, phonological awareness awareness building, fun activities in every lesson.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

Step 2: Introduce Sounds Slowly and Systematically<\/h3>\r\n

Use a structured approach to teaching sounds. Rather than introducing all 26 letters at once, teach a few at a time, beginning with high-use consonants and short vowels (for example m, s, t, a<\/span>).<\/p>\r\n

Be sure to teach one sound per letter before adding alternate sounds later on (for example, c<\/span> as in \u201ccat\u201d before c<\/span> as in \u201ccent\u201d). Repetition and review are key. Continue to review previously-taught sounds, and don't add new ones if your student has four or more phonograms she is trying to master.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"Multisensory<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Step 3: Use Multisensory Instruction<\/h3>\r\n

Kids learn best when multiple senses are engaged. Encourage students to see, say, hear<\/span>, and touch<\/span> each sound. For example, trace a letter in sand or on textured paper while saying the sound.<\/p>\r\n

Another activity to try is to match magnetic letters to picture cards of words beginning with the same sound. For kids who struggle to connect the sound itself to the letter, connecting how it feels<\/span> when making a sound can be helpful. Encourage your child to notice how the sound feels when spoken by noticing where their tongue is, how their lips move, and whether their throat vibrates.<\/p>\r\n

These multisensory approaches activate different areas of the brain and help anchor learning more deeply.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

Step 4: Practice Daily in Short Sessions<\/h3>\r\n

Five to ten minutes of focused practice each day is far more effective than an hour once a week. Keep sessions short, consistent, and positive. Use quick review games like sound flashcards, sound matching activities, or another phonological awareness activity from this list of ideas<\/a>. The goal is accuracy first, then speed. Regular, short sessions also reduce frustration and help kids feel successful.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Step 5: Link Letter Sounds to Meaningful Practice<\/h3>\r\n

When your child can recognize and produce letter sounds, use them in real reading and writing contexts. Build simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words such as cat<\/span>, dog<\/span>, or sun<\/span>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Read short, decodable stories that include only the sounds your child has learned.\r\nEncourage him to spell simple words using magnetic letters or by writing them out as they sound. Connecting sounds to meaningful reading and writing gives kids a sense of purpose and shows them how their hard work is paying off. You don\u2019t need to reinvent the wheel! All About Reading<\/span> Pre-Reading<\/a> covers everything you need to know to teach phonological awareness to kids who struggle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

8 Tips for Teaching a Struggling Learner<\/h2>\r\n

Parents teaching their struggling learners at home can think of themselves as tutors. Here are some best practices for teaching.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n
  1. Use direct, clear instruction.<\/li>\r\n
  2. Build skills incrementally\u2014start with basics and progress step-by-step.<\/li>\r\n
  3. Employ multisensory teaching (seeing + hearing + doing).<\/li>\r\n
  4. Teach phonograms, which are a letter or combination of letters that represent a sound. Learn How to Teach Phonograms here<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n
  5. Introduce one new concept at a time.<\/li>\r\n
  6. Make review a strong priority so learning \u201csticks.\u201d See this article for more ideas for making reading and spelling stick<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n
  7. Keep lessons short but frequent to maintain attention and consistency.<\/li>\r\n
  8. Use encouraging words\u2014motivation matters. For daily encouragement, check out this free, downloadable Encouraging Words Poster<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n

    For more details on these teaching tips, read this post - 10 Tips for Reaching Your Struggling Learner<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    Best Tools and Strategies for Struggling Learners<\/h2>\r\n

    Hands-on, multisensory tools help learners make connections that stick.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\"Child\r\n\"Child\r\n\r\n\t