Teaching Letters and Sounds with Phonics Crafts: From the Alphabet to Reading Sentences

by Hollie Griffith

on September 15, 2025

One of the most exciting parts of teaching early literacy is watching students discover that letters and sounds unlock the world of reading. When children connect sounds to print, they realize they don’t have to wait until they know every single letter to begin reading. In fact, once they’ve learned just a few sounds, they can already start building, reading, and writing words. That’s why I love using Alphabet and Letter Sounds Phonics Crafts to make this process hands-on and engaging.

Why Learning Letters and Sounds Matters

Letter recognition and sound knowledge are the foundation of reading. When students learn that letters spell sounds, they start to understand how words work. This knowledge gives them the tools to decode unfamiliar words and the confidence to see themselves as readers from the very beginning.

With alphabet crafts and phonics activities, students get to experience sounds in a way that is concrete and memorable. Instead of just memorizing, they are applying what they learn through interactive practice.

From Sounds to Words and Sentences

Here’s the magic: once kids have learned only a few letters — like a, m, s, and t — along with a couple of high-frequency words like I and the, they can already start reading!

With just those sounds, they can read words like:

at
mat
sat

And before long, they’re reading sentences such as:

“I sat on the mat!”

This is such a powerful moment for young learners. It shows them that they don’t need to wait until they’ve mastered the entire alphabet. With just a handful of sounds, they are already readers. Pairing this instruction with Alphabet and Letter Sounds Phonics Crafts gives students a hands-on way to practice decoding and encoding right away.

Making Phonics Hands-On and Memorable

Of course, practice makes progress. Students need lots of opportunities to connect letters, sounds, and words in meaningful ways. That’s why hands-on activities like phonics crafts and decodable practice sheets work so well.

When students cut, glue, read, and write, they’re not just “doing a craft.” They’re actively building connections between letters, sounds, and meaning. And those connections stick. Using Alphabet and Letter Sounds Phonics Crafts ensures that every new letter is paired with practice in reading and writing words and sentences.

Building Confident, Fluent Readers

The journey from letters to fluent reading doesn’t happen overnight, but those first steps matter. By giving students engaging practice with letters and sounds, you’re helping them:

Build strong letter recognition
Develop sound knowledge
Practice decoding and encoding
Experience success as readers right away

With Alphabet and Letter Sounds Phonics Crafts, students don’t just memorize letters — they apply what they’ve learned immediately. They see themselves as readers from the very beginning, which builds confidence and excitement for learning.

Teaching letters and sounds is one of the most rewarding parts of early literacy instruction. When students realize that four simple letters can turn into real words — and even sentences — the joy on their faces says it all. Hands-on phonics activities, like Alphabet and Letter Sounds Phonics Crafts, make that moment possible while laying the foundation for strong, fluent readers.