Why is reading important anyway? Reading is everywhere—from street signs to recipes to social media posts to video game instructions! It's not just a skill; it's a way to navigate the world. But, reading doesn't come easily to everyone. And for kids, it can often feel like trying to solve a puzzle without knowing the pieces.

One of the most important pieces in the Reading puzzle is Phonics. Phonics is about connecting sounds to letters, and without it, reading fluency and comprehension can become a major struggle. Here’s where Louisa Moats’ research has been groundbreaking. As one of the pioneers of the Science of Reading, Moats emphasizes why phonics is essential for successful reading and how it should be taught. In this blog, we will talk about Phonics, Moats’ work and how BetterGradez apply Moats' insights in our personalized 1:1 coaching sessions, helping young learners unlock the potential of phonics.

Meet Emily: From Struggling Reader to Confident Learner

Emily was a third-grader when she came to BetterGradez. She loved stories but dreaded reading them aloud. She’d guessed at words, got tangled up in sounds, and felt frustrated that she started avoiding books altogether. Emily’s mother noticed her struggles and knew she needed a structured approach to phonics. That’s when BetterGradez, where our coaches use Moats' research-backed methodologies, helped Emily through 1:1 reading tutoring.

Within weeks of targeted phonics coaching, Emily began to see reading as a puzzle she could solve. Phonics instruction transformed her confidence, one sound at a time. Her journey reflects just how powerful phonics can be when it’s based on a systematic, science-driven approach.

Why Phonics Instruction Matters: Louisa Moats' Key Insights

Phonics instruction teaches children how to connect sounds with letters, a critical foundation for reading. In her book Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers, Moats explains that reading isn’t a natural process—it’s a learned skill that requires structured, explicit instruction in phonics. Phonics instruction teaches kids the relationship between letters and sounds, helping them decode words systematically. This decoding is essential for developing reading fluency and comprehension.

According to Moats, phonics is not just about learning sounds; it's about understanding the architecture of the English language. Her research shows that effective phonics instruction allows kids to focus on the meaning of what they read rather than struggling to sound out every word. This opens the door to reading comprehension, vocabulary expansion, and fluency.

The Moats Method: Breaking Down the Essential Elements of Phonics Instruction

Louisa Moats’ approach to phonics instruction is very systematic and structured. In her research, she emphasizes three crucial components that set phonics instruction apart from mere rote learning:

1. Explicit Instruction Moats advocates for teaching letter-sound relationships directly and systematically. Kids don’t just “pick up” phonics; they need clear, structured guidance to understand how letters and sounds connect.

2. Systematic Progression Effective phonics instruction follows a logical sequence. Moats suggests starting with simple sounds (like “m” and “s”) and gradually introducing more complex sound combinations (like “ch” and “ph”). This step-by-step approach prevents kids from feeling overwhelmed.

3. Multisensory Techniques Engaging multiple senses helps kids retain information better. According to Moats, activities that involve sight, sound, and touch make phonics more memorable and less abstract.

These principles are outlined in her seminal works Speech to Print and Teaching Reading is Rocket Science, which argue that without explicit, systematic phonics, reading fluency and comprehension suffer.

BetterGradez’s Approach: Following Moats’ approach, BetterGradez coaches use structured, systematic phonics lessons in each 1:1 session. Kids start with basic sounds, gradually progressing to more complex combinations. Our sessions are hands-on and interactive, keeping learning fun and engaging.

Breaking Down the Core Components of Phonics Instruction with Louisa Moats

Here’s how Moats’ research translates into practice, and how BetterGradez coaches bring these elements to life in our personalized reading sessions.

1. Phonemic Awareness

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in words. This skill is foundational for phonics instruction, as it prepares kids to make the connection between sounds and letters. In Speech to Print, Moats highlights the importance of phonemic awareness in early reading development, stressing that recognizing sounds in isolation is essential for kids to decode words.

• BetterGradez’s Approach: In sessions, our coaches use activities like clapping out syllables or identifying initial and final sounds in words. These exercises are interactive and help kids “hear” the individual sounds in words, setting them up for letter-sound connections.

2. Letter-Sound Relationships

Once phonemic awareness is established, the next step is connecting sounds to letters. Moats’ research underscores that teaching these relationships directly and explicitly helps avoid confusion. Kids learn that “m” makes the /m/ sound and that combining letters creates new sounds and words.

• At-Home Tip for Parents: Reinforce letter-sound relationships with a scavenger hunt! Ask your child to find items around the house that start with the same sound. For example, “S” could include “sock,” “spoon,” and “soap.”

• BetterGradez’s Approach: Coaches use visual aids, flashcards, and phonics games to reinforce letter-sound relationships. With each new sound mastered, students gain confidence and build a foundation for blending sounds.

3. Blending and Segmenting Sounds

Blending involves combining individual sounds to form words, while segmenting is breaking a word down into its component sounds. These skills are vital for decoding and spelling and are reinforced through regular practice. Moats’ research highlights that structured repetition is crucial for mastering blending and segmenting.

• BetterGradez’s Approach: Our coaches use daily blending and segmenting exercises. They might ask students to break down a word like “frog” into /f/, /r/, /o/, /g/ or blend individual sounds into words. These exercises are fun and help children see reading as a puzzle they can solve.

4. Building Fluency through Automaticity

Reading fluency occurs when decoding becomes automatic. According to Moats, fluency is not about speed but about ease and accuracy. When children can recognize words quickly, they can focus on comprehension rather than decoding every word.

• BetterGradez’s Approach: Coaches at BetterGradez use repeated reading exercises and frequent practice with high-frequency words. Repetition helps children achieve automaticity, so reading becomes less of a chore and more of a natural skill.

Phonics at Home: Practical Tips for Parents

Supporting phonics learning at home can make a big difference. Here are some effective, research-based tips inspired by Moats’ work:

• Play “Sound Detective”: Choose a letter sound for the day, like “B.” Have your child identify words that start with that sound throughout the day, from breakfast to bedtime.

• Set Up a Daily Reading Routine: Even 10-15 minutes of reading each day can reinforce phonics skills. Consistency builds habit.

• Rhyming Challenges: Rhyming helps kids recognize sound patterns. Pick a word like “hat” and see how many rhyming words your child can come up with. Rhyming games build phonemic awareness and make learning enjoyable.

How BetterGradez Coaches Make Phonics Engaging and Effective

If a child is struggling with phonics, our instruction method for phonics is rooted in research but delivered with creativity. Each session is designed to make learning accessible, engaging, and suited to the individual needs of our students.

1. Customized Phonics Plans
   No two children learn the same way. Our coaches assess each student’s phonemic awareness, letter-sound knowledge, and blending skills to create a tailored phonics plan. This individualized approach ensures that every child masters the basics before moving on to more complex sounds.

2. Hands-On Learning
   Moats’ research emphasizes the importance of multisensory learning, and we bring this into every session. Coaches use phonics games, flashcards, and interactive storytelling to keep children engaged and reinforce learning in a memorable way.

3. Ongoing Feedback and Encouragement
   Moats has shown that feedback is essential for progress. At BetterGradez, our coaches provide ongoing feedback, celebrating each win to build confidence. We believe that positive reinforcement is key to creating lifelong readers.

4. Focus on Fluency and Comprehension
   Phonics is the gateway to reading comprehension. By focusing on automaticity through regular practice, our coaches ensure that students reach fluency with ease. With fluency, kids can dive into the meaning behind the words, moving from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.”

Emily’s Success Story

Coming back to Emily…Once discouraged, she now sees reading as an exciting challenge rather than an overwhelming task. With structured phonics coaching based on Moats’ methodologies, Emily learned to decode sounds, blend words, and read fluently. Her confidence grew with each session, and she now eagerly picks out books, her phonics skills making reading fun and accessible.

Emily’s success story demonstrates the impact of structured, personalized phonics instruction. With the right guidance and tools, children like Emily can unlock their reading potential.

The BetterGradez Difference: Phonics for Lifelong Literacy

Louisa Moats has shown us that phonics instruction is much more than sounds and letters; it's the foundation of successful reading. At BetterGradez, we’re committed to making phonics both effective and engaging. Using Moats' proven methodologies, we provide kids with the skills they need to thrive—not just in school, but in the world beyond.

Ready to unlock your child’s reading potential? BetterGradez coaches are here to make phonics fun, effective, and tailored to each student’s journey. Reading is a skill that opens doors to understanding, confidence, and a love for learning.

References:

• Moats, L.C. (2000). Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

• Moats, L.C. (1999). Teaching Reading is Rocket Science: What Expert Teachers of Reading Should Know and Be Able to Do. American Federation of Teachers.

• Moats, L.C. (2004). LETRS: Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling. Cambium Learning.