A phonogram is a single letter, or a fixed combination of two, three, or four letters, that is the symbol for one sound in a given word. English has seventy common phonograms ... that represent the forty-five basic sounds used in speaking. Forty-seven phonograms have only one sound, making them easy to learn. Eleven phonograms have two sounds, ten have three sounds, one has four sounds, and one has six sounds. Phonograms are identified by their sound or sounds, whenever practical, and not by their letter names. Spalding, R. A. (2003). The Writing Road to Reading. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
Learning phonograms gives students the foundational skills necessary to become proficient readers and writers. The SPALDING method incorporates a multi-sensory approach to learning, as students simultaneously say, write, and see the phonograms. Once students learn these phonogram sounds, they will be equipped to sound out unfamiliar words as they read, and to build new words as they write. To ensure student success, phonograms will be taught and practiced at school every day. Students are encouraged to also practice phonograms at home. Click on the links below for resources that will help you to practice phonograms with your child.
Find information about making and using phonogram cards:
Listen to phonogram sounds: This is an external website link. It is NOT IDENTICAL to Spalding, but very similar: When using this tool as a reference, omit the last sounds given for the phonograms: o, y, oo
(Scroll down to the phonogram chart. Click on a specific phonogram to hear its sound.)