Should You Teach Letter Names or Letter Sounds First?
It’s one of the first questions new homeschoolers ask:
“Should I teach my child the names of the letters first… or the sounds they make?”
If you’ve been around traditional preschool settings, you’ve probably heard lots of ABC songs, flashcards, and letter name drills.
But if you’re following a Science of Reading–aligned approach, the answer is clear:
👉 Teach letter sounds first.
Letter names can wait.
Here’s why that matters—and how to introduce both the right way at home.
🔤 The Difference Between Letter Names and Letter Sounds
Let’s take the letter M:
The letter name is “em”
The sound it makes is /m/ (as in man)
These are two separate things.
When kids are learning to read and spell, they don’t need to know that “M” is called “em”—they need to know what sound to say when they see it in a word. 🧠
🧠 Why Letter Sounds Should Come First
Early readers need to match letters to the sounds they represent—not memorize their names. That’s the heart of phonics.
Teaching letter sounds first:
Builds decoding skills earlier
Helps children blend and spell simple words faster
Reduces confusion (especially with lookalike letters)
Gets them reading sooner 📖
If your child knows that:
“S” says /s/
“A” says /ă/
“T” says /t/
Then suddenly they can read the word sat.
That’s real progress—without ever needing to say “ess-ay-tee.”
⏳ When to Introduce Letter Names
You don’t need to avoid letter names entirely—but they don’t need to be the focus early on.
Introduce them after your child:
Can identify and say most letter sounds
Can blend simple words using sounds
Understands that letters represent speech
At that point, letter names become helpful for:
Spelling aloud
Talking about letters across different contexts
Connecting to uppercase print (which appears often in books)
📚 Tip: Once your child is confident with letter sounds, start casually pointing out names during shared reading or play. No drills required.
🧩 What If My Child Already Knows Letter Names?
Many kids start out knowing the ABCs from songs or shows. That’s totally okay!
Just gently shift your focus:
Say: “Yes, that’s M. It says /m/ like mom.”
Use games or reading time to reinforce the sound first.
Don’t worry about “unlearning” names—just prioritize sound use in your reading lessons.
You’re not starting over—you’re retraining the focus. 🎯
🛠️ How to Teach Letter Sounds at Home
Here’s a simple approach to build sound knowledge (and set up future success with decoding):
Start with a few sounds (like s, a, t, m)
Say the sound clearly (/s/, not “suh”)
Match it with a keyword (s = /s/ as in sun)
Practice identifying the sound in words
Introduce blending as soon as possible
🌀 Repetition is key—but keep it playful and short.
Use magnetic letters, sound cards, books, or even toys to reinforce learning.
Final Thoughts
Teaching letter names isn’t wrong—it’s just not the first step in building a strong reader.
If your child is just starting out, prioritize letter sounds. That’s the bridge to decoding, spelling, and real reading confidence.
Once the foundation is strong, letter names will come naturally—and serve a better purpose. 💡
Sound by sound, you’re helping your child crack the reading code.
And it starts with what they hear—not what they name. 🔤❤️
