Introduction: What is Decoding and Encoding Words in Phonics?
Phonics is the method of teaching reading and writing by developing learners' ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the sounds in spoken language and connect them to written letters. Two key components of phonics instruction are decoding and encoding.
- Decoding is the process of reading words by breaking them down into individual sounds (phonemes) and blending them together to read the whole word.
- Encoding is the process of spelling or writing words by segmenting spoken words into sounds and matching them to the correct letters or letter patterns.
Together, decoding and encoding help children understand how language works, build strong reading fluency, and develop accurate spelling skills. These skills are essential for becoming confident, independent readers and writers.
EXPLANATION WITH EXAMPLES
DECODING MEANING: Decoding is the process of reading a word by Surrounding out the letters and blending them together to say the word
- Decoding is reading
- Decoding is print to speech
- Decoding is seeing a word and saying the phonemes
EXAMPLE;
CVC WORDS
Dog-/d/o/g/
cat-/c/a/t/
kid-/k/i/d/
hen-/h/e/n/
bus-/b/u/s/
sun-/s/u/n/
hat-/h/a/t/
bed-/b/e/d/
pig-/p/i/g/
cup-/c/u/p
red-/r/e/d/
net-/n/e/t/
run-/r/u/n/
van-/v/a/n/
win-/w/i/n/
top-/t/o/p/
box-/b/o/x/
zip-/z/i/p/
jam-/j/a/m/
lid-/l/i/d/
mop-/m/o/p/
tub-/tub/
fix-/f/i/x/
log-/l/o/g
man-/m/a/n/
dig-/d/i/g/
cap-/c/a/p/
kit-/k/i/t/
vet-/v/e/t
cob-/c/o/b/
pin-/p/i/n/
DIGRAPHS
ship-/sh/i/p/
chin-/ch/i/n/
this-/th/i/s
them-/th/e/m/
shop-/sh/o/p/
shut-/sh/u/t/
chop-/ch/o/p/
chat-/ch/a/t
math-/m/a/th/
with-/w/i/th
rich-/r/i/ch/
much-/m/u/ch/
wish-/w/i/sh
whiz-/wh/i/z/
when-/wh/e/n/
whip-/wh/i/p/
phone-/ph/o/ne
photo-/ph/o/t/o/
graph-/g/r/a/ph/
chess-/ch/e/ss/
shell-/sh/e/ll/
thick-/th/i/ck/
thin-/th/i/n/
chef-/ch/e/f/
Chew-/ch/ew/
CONSONANT BLENDS
flag-/f/l/a/g/
drum-/d/r/u/m/
slip-/s/l/i/p/
clap-/c/l/a/p/
frog-/f/r/o/g/
brim-/b/r/i/m/
crab-/c/r/a/b/
grab-/g/r/a/b/
sled-/s/l/e/d/
step-/s/t/e/p/
trip-/t/r/i/p/
plan-/p/l/a/n/
plum-/p/l/u/m/
grin-/g/r/i/n/
flat-/f/l/a/t/
trap-/t/r/a/p/
spot-/s/p/o/t/
snap-/s/n/a/p/
swim-/s/w/i/m/
twin-/t/w/i/n/
black-/b/l/a/ck
brick-/b/r/i/ck/
spill-/s/p/i/ll/
smog-/s/m/o/g/
brush-/b/r/u/sh/
drop-/d/r/o/p/
flip-/f/l/i/p/
SILENT E
Here’s a list of Magic e words with decoding examples, showing how to sound them out and blend the sounds.
Magic e (CVCe) Words with Decoding
Long A (a-e)
Word: cake
- Sounds: /k/ /ā/ /k/
- Blend: cake
More examples:
- name → /n/ /ā/ /m/
- lake → /l/ /ā/ /k/
- tape → /t/ /ā/ /p/
- game → /g/ /ā/ /m/
Long I (i-e)
Word: bike
- Sounds: /b/ /ī/ /k/
- Blend: bike
More examples:
- time → /t/ /ī/ /m/
- ride → /r/ /ī/ /d/
- line → /l/ /ī/ /n/
- kite → /k/ /ī/ /t/
Long O (o-e)
Word: rope
- Sounds: /r/ /ō/ /p/
- Blend: rope
More examples:
- note → /n/ /ō/ /t/
- home → /h/ /ō/ /m/
- cone → /k/ /ō/ /n/
- joke → /j/ /ō/ /k/
Long U (u-e)
Word: cube
- Sounds: /k/ /yoo/ /b/
- Blend: cube
More examples:
- mule → /m/ /yoo/ /l/
- tune → /t/ /yoo/ /n/
- fuse → /f/ /yoo/ /z/
- cute → /k/ /yoo/ /t/
BOSSY R
Here’s a list of R-controlled vowels (also called “Bossy R” vowels), with examples and decoding
What are R-Controlled Vowels?
When a vowel is followed by the letter r, it changes the sound of the vowel. These combinations are:
- ar (/ar/)
- er (/ər/)
- ir (/ər/)
- or (/or/)
- ur (/ər/)
1. AR Words (/ar/ sound)
Word: car
- Sounds: /k/ /ar/
- Blend: car
More examples:
- star → /s/ /t/ /ar/
- park → /p/ /ar/ /k/
- farm → /f/ /ar/ /m/
- hard → /h/ /ar/ /d/
2. ER Words (/ər/ sound)
Word: her
- Sounds: /h/ /ər/
- Blend: her
More examples:
- term → /t/ /ər/ /m/
- fern → /f/ /ər/ /n/
- perk → /p/ /ər/ /k/
- clerk → /k/ /l/ /ər/ /k/
3. IR Words (/ər/ sound)
Word: bird
- Sounds: /b/ /ər/ /d/
- Blend: bird
More examples:
- girl → /g/ /ər/ /l/
- shirt → /sh/ /ər/ /t/
- first → /f/ /ər/ /s/ /t/
- dirt → /d/ /ər/ /t/
4. OR Words (/or/ sound)
Word: fork
- Sounds: /f/ /or/ /k/
- Blend: fork
More examples:
- corn → /k/ /or/ /n/
- storm → /s/ /t/ /or/ /m/
- port → /p/ /or/ /t/
- short → /sh/ /or/ /t/
5. UR Words (/ər/ sound)
Word: fur
- Sounds: /f/ /ər/
- Blend: fur
More examples:
- burn → /b/ /ər/ /n/
- hurt → /h/ /ər/ /t/
- curl → /k/ /ər/ /l/
- blur → /b/ /l/ /ər/
Vowel Teams with Decoding
Word: rain
1. AI (/ā/ sound)
- Sounds: /r/ /ā/ /n/ → rain
More examples:
- train → /t/ /r/ /ā/ /n/
- paint → /p/ /ā/ /n/ /t/
- mail → /m/ /ā/ /l/
- snail → /s/ /n/ /ā/ /l/
2. AY (/ā/ sound)
Word: day
- Sounds: /d/ /ā/ → day
More examples:
- play → /p/ /l/ /ā/
- stay → /s/ /t/ /ā/
- gray → /g/ /r/ /ā/
- tray → /t/ /r/ /ā/
3. EA (/ē/ sound)
Word: leaf
- Sounds: /l/ /ē/ /f/ → leaf
More examples:
- seat → /s/ /ē/ /t/
- meat → /m/ /ē/ /t/
- team → /t/ /ē/ /m/
- bead → /b/ /ē/ /d/
4. EE (/ē/ sound)
Word: feet
- Sounds: /f/ /ē/ /t/ → feet
More examples:
- tree → /t/ /r/ /ē/
- seed → /s/ /ē/ /d/
- green → /g/ /r/ /ē/ /n/
- sleep → /s/ /l/ /ē/ /p/
5. OA (/ō/ sound)
Word: boat
- Sounds: /b/ /ō/ /t/ → boat
More examples:
- goat → /g/ /ō/ /t/
- coat → /k/ /ō/ /t/
- road → /r/ /ō/ /d/
- soap → /s/ /ō/ /p/
6. OW (/ō/ sound)
Word: snow
- Sounds: /s/ /n/ /ō/ → snow
More examples:
- grow → /g/ /r/ /ō/
- blow → /b/ /l/ /ō/
- slow → /s/ /l/ /ō/
- crow → /k/ /r/ /ō/
Multisyllabic words with decoding breakdowns, grouped by syllable and sound. These are great for practicing how to read longer words by breaking them into smaller, decodable chunks
Multisyllabic Words with Decoding
1–10 (2-syllable CVC + CVC words)
- sunset → sun /s/ /u/ /n/ + set /s/ /e/ /t/
- basket → bas /b/ /a/ /s/ + ket /k/ /e/ /t/
- rabbit → rab /r/ /a/ /b/ + bit /b/ /i/ /t/
- muffin → muf /m/ /u/ /f/ + fin /f/ /i/ /n/
- napkin → nap /n/ /a/ /p/ + kin /k/ /i/ /n/
- kitten → kit /k/ /i/ /t/ + ten /t/ /e/ /n/
- piglet → pig /p/ /i/ /g/ + let /l/ /e/ /t/
- sunfish → sun /s/ /u/ /n/ + fish /f/ /i/ /sh/
- hilltop → hill /h/ /i/ /l/ + top /t/ /o/ /p/
- batman → bat /b/ /a/ /t/ + man /m/ /a/ /n/
11–20 (2-syllable blends/digraphs)
- sandbox → sand /s/ /a/ /n/ /d/ + box /b/ /o/ /x/
- windmill → wind /w/ /i/ /n/ /d/ + mill /m/ /i/ /l/
- flagpole → flag /f/ /l/ /a/ /g/ + pole /p/ /ō/ /l/
- backpack → back /b/ /a/ /k/ + pack /p/ /a/ /k/
- desktop → desk /d/ /e/ /s/ /k/ + top /t/ /o/ /p/
- lipstick → lip /l/ /i/ /p/ + stick /s/ /t/ /i/ /k/
- drumstick → drum /d/ /r/ /u/ /m/ + stick /s/ /t/ /i/ /k/
- trapdoor → trap /t/ /r/ /a/ /p/ + door /d/ /or/
- handbag → hand /h/ /a/ /n/ /d/ + bag /b/ /a/ /g/
- footstep → foot /f/ /oo/ /t/ + step /s/ /t/ /e/ /p/
21–30 (3-syllable words)
- animal → an /a/ /n/ + i /i/ + mal /m/ /u/ /l/
- banana → ba /b/ /ə/ + na /n/ /ə/ + na /n/ /ə/
- tomato → to /t/ /ə/ + ma /m/ /ā/ + to /t/ /ō/
- potato → po /p/ /ə/ + ta /t/ /ā/ + to /t/ /ō/
- cucumber → cu /k/ /yoo/ + cum /k/ /u/ /m/ + ber /b/ /ər/
- volcano → vol /v/ /o/ /l/ + ca /k/ /ā/ + no /n/ /ō/
- delivery → de /d/ /ə/ + liv /l/ /i/ /v/ + er /ə/ + *y/ /ē/
- remember → re /r/ /ə/ + mem /m/ /e/ /m/ + ber /b/ /ər/
- tomorrow → to /t/ /ə/ + mor /m/ /or/ + row /r/ /ō/
- elephant → el /e/ /l/ + e /ə/ + phant /f/ /ə/ /n/ /t/
31–40 (multisyllabic r-controlled vowel words)
- artist → art /ar/ /t/ + ist /i/ /s/ /t/
- farmer → farm /f/ /ar/ /m/ + er /ər/
- starter → start /s/ /t/ /ar/ /t/ + er /ər/
- marker → mark /m/ /ar/ /k/ + er /ər/
- butter → but /b/ /u/ /t/ + er /ər/
- burning → burn /b/ /ər/ /n/ + ing /i/ /ng/
- corner → corn /k/ /or/ /n/ + er /ər/
- winner → win /w/ /i/ /n/ + er /ər/
- worker → work /w/ /ər/ /k/ + er /ər/
- sister → sis /s/ /i/ /s/ + ter /t/ /ər/
41–50 (mixed multisyllabic words)
- pencil → pen /p/ /e/ /n/ + cil /s/ /i/ /l/
- rocket → rock /r/ /o/ /k/ + et /e/ /t/
- jacket → jack /j/ /a/ /k/ + et /e/ /t/
- puppet → pup /p/ /u/ /p/ + pet /e/ /t/
- zigzag → zig /z/ /i/ /g/ + zag /z/ /a/ /g/
- yellow → yel /y/ /e/ /l/ + low /l/ /ō/
- tablet → tab /t/ /a/ /b/ + let /l/ /e/ /t/
- velvet → vel /v/ /e/ /l/ + vet /v/ /e/ /t/
- problem → prob /p/ /r/ /o/ /b/ + lem /l/ /e/ /m/
- plastic → plas /p/ /l/ /a/ /s/ + tic /t/ /i/ /k/
What is ENCODING?
Encoding in phonics means listening to a word, breaking it into individual sounds (phonemes), and writing down the correct letters (graphemes) to spell it.
*Encoding is spelling
*Encoding is speech to print
*Encoding is hearing a word and spelling the grapheme
1. CVC Words (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant)
Focus: Short vowel sounds
- Word: cat → /k/ /a/ /t/ → c-a-t
- Word: dog → /d/ /o/ /g/ → d-o-g
- Word: sun → /s/ /u/ /n/ → s-u-n
- Word: pen → /p/ /e/ /n/ → p-e-n
2. Digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh, ck)
Two letters, one sound
- Word: ship → /sh/ /i/ /p/ → sh-i-p
- Word: chop → /ch/ /o/ /p/ → ch-o-p
- Word: that → /th/ /a/ /t/ → th-a-t
- Word: duck → /d/ /u/ /ck/ → d-u-ck
3. Blends (bl, st, gr, etc.)
Two or more consonants blended together
- Word: flag → /f/ /l/ /a/ /g/ → f-l-a-g
- Word: stop → /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/ → s-t-o-p
- Word: trip → /t/ /r/ /i/ /p/ → t-r-i-p
- Word: clip → /c/ /l/ /i/ /p/ → c-l-i-p
4. Silent e / Magic e (long vowels)
- Word: cake → /k/ /ā/ /k/ → c-a-k-e
- Word: ride → /r/ /ī/ /d/ → r-i-d-e
- Word: hope → /h/ /ō/ /p/ → h-o-p-e
- Word: cute → /k/ /yoo/ /t/ → c-u-t-e
5. Vowel Teams (ai, ee, oa, etc.)
- Word: rain → /r/ /ā/ /n/ → r-a-i-n
- Word: feet → /f/ /ē/ /t/ → f-e-e-t
- Word: boat → /b/ /ō/ /t/ → b-o-a-t
- Word: team → /t/ /ē/ /m/ → t-e-a-m
6. R-Controlled Vowels (ar, or, ir, ur, er)
- Word: car → /k/ /ar/ → c-a-r
- Word: corn → /k/ /or/ /n/ → c-o-r-n
- Word: bird → /b/ /ər/ /d/ → b-i-r-d
- Word: fur → /f/ /ər/ → f-u-r
Conclusion: Decoding and Encoding in Phonics
Decoding and encoding are foundational skills in phonics that work together to build strong reading and writing abilities. Decoding helps learners read by breaking words into individual sounds and blending them together, while encoding supports spelling by segmenting spoken words into sounds and writing the corresponding letters.
By mastering these skills:
- Children develop phonemic awareness, recognizing sound-letter relationships.
- They gain confidence in reading unfamiliar words.
- They improve spelling accuracy and written expression.
- They build the groundwork for fluency and comprehension.
A balanced approach that includes practice with CVC words, blends, digraphs, vowel teams, silent e, and r-controlled vowels ensures a comprehensive phonics foundation. With consistent decoding and encoding practice, learners become independent readers and writers for life.
