Learning to read isn’t an easy skill to master, and it takes time and practice. But sometimes practicing the skills needed for reading can be fun! Many websites provide free online games that make learning more fun. However, it is not always easy to find games that target a specific phonics skill. The games in this post are targeted to practice the skills needed to understand the 44 sounds of the English language.
Some online games require flash, which is no longer supported after 12/31/2020. Learn more at The End of Flash. Some more mobile friendly games are collected at this Symbaloo. More online games at these Symbaloo collections.
I. GET READY
Phonological & Phonemic Awareness: Symbaloo collection for Phonemic Awareness
Letter names and sounds – Alphabet Games at Wakelet
- Mr. Nussbaum Letters
- Turtle Diary (pc only) Match upper and lowercase letters, Letter sounds, and this Symbaloo collection includes some games
II. SOUND OUT WORDS
Short vowels and Word families
- CVC words at ictgames.com
- Word Machines at starfall (& 1-5 at classic starfall)
- Short vowels at turtle diary (pc only)
- Double consonants at roythezebra.com
- Jungle Jumble at Brainpop Jr
- Blends at room recess
- blends at abcya (pc only)
- some final consonant blends at kizphonics
III. VOWEL PATTERNS
- Silent e at Starfall (6-10 at classic version)
- Silent e at softschools.com
- Magic e Mix and Match from makingenglishfun
- R controlled words at Starfall (12-14 at classic version)
- R control race at Mr Nussbaum
- a Game from PBS
Diphthongs – vowel combinations that make (mostly) new sounds
- galacticphonics.com (Flash) Symbaloo collection
- Ictgames.com – free online games for phonics
Vowel Teams that are often long
- Coconut Vowels game at arcademics
- Forest Phonics from ictgames
- 11 at classic starfall
- Diphthongs at softschools.com
Vowels that vary: Wild Old Words at wordwall.net
Short or Long Vowels
- Cloudy Day, Vowel Popper and Vowel Ace at roomrecess.com (choose short vowels)
- Long or Short at softschools.
- Short, Long or Other at learninggamesforkids.com.
- Coconut Vowels at abcya (free on pc only),
- color short & long vowels at turtlediary.com (free on pc only)
IV. CONSONANT PATTERNS
- Digraphs at softschools.com
- Forest Phonics at ictgames has some digraphs
- Blending Sounds at Makingenglishfun (pc or app is available)
- Soft C & G Games at eslphonicsworld.com
- Hard & Soft C at wordwall.net
- Hard & Soft G at wordwall.net
- S or Z at wordwall.net
V. MULTI-SYLLABLE WORDS
- Syllable Slurp from Room Recess
- Silly Bulls at vocabularyspellingcity.com
- syllable football at eslphonicsworld.com
- Syllable Skycoaster at gotkidsgames.com
Consonant -le: consonant-le at wordwall.net
Schwa: Schwa words at wordwall.net, Online Quiz at purposegames
websites in alphabetical order:
abcya.com – a teacher-created website that provides fun and educational games for kids. Pre-K through 5th grade, and includes games for learning letters (also numbers and more) It is free for use on pcs (ads) and can be obtained for mobile or tablet use with a subscription.
arcademics.com – arcademic skill builders are free online educational video games that offer a powerful approach to learning basic math, language arts, vocabulary and thinking skills. These are highly engaging and some are multi-player. Apps are available for both Android and iOS.
www.education.com – has many resources on a variety of topics. To access worksheets and more resources there is a subscription fee, but there are many games available for free (with a sign-in) for learning reading skills. Alphabet, Syllable Counting, Short vowel sort, Short Vowel Sort, Long/Short sort, Blends, and Silent E +more. Also Digraphs Hopper & Digraphs Photoshoot, Sight Words Balloon Pop and more, Compound Word Fish, Interactive Stories.
ezschool.com – some free online phonics games
Funfonix.com – free online games (and worksheets) for phonics.
Galactic Phonics (Flash) – free resources created by teachers. It can be difficult to find games to practice diphthongs, this site has a good collection plus more. Find them all at Symbaloo.
Ictgames.com – free online games for phonics, mobile friendly
Kizphonics – an online phonics program which provides a few games on each level free, access beyond that requires a membership.
Learn English Kids -from the British Council
Learninggamesforkids.com – free online learning games
Literactive (Flash)– many online games for phonics skills including phonemic awareness. So many that I made a Symbaloo of them. There’s also a Tizmos collection. Great resource!
Making English Fun – many online games, apps are available.
Mr Nussbaum – has lots of mobile friendly literacy games and interactive resources. Build words with Word Maker and blend sounds with Sound Garden. (Two Letters with both digraphs & blends available with upgrade)
pbskids.org – a website from the Public Broadcasting System which is aimed at preschool kids.
phonics bloom – many games that work on pc and mobile devices, some free and more with subscription
readwithphonics.com – free for schools, libraries, & educational organizations with 10 or more students. Parents can pay for access, and there is an app available.
readwritethink.org – provides free materials including some games (Flash)
RoomRecess.com has lots of reading games. Many are available for both pc & mobile.
roythezebra.com – some content free, more with registration
sadlier-oxford.com – an educational publisher of books and materials for grades PreK to 12+. Some games are available on pc only at SadlierConnect
Skillswise – provided by the British Broadcasting Corporation, this website includes a section of English Games. There is lots more about reading, writing, and math for higher levels.
softschools.com – provides many resources for free, including Phonics plus other resources. A premium subscription is available that removes ads and lets teachers set up student account to track progress.
splashlearn.com – tons of phonics games, free with sign-up, apps available.
starfall.com – provides some free content on phonics aimed at early grade levels, with expanded content available for a subscription. Starfall classic, free app is available.
teach your monster to read – free on PC with sign-up. App is available.
turtlediary.com – provides many resources for free on PC only. Premium subscription removes ads and allows mobile play. app is available
wordwall.net – teacher made resources, whack-a-mole, random wheel, and more! A similar site is tinytap.com.
yourchildlearns.com – some free online games for reading.
Too many people struggle with learning to read. Low literacy levels often lead to limited opportunities for employment, according to literacy statistics at Phonics Facts. Make a difference by sharing the resources at Phonics Pow to help others teach reading.
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