Letter Sounds That Stick: 8 Research-Backed Strategies That Actually Work
If you've ever found yourself second-guessing your approach to teaching letter sounds—or wondering why your students aren't retaining them—this episode is for you.
In today’s episode, Amie breaks down eight essential, research-backed strategies for teaching letter sounds in ways that are practical, effective, and rooted in the science of reading. These aren’t trendy tricks or rigid programs—they’re flexible, powerful routines that actually work in real classrooms with real kids.
From why we should teach letter names and sounds together, to what letters to teach first, and how to move beyond the outdated “letter of the week” model, this episode will walk you through the what, why, and how of early alphabet instruction. You’ll also learn simple ways to embed multisensory routines, keep the pace moving, and build automaticitythrough daily review—without burning out or overcomplicating your day.
Whether you’re a kindergarten teacher laying the foundation, a first or second grade teacher trying to fill gaps, or an interventionist supporting students who need a second chance at mastering the alphabet, this episode will leave you with real strategies you can use tomorrow.
This episode pairs perfectly with Amie’s book, Literacy Unlocked, and her Letter Sound Curriculum, both of which offer ready-to-use tools, sample pacing guides, and research-to-practice support for building strong early literacy instruction.
💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why teaching letter names and sounds together helps students learn faster
How to use multisensory routines in simple, powerful ways
What letters to prioritize first—and which to delay
How to introduce uppercase and lowercase together without confusion
Why meaningful practice beats isolated drills every time
Easy ways to embed letter sound instruction throughout your day
What the research says about pacing—and how fast is too slow
How to build automaticity with short, daily review routines
