Phonics: Struggling to Blend
- Hands-On Printables
- Nov 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 20
Blending sounds to read words is a HUGE milestone in early reading.
😢For some children, though, hidden barriers can make blending feel really tricky.
💡The good news is that when we spot these barriers early, we can give children the right support.
🙌With targeted intervention, every child can go from blending struggles to reading success!
Barriers to blending
The following barriers can make blending a struggle:
👂Auditory processing
Children who struggle with auditory discrimination may confuse phonemes or miss sounds entirely.
Signs to watch for:
Difficulty following oral instructions.
Confusing similar-sounding words (e.g., pat and bat).
Frequent requests for repetition or showing signs of inattentiveness during listening activities.
Support strategies:
Ensure children are seated near the teacher and away from background noise.
Use clear, slow articulation when modelling sounds.
Give short, clear instructions: break directions down into small steps and use simple language.
Use visual supports: pair spoken instructions with pictures or gestures.
Allow extra processing time: pause after giving directions so the child has time to process before responding.
Consider professional hearing assessments if difficulties persist.
👁️Visual tracking
Problems with tracking or focusing can slow reading development.
Signs to watch for:
Difficulty remembering the sequence of letters in words.
Headaches, eyestrain, squinting and fatigue.
Support strategies:
Highlight or underline letters as children blend.
Encourage the child to use a ruler, pointer or their finger to help keep their place when blending.
Provide large-print and well-spaced text to help reduce eye strain and make tracking easier.
Cover parts of the page to reduce overwhelm and visual clutter.
5–10-minute activities can help prevent fatigue and frustration.
Strengthen eye movement skills by working on simple activities like tracing mazes or dot-to-dot puzzles.
Ensure good lighting and minimise glare.
Work with an optometrist or occupational therapist for targeted exercises and support.
👄Speech development and articulation
Children need to be able to pronounce sounds accurately to blend them successfully.
Signs to watch for:
Omitting or substituting sounds.
Unclear speech that makes oral blending challenging.
Frustration when asked to say words slowly or segment sounds.
Support strategies:
Work closely with speech and language specialists.
Incorporate mouth and tongue exercises into phonics practice.
Model sounds clearly and encourage repetition.
Ask the child to look in a mirror while they repeat the sounds.
Start with two-sound blends (e.g., ‘at’).
Pair sounds with mouth pictures, hand signals or letter cards so the child connects what they hear, see and say.
If a child mispronounces a sound, gently model the correct articulation.
Use songs, rhymes and chants: rhyming and rhythm-based activities strengthen awareness of sound patterns in words
🧠Working memory and cognitive load
Blending requires holding multiple sounds in your mind while manipulating them into a word.
Signs to watch for:
Forgetting the first sounds by the time the last sound is said.
Blending errors with longer words.
Easily overwhelmed during reading tasks.
Support strategies:
Start with short, simple words and gradually increase length.
Break tasks into smaller steps and use visual aids.
Allow repetition and overlearning by providing plenty of practice with the same set of words to reduce cognitive load.
Provide letter cards, sound mats or blending strips so the child doesn’t have to hold all sounds in their memory.
Use multisensory methods, such as asking children to tap sounds on their fingers, move counters or use magnetic letters to ‘see and feel’ the blend.
Say the sounds and the blended word, then have the child echo - reducing the strain of holding everything in memory.
Reduce distraction by keeping phonics activities focused and quiet.
⚠️Attention and focus
Children who struggle to maintain focus may lose track of sounds or skip steps in the blending process.
Signs to watch for:
Frequent distraction during phonics activities.
Difficulty completing blending exercises.
Appearing restless or fidgety during reading tasks.
Support strategies:
Provide short, engaging blending exercises of 5-10 minutes.
Minimise distractions and create a structured learning environment.
Incorporate movement or hands-on activities to maintain focus.
Incorporate multisensory activities by using tapping, clapping or jumping for each sound to keep learning active and engaging.
Use clear visual supports such as sound cards or sound buttons and lines to guide their eyes and attention.
Set clear, achievable goals for the child. For example: “Let’s blend three words together,” so they know the task has a clear end point.
Rotate activities (games, cards, whiteboard writing, digital apps) to maintain interest.
Sand timers help children see how long they need to focus for.
From blending struggles to reading success!
Watching a child learn to read is incredible and one of my favourite experiences as both a teacher and a parent! For many children, the journey into phonics and blending is steady, one that takes off with daily practice and support. For some children, though, this process isn’t so straightforward.
👉Do you teach phonics and have children who are struggling to blend?
👉Are you in panic mode and desperately need ways to support them?
👉Do you worry about boring worksheets and want fun ideas for your blending intervention group?
✅Phonics Blending Breakthrough aims to shine a light on the specific challenges that make blending so difficult for some learners, moving beyond a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
✅Through evidence-informed strategies, step-by-step guidance and playful examples, this book equips you with the confidence and clarity needed to help every child find success with blending.
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