Efficient

Not All Reading Skills Matter Equally

One of the biggest surprises for many families is this:
not all reading skills carry the same weight.

Some words and letter patterns show up constantly in books. Others appear once in a while. When children learn the patterns they’ll see most often first, reading starts to feel useful much sooner.

That’s why Phonic Forge focuses on high-impact patterns instead of teaching everything slowly and evenly. It’s not about skipping steps—it’s about choosing the steps that unlock the most reading early on.

Why We Don’t Separate “Easy” and “Hard” Sounds

You may have heard that children should master single letters before being introduced to things like sh, ch, or th. Those patterns are often treated as “advanced.”

But English doesn’t actually work that way. Some sounds are spelled with one letter, some with two, and children hear all of them when they speak.

Research shows that when children learn single letters alongside common two-letter patterns, they actually understand and apply reading skills faster. They don’t get stuck thinking every letter equals one sound—and they don’t have to relearn the system later.

So instead of delaying digraphs, Phonic Forge introduces them as part of the whole picture.

Why Seeing More (Not Slower) Can Help

Another common belief is that introducing letters very slowly—one at a time—is the safest approach.

In reality, learning becomes stronger when children:

• see patterns more than once

• use them in different ways

• and revisit them through play

Phonic Forge groups important patterns together and brings them back again and again through games. That repeated, meaningful practice helps skills stick—without turning learning into drill.

What This Means for Real Reading

Leveled readers and controlled texts can be helpful, especially for focused practice. They absolutely have a place.

But when children know the right core words and patterns, they don’t have to wait to enjoy real books. They can listen to rich stories, read what they’re ready for, and build confidence through shared reading experiences.

When reading connects to real meaning—stories, facts, interests—motivation grows naturally.

How This Shows Up in Phonic Forge

This way of thinking shaped the entire Phonic Forge deck.

The cards were chosen intentionally to:

• focus on patterns children will see most often

• include both single letters and common letter pairs

• support flexible word building

• and allow skills to grow together instead of in isolation

It’s one tool that supports many skills—because language, reading, and thinking are all connected.