Phonics &
Comprehension

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What is Phonics?


The English written language is an alphabetic code. Letters (graphemes) are symbols that represent the individual sounds (phonemes) of spoken language. Phonics is understanding the relationship between the sounds and the letter/s that represent them.

There are a number of different approaches to teaching phonics, all with varying levels of effectiveness. The evidence is clear, however, that systematic, synthetic phonics is the most effective approach.

A synthetic phonics approach teaches beginner readers:

grapheme–phoneme (letter–sound) correspondences (the alphabetic principle) in a clearly defined, incremental sequence

to apply the highly important skill of blending (synthesising) phonemes in order, to read a word

to apply the skills of segmenting words into their constituent phonemes to spell.

that blending and segmenting are reversible processes.

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Synthetic Phonics Teaching Programs


ELSA

Foundation to Year 2

An affordable, evidence-based phonics program

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Read Write Inc Phonics

Foundation to Year 2

A structured and systematic approach to teaching literacy

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Flying Start Phonics

Foundation to Year 2

Follows an explicit and systematic sequence of skills and knowledge

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Read Write Inc. Fresh Start

Age 9+

A proven second chance for your struggling older readers

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Fully Decodable Readers


Hero Academy non-fiction

Foundation to Year 1

Fully decodable non-fiction about real-life heroes.

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ELSA Phonic Readers

Foundation to Year 1

Fully decodable texts aligned to the ELSA Teaching program.

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ORFC Discover

Foundation to Year 2

52 fiction and non-fiction texts, fully aligned to Letters and Sounds.

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ORFC Decodables

Foundation to Year 2

60 engaging fiction and non-fiction guided reading texts

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Little Blending Books

Foundation to Year 2

Created to match Letters and Sounds Sets and Phases.

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Hero Academy

Foundation to Year 3

78 fiction books designed to motivate young readers.

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Project X

Foundation to Year 4

Small steps of progression to ensure independent reading from day one.

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Traditional Tales

Foundation to Year 2

100% decodable retellings of classic tales with clear phonic progression.

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Reading and Comprehension

ORFC

Foundation to Year 3

290 research-based, guided reading books

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Readerful

Foundation to Year 6

Your students have mastered phonics, what’s next?

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Project X

Foundation to Year 6

Fiction and non-fiction books grouped into thematic clusters

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FSTL

Foundation to Year 6

Supports the systematic development of reading

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Worldwise

Foundation to Year 5+

A literacy series linked to the science curriculum.

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Alpha Literacy

Foundation to Year 6

Sustain and extend the literacy learning of all students.

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All Stars

Foundation to Year 6

Challenge your advanced readers with inspiring fiction.

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TreeTops

Foundation to Year 6

Find interesting and accessible reads for your students.

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Practise decoding and comprehension with a curated library


Oxford has over 300 titles that are fully decodable and sequenced to
Letters and Sounds. We've mapped all of the series to each phase, so you can pick and choose your favourites and create your own decodable reading list!

Browse the different series and titles below and use the correlation chart to match them to the Phonics sequence. Then, contact your local Education Consultant to talk through your school's needs and place an order.

Download the correlation chart

Girl decodes

Drive Reading Success with Phonics:
Expert Q&A

Delve into the secrets of reading success with phonics. Listen to host, Joanna Lake (Product Manager: Primary, Licensing & Export, OUP ANZ) and our panel of Australian experts as they discuss the secrets of reading success with phonics.

The expert panel features Dr Nathaniel Swain, Grace Oakley, Janet Fellowes, Maryam Atalla and Hayley Goldsworthy.

Oxford’s decodable phonics-based readers

This webinar unpacks the approach that underpins Oxford’s decodable series Hero Academy, Alien Adventures, Floppy’s Phonics, and Traditional Tales, and explores how they support the teaching of synthetic phonics in Australian schools. Educators are guided through the features of each series and the extensive online support offered for free on Oxford Owl.

In this webinar, educators are also introduced to the eBook Library for Letters and Sounds, a new digital subscription available through Oxford Owl that offers access to 100 eBooks that are selected from well-loved and trusted Oxford series and are aligned to Letters and Sounds.

What do teachers say about Oxford's phonics resources?

“This program has had the greatest impact on student learning I have ever seen. If any program can deliver on its promise to move students along in their learning this is it! The positive reinforcement ideas built into the program changed the way I celebrated student success. As I introduced the ideas to students (and staff) a positive energy could be instantly seen and felt. This program makes sense.”

- Assistant Principal, Mernda Primary School (VIC) on Read Write Inc.

“It works. Read Write Inc. is a program that takes a ‘success for all’ approach. RWI addresses differentiation and additional needs between students, keeping them engaged through the Tutoring program. Be prepared to see fast improvements in students’ reading, writing, spelling and comprehension…”

- Principal, Toowong State School (QLD)

“Our whole school has benefited from the implementation of systematic synthetic phonics. All students have made terrific gains because they are learning how words work and are utilizing their phonemic skills more. Every student in our school made at or above the expected growth in Progressive Achievement Tests in Reading (PAT-R) over the last 12 months.”

- Principal, Dundee Beach School (NT)

Which Phonics resources are right for me?

Our Phonics Selector is here to help you decide which resources are right for your school – simply answer a few simple questions to find out which resource best suits your teaching needs.

What are you looking for?

What year groups are you seeking Phonics resources for?

Are accompanying teacher resources essential?

There are no results for this criteria. Please try a different selection.

Biff, Chip and Kipper: Decode and Develop readers are 60% decodable to support the transition from phonics to richer reading. Familiar settings, real-life scenarios and humorous illustrations will hook children into reading.
F–360% decodable textsParent Support
Explore series in-depth Look Inside

Floppy's Phonics: Fiction and Non-fiction decodable readers are ideal for providing extra practice and reinforcement alongside any phonics teaching program. Inside cover notes for parents and teachers are included in every book.
F–2100% decodable textsParent Support
Explore series in depth Look Inside

Traditional Tales are 100% decodable retellings of classic tales with clear phonic progression for Years F–2. Storymaps in each book fuel children’s writing and inside cover notes will support both teachers and parents.
F–2100% decodable textsTeacher Support
Explore series in-depth Look Inside

Project X Hero Academy is a fully decodable fiction series designed to motivate young readers and turn them into reading superheroes. Hero Academy is composed of 78 student books that are matched to the Letters and Sounds phonics sequence.
F–3100% decodable textsTeacher SupportParent Support
Explore series in-depth Look Inside

Project X Code is a highly motivational intervention program that embeds systematic synthetic phonics within a 3D adventure series. Children revisit their phonics knowledge and build key reading and comprehension skills.
2–4100% | 80% decodable textsAssessmentTeacher Support
Explore series in-depth Look Inside

Project X Alien Adventures are exciting, fully decodable stories that will motivate and support reluctant readers through to independence. Fine levelling throughout the series builds children’s confidence and helps them make progress.
F–4100% decodable textsAssessmentTeacher SupportParent Support
Explore series in-depth Look Inside

Request a phonics consultation

Let an Oxford Primary Education Consultant guide you to the solution that best suits your teaching needs.
REQUEST A CONSULTATION