Phonics Code Anchor Charts
Rule 1
Short Vowels (CVC)
Consonant Door is Locked! 🔒 Vowel says its short sound
When a vowel is followed by a consonant, it makes a SHORT sound:
ă 🍎 apple
cat
map
ĕ 🛏️ bed
bed
pen
ĭ 🧷 pin
pig
sit
ŏ 🦊 fox
fox
hop
ŭ ☀️ sun
cup
run
2
The FLOSS Rule
1 Short Vowel + Ends in F, L, S, or Z = Double It!
ff
cliff
puff
ll
bell
hill
ss
glass
dress
zz
buzz
fizz
Quick Check: Is the door closed by a consonant? Say the short sound!
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Rule 2
Magic E (Silent E)
Vowel shouts its NAME! 🗣️ The 'e' stays silent 🤫
V Long Vowel
⚡ leaps over 1 letter ➔
e Silent!
Magic E sends its power backward to make the vowel say its long name!
cap Short ă
+ e
cape Long ā ("cape")
🦸
kit Short ĭ
+ e
kite Long ī ("kite")
🪁
hop Short ŏ
+ e
hope Long ō ("hope")
🌟
tub Short ŭ
+ e
tube Long ū ("tube")
🧪
Remember: Never pronounce the 'e' at the end! It only exists to help the vowel.
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Rule 3
Vowel Teams
Two Vowels Stick Together 🤝 They make 1 sound!
ai • ay says /ā/
🌧️ "Rain on May Day"
ai (Middle of word)
rain • train
ay (End of word)
play • day
ee • ea says /ē/
🍃 "Green Leaf"
ee
tree • seed
ea
leaf • team
oa • ow says /ō/
⛵ "Boat in the Snow"
oa (Middle of word)
boat • soap
ow (End of word)
snow • glow
oi • oy /oy/ sound:
coin (mid) boy (end)
Dyslexia Tip: Underline the two vowels together. Read them as 1 voice!
Chart 3 of 5
Rule 4
Bossy R
R Takes Over The Vowel! 🚗 The vowel sound changes completely
The Pirate Sound ar ⭐ star
car
star
park
The Horn Sound or 🌽 corn
fork
corn
storm
The Sound Triplets
er • ir • ur all make the SAME sound! (/er/)
Memory sentence: "Her first curl" 🐦
er
fern
water
ir
bird
girl
ur
surf
turtle
Rule: When you spot R glued right after a vowel, stop! Say the Bossy R sound.
Chart 4 of 5
Rule 5
Digraphs (Sound Glue)
2 Letters = 1 Brand New Sound! ✨ 1 single tap
sh quiet 🤫
The Quiet Sound
ship • fish • shop
ch train 🚂
The Choo-Choo Sound
chin • bench • chip
th tongue 👅
Tongue Between Teeth
thumb • math • think
wh whale 🐳
The Whistle Sound
whale • wheel • white
-ck
The Short Vowel Ending Bodyguard 🛡️
Only comes right after a single short vowel!
🦆
duck (ŭ)
lock (ŏ)
snack (ă)
brick (ĭ)
Finger Tapping Rule
Digraphs get only 1 finger tap because they make 1 sound!
"sh - i - p" = 3 taps!
You know all 5 phonics code rules! Keep these handy as your desk anchors.
Chart 5 of 5
Phonics Journal Cards Reference
Phonics Journal Cards • Quick Reference
Keep in your reading journal or cut along dotted lines into 6 pocket cards
Fit: 8.5" × 11" Journal Page
1. CVC Short Vowels Door Closed 🔒
Consonant after vowel = SHORT sound!
ă 🍎 cat
ĕ 🛏️ bed
ĭ 🧷 pig
ŏ 🦊 fox
ŭ ☀️ cup
FLOSS: Double f, l, s, z cliff • bell • glass • buzz
2. Magic E (Silent E) Vowel Says Name
'e' is silent 🤫 & makes the vowel shout its NAME:
cap ➔ cape 🦸
kit ➔ kite 🪁
hop ➔ hope 🌟
Formula: Vowel + Consonant + e
3. Vowel Teams 2 Letters = 1 Sound
Two vowels stick together. Read them as ONE sound:
ai • ay (/ā/) rain • play 🌧️
ee • ea (/ē/) tree • leaf 🍃
oa • ow (/ō/) boat • snow ⛵
oi / oy = /oy/ coin • boy 🪙
4. Bossy R R Takes The Wheel! 🚗
R changes the vowel sound completely:
ar ➔ /ar/ ⭐ car • star
or ➔ /or/ 🌽 corn • fork
er • ir • ur all say /er/ 🐦 fern • bird • surf
Memory sentence: "Her first curl"
5. Digraphs (1 Sound) 1 Tap! ☝️
Two letters lock together to make ONE new sound:
sh 🤫 ship • fish
ch 🚂 chin • chip
th 👅 thumb • math
wh 🐳 whale • wheel
Remember: Digraphs only get 1 finger tap!
6. Short Vowel Guards End of Word
Right after a single short vowel, use the heavy ending:
-ck (/k/) duck • lock 🦆
-tch (/ch/) catch • fetch ⚾
-dge (/j/) bridge • badge 🏅
Only use these right after a short vowel!
Student Reading Journal Insert • Keep handy during daily decoding & writing!
Name: _______________