Phoneme Isolation Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: RF.K.2

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

A fundamental skill that helps readers sound out words is the use of phoneme isolation. As the name indicates, this technique is used to locate where a sound appears in a word. Once students have mastered this skill being able to sound out most words, is just around the corner. Students that have a knack for this skill can tell if a sound is in the front, middle, or end of a word. Students that have difficulty with this technique will still understand if a sound is located within a word, they just won’t be able to provide you with the location of that sound.

Phoneme Isolation Worksheets:

Sounds It Out – You should know your letters before attempting this worksheet. Touch each box as you sound out the word. X extra boxes that do not hold a sound.

Phonics Sounds – Another round of this activity for you. Same skills, different objects and items.

Boxed Sounds – We focus this activity slightly differently. The picture is for pointing out things.

Phoneme Isolation – What words are you getting here? Follow the directions here or you will have some trouble.

Find the Sounds – Where are the sounds in this word? This asks for students to have more endurance.

Town Square – Touch each square as you sound out the word. This worksheet focuses on the beginning of words.

Listen For The Sounds – Some of the boxes just don't belong here. This is a listening worksheet for students.

Box a Sound – Each box gets a sounds within each word. The second makes sense, if you think of ice rinks.

Second /l/ Sound – Circle every picture that has /l/ as the SECOND sound.

/sh/, /s/ Sounds – Circle every picture that has /sh/ as the FIRST sound.

1, 2, or 3 – Write the place of the sound in the word. This can be anywhere in the word.

Feel the Sounds – Write the color of the box where the /t/ sound is heard.

More Extra Boxes – Teachers love this activity so we added an additional worksheet for you.

Sound Isolation – Breaking down where the sound is located can be difficult for those new to phonics.

Phoneme Isolation – Color in the boxes that holds the /k/ sounds. Where is that sound located?

How to Improve Phoneme Isolation Skills


Being able to pinpoint the location of a sound within a word is flagship skill in phonemic awareness. There a number of different approaches that teachers can use to improve these skills. We hope to offer a few different approaches for you. All of these techniques can be modified to best work with your class.


Using tangible objects that students can hold in their hands is very impactful. I often give students assorted trinkets and ask students to tell me the ending sound. We eventually matriculate to middle and starting sounds, but learners often have much more success with the ending of words. Building success for students is often paramount to helping them build confidence. Students love to sing and chant. I have them complete the ending sound activity and then we have the students chant the names of the objects in the bag. I usually end this activity by having students write the words and trying to circle the sounds that they hear. I will then ask them where they hear the sounds that I make and have them circle those sounds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Boxed Sounds Preview