Segmenting in Phonics: How to Teach Children to Hear the Sounds in Words
Segmenting means breaking a spoken word into its individual sounds, like dog → /d/ /o/ /g/. It's the reverse of blending and the key skill for spelling. In Jolly Phonics it's called "identifying the sounds in words". To teach it, start with listening for the first sound, then all the sounds, using fingers or counters for each sound, and then write a letter for each sound through short daily dictation.
This guide covers what segmenting is, a simple teaching progression, useful tools like sound buttons and sound boxes, and fixes for common spelling mistakes. It's part of our guide to the 5 skills of Jolly Phonics.
Segmenting vs Blending
Direction
Sounds → word
Word → sounds
Used for
Reading
Spelling and writing
Example
/s/ /u/ /n/ → sun
sun → /s/ /u/ /n/
Children need both. A child who can blend but not segment reads well but spells poorly. Read our guide on how to teach blending for the reading side.
Step-by-Step Segmenting Progression
First sound
"First sound in mat?" → /m/
Last sound
"Last sound in mat?" → /t/
Two-sound words
up → /u/ /p/
Three-sound words, holding up a finger for each
hen → /h/ /e/ /n/
Write the sounds
hen
Digraphs: one sound, two letters
ship → /sh/ /i/ /p/
Consonant blends
stop → /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/
Dictated sentences
The hen is red.
Most children can hear the sounds in words and write words and sentences from dictation by the end of their first term.
Tools That Make Segmenting Easier
Phoneme fingers
Say the word slowly and hold up one finger for each sound. Children can count the sounds before they write.
Sound boxes
Draw one box for each sound. The child pushes a counter into a box as they say each sound, then writes the letters. For ship, draw three boxes, not four: /sh/ is one sound.
Sound buttons
In written words, put a dot under each letter that makes its own sound and a dash under two letters that make one sound (sh, ai). This shows children how many sounds a word has.
Magnetic letters
For very young children, building words with magnetic letters removes the effort of handwriting, so they can focus on the sounds.
Dictation: The Heart of Segmenting Practice
Short, regular dictation is the most effective segmenting practice:
- Say the word clearly and use it in a sentence.
- The child repeats the word.
- The child says the sounds, using phoneme fingers.
- The child writes a letter or digraph for each sound.
- Check together, and praise every correct sound, not just the whole word.
Three to five words a day, using only sounds the child has learned, is enough.
Common Segmenting Mistakes and Fixes
Missing middle sounds
sop for stop
Stretch the word slowly; use sound boxes
Missing the vowel
hn for hen
Point out that every word has a vowel sound
Writing letter names
hn (thinking "aitch-en")
Re-teach sounds, not names
Two letters split into two sounds
s-h-i-p counted as 4 sounds
Teach digraphs as one sound; use dashes
Mixing similar vowels
pen written pin
Practise word pairs: pin / pen / pan
Spelling by memory, not sound
Random letters that "look right"
More dictation, less copying
Segmenting for Children Learning English as a Second Language
Children can only segment the sounds they can hear and say. If a child hears vet and wet as the same word, they will spell them the same way. For children who speak another language at home:
- Say each word clearly and ask the child to repeat it before segmenting.
- Practise listening to pairs of words that differ by one sound.
- Use pictures of familiar objects so the child knows the word before spelling it.
What Comes Next
Once children can segment simple words, they learn that some sounds have more than one spelling. See our guide to Jolly Phonics alternative spellings. Common irregular words are practised separately as tricky words.
Our online Jolly Phonics classes include dictation in every session, and our phonics course for teachers shows teachers how to run it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is segmenting in phonics? +
Segmenting is breaking a spoken word into its individual sounds so it can be spelled, for example dog → /d/ /o/ /g/.
Is segmenting the same as identifying sounds in words? +
Yes. Jolly Phonics calls this skill "identifying the sounds in words". It's the key spelling skill.
What are sound buttons? +
Sound buttons are dots and dashes under a written word. A dot marks a letter making one sound; a dash marks two or three letters making one sound, such as sh or igh.
How do you teach segmenting to a 4-year-old? +
Start with games about the first sound in words, then say simple words slowly while holding up a finger for each sound. Writing comes later.
Why does my child miss sounds when spelling? +
Usually because they don't hear every sound, especially in the middle of words or in blends like st and fl. Saying the word slowly and using sound boxes helps.
How much dictation should a child do? +
Three to five words a day, using only sounds they have learned, is enough for steady progress.