Printable Scholar

Free Phonics Rules Posters

63 printable posters for the phonics and spelling rules taught in kindergarten to 2nd grade. Each one gives the rule in a sentence, a key picture and a column of example words with the pattern in red. Free color PDFs on letter paper. No sign-up.

Short vowelsDigraphsBlendsSpelling rulesSilent eVowel teamsDiphthongsR-controlled vowelsMore patternsSyllables and word parts

Phonics Rules Posters pack cover
Pack · Grades K–2

All 63 posters in one file

Every poster is free on its own. The pack saves 63 downloads and adds a notebook-size copy.

Contents pageA notebook-size page with two posters
Get the pack: $7

Short vowels

Digraphs

Blends

Spelling rules

Silent e

Vowel teams

Diphthongs

R-controlled vowels

More patterns

Syllables and word parts

About the Phonics Rules Posters

Phonics rules (also called spelling rules or spelling generalizations) tell a child which letters to use for a sound and how a pattern changes the sounds around it. The posters follow the order most K-2 phonics programs teach: short vowels, digraphs and blends, the Floss rule and the other spelling-choice rules, silent e, vowel teams, bossy r, and then syllables, prefixes and suffixes.

Each poster matches one of our phonics skills, so the worksheets and decodable readers for the same pattern are one click away. Put the poster up when you start the pattern and leave it up: a child who is stuck can find the rule on the wall instead of guessing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Floss rule?

When a one-syllable word ends in f, l, s or z right after one short vowel, double the last letter: cliff, bell, dress, buzz. It is called the Floss rule because the word floss uses it. A few words break it: if, of, us, bus, yes, gas, this and plus.

When do you use c and when do you use k?

Use c before a, o and u (cat, cot, cup). Use k before e, i and y (key, kit). At the end of a short word right after one short vowel, use ck (duck, sock).

When do you use ai and when do you use ay?

Use ai in the middle of a word (rain, nail) and ay at the end of a word (play, day). The same idea works for oi and oy, ou and ow, and au and aw.

What is the silent e rule?

When a vowel is followed by one consonant and an e, the vowel says its name and the e is silent: cake, bike, rope, cube.

When do you use tch and dge?

Right after one short vowel, use tch for /ch/ (match) and dge for /j/ (badge). After anything else, use ch (bench, peach) and ge (cage, huge).

Are the posters free?

Yes. Every poster is a free color PDF on letter paper. Print it full size for the wall, or print it smaller for a phonics notebook or a reading folder.