Phonics Resources, Tutoring, and Literacy Support
Feelings-Based Phonics
SEL + Literacy
A social-emotional, Science of Reading–aligned phonics program for PreK–3 teachers, homeschool, and parents.
Engaging characters. SEL integrated lessons. Simple for adults. Powerful for kids.
Why Feelings-Based Phonics Works
Feelings-Based Phonics brings reading to life by pairing each sound with a character, an emotion, and a simple action. Instead of memorizing letter patterns, kids connect to meaning — and that makes learning stick.
With every character, like Active Aa, students learn to:
- Say the sound with confidence
- Move their body to anchor the learning
- Connect the emotion to the character
- Blend and read decodable words
- Build emotional awareness alongside literacy skills
It’s phonics that feels fun, purposeful, and supportive for early readers.
Meet the Sound Squad — where phonics and feelings come together.
Every character in Feelings-Based Phonics teaches a specific sound and models an emotion kids can easily recognize. Instead of memorizing abstract letter combinations, students anchor sounds to meaningful stories, actions, and feelings.
With each new sound, kids learn through emotion, movement, and story.
They practice:
- saying the sound with a multisensory action
- noticing and naming feelings
- using simple body-regulation cues
- connecting the sound to the letter pattern
This makes tricky phonics skills stick and helps readers feel confident.
Recent Blog Posts
- How I Teach Dictation in My Phonics Routine
- How Long Should a Homeschool Phonics Lesson Be?
- A Simple Daily Phonics Routine for Homeschool Families
- The Best Way to Teach Kids How to Read at Home: A Teacher’s Step-by-Step Phonics Guide
- What Is Phonics? A Simple, Parent-Friendly Explanation
Get FREE Feelings-Based Phonics Resources!
Inside your free sample pack…
Hello, I’m glad you’re here!
I’m Tori — second grade teacher, Orton-Gillingham trained tutor, mom, and creator of Feelings-Based Phonics. After years in the classroom, I realized something big:
our students’ social-emotional needs are huge — and the time we have to meet them is tiny.
So many behaviors stem from kids who need help naming feelings, regulating, or connecting. But the schedule leaves no room for daily SEL instruction. This program fills that gap by integrating SEL right into phonics time.
Here you’ll find:
-Research-aligned phonics tools
-SEL-infused character cards
-Easy, parent-friendly guides
-Practical support for busy teachers and homeschool families
My goal is simple:
make learning to read feel supportive, empowering, and doable — for kids and the grown-ups helping them.
If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re in the right place.
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Created by Tori Akselrad | Personal Blog | TeachersPayTeachers Resources