FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome! Here you’ll find answers to common questions about the Eyewords multisensory-phonemic method, how it supports K–3 students, English Language Learners, and children with diverse learning needs, and how to get started. If you need more help, reach out at info@eyewords.com or call 1-800-778-9526.
1. What is Eyewords?
Eyewords is a method for teaching foundational literacy skills that uses pictures, sounds, and actions to teach letter-sound connections and high-frequency words. Backed by studies (including research by Stanford University), Eyewords makes learning fun, engaging, and memorable, helping children develop strong, foundational reading skills.
2. What are letter-sound connections, and why are they important?
Letter-sound connections are the links between individual letters (like t) or letter combinations (like th) and the sounds they represent. These connections form the foundation for reading and spelling. When children can reliably link letters to sounds, they read more fluently and spell words more accurately.
How does Eyewords’ Alpha-Code help?
● Vibrant Images: Each letter or letter combination is paired with a playful image that cues its sound.
● Fun Actions: Children perform engaging movements to reinforce these connections in a hands-on way.
● Mouth Shape Demonstrations: Correct mouth positions are shown, helping children produce sounds accurately.
● Memory Boost: By activating multiple senses (seeing, hearing, and moving) Eyewords creates strong neural pathways that help children retain and recall information more easily.
3. What are high-frequency words, and why are they important?
High-frequency words are common words like “the,” “and,” or “is” that appear often in written text. Recognizing these words automatically, allows children to focus on comprehension rather than decoding every word. This is vital for building reading fluency.
How does Eyewords help with high-frequency words?
● Engages Multiple Senses: Each word is paired with contextual images, related phrases, and playful actions.
● Concrete Meaning: Kids remember these high frequency words better when they link them to pictures, actions, and short phrases. This makes the words real and easier to learn.
● Builds Reading Confidence: By mastering high-frequency words quickly, kids can read more smoothly and focus on comprehension.
4. Who benefits from Eyewords?
● Children in grades K–3
● English Language Learners
● Students with exceptionalities such as dyslexia, ADHD, autism, working memory deficits, and language delays
● Families, educators, and clinicians looking for an inclusive approach to teaching literacy skills
5. What Eyewords products are available?
We have three flagship products, each with supporting digital resources:
- Alpha-Code
- Teaches letter-sound connections, phonics, and phonemic awareness
- It guides children to produce the sounds letters represent by showing them how to move their mouth, tongue, and vocal cords correctly. This skill is essential for developing strong reading and spelling skills.
- Great for establishing strong foundational decoding skills.
Product link here
- Eyewords
- Focuses on rapid, automatic recognition of high-frequency words.
- Uses pictures, actions, and phrases to make these words instantly recognizable and meaningful.
- Coordinating sound-mapping worksheets are also available which gradually introduce spelling and phonics skills by using a “building-block” approach to break ideas into smaller pieces.
Product link here
- Eyewords with Sound Mapping
- Integrates high-frequency word recognition with explicit sound mapping (matching letters or letter combos to sounds).
- Utilizes the heart word method, highlighting the irregular or “tricky” parts of words that must be learned “by heart.” This helps students know which parts of a word can be decoded phonetically and which parts need special memorization.
- Boosts word reading, spelling, and phonics simultaneously, helping children tackle challenging or irregular words effectively.
Product link here
6. What activities come with each Eyewords set?
Every Eyewords set includes 10 unique play-based games and activities, that keep learning hands-on and exciting. These activities:
● Engage multiple senses (visual, auditory, kinesthetic), improving retention.
● Encourage social skills, self-regulation, and attention through collaborative or individual play.
● Provide variety to prevent boredom and maintain student interest.
7. How do I integrate Eyewords at home or in the classroom?
Each Eyewords product comes with easy-to-follow instructions and a free scope and sequence (step by step plan) to guide implementation. This approach fits seamlessly into any existing phonics or reading program and is flexible enough for:
● Whole-class instruction
● Small-group activities
● One-on-one tutoring at home or in clinical settings
8. How can I track progress and see if Eyewords is working?
Eyewords provides user-friendly Data Assessment Trackers to monitor growth in letter-sound connections, and sight-word recognition of high frequency words. These enable the user to:
● Identify gaps early
● Adjust instruction as needed
● Measure each child’s improvement in a clear, systematic way
9. Can older struggling readers benefit from Eyewords?
Yes, older readers who need to reinforce or build foundational skills can also benefit. The Eyewords approach is engaging for children of many ages and helps fill in gaps that may be holding learners back in reading fluency and comprehension.
10. Do you offer workshops or training?
We offer in-person, live Zoom, and on-demand workshops to support your implementation and understanding of Eyewords. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or clinician, these sessions will show you how to:
● Use each product effectively
● Customize Eyewords for diverse learners
● Incorporate best practices into your reading lessons
Learn more about our workshops here.
11. Does Eyewords align with reading standards?
Yes. Eyewords addresses key foundational reading standards commonly found in local and national curricula, including the Common Core State Standards. By focusing on phonics, phonemic awareness, and high-frequency word mastery, Eyewords supports systematic, standards-based literacy instruction.