About Open Phonics
What Is Open Phonics?
Open Phonics is a free, privacy-first, open-source web application that teaches children to read. It provides a structured, step-by-step reading program that any teacher or tutor can use — no training required.
The app gives the learner a distraction-free reading view with an animated tracking pointer, while you follow a simple script that tells you exactly what to say and do at each step.
The Methodology
Open Phonics is built on Direct Instruction (DI), a research-backed teaching methodology developed by Siegfried Engelmann. DI breaks reading into small, explicit steps and uses a structured script so that every child receives clear, consistent instruction.
Key principles:
- Explicit phonics. Children learn the sounds that letters make, then blend those sounds into words.
- Scripted instruction. The teacher script removes guesswork. You know exactly what to say and when.
- Immediate feedback. Every response gets specific praise or immediate correction with re-testing.
- Cumulative review. Each lesson reviews previously learned sounds before introducing new ones.
- Mastery-based progression. Children move forward only when they have mastered the current material.
Privacy First
Open Phonics has no accounts, no tracking, and no data collection. All progress is stored locally on your device using your browser’s localStorage. The learner’s data never leaves your computer.
You can export and import progress as a JSON file to transfer between devices or create backups.
Open Source
Open Phonics is free to use and open source. The code is available on GitHub under the MIT license. Contributions, translations, and feedback are welcome.
Built By
Open Phonics is designed and built by Pikes Peak Web Designs, a web development agency based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.