Secret Stories® Phonemic Awareness Cards

The Missing Piece in Phonics Instruction Most phonemic awareness programs stop at the sound. They teach blending and segmenting, and then they move on, without ever connecting those sounds to the letters and patterns students need to actually read and write. Secret Stories Sound Cards fill that gap. Built on decades of reading research, including orthographic mapping theory (Dr. Linnea Ehri), early intervention science, and the Secret Stories Meta-Analysis (effect size 1.62), these cards move students from sound to print through a simple, brain-aligned routine that transfers to real reading and writing every time. THE SAY IT → SEE IT → APPLY IT ROUTINE Every card follows the same three-step sequence: SAY IT (Phonemic Awareness): Students practice blending and segmenting the target sound. The teacher models, students respond, and the sound becomes automatic before the pattern is introduced. SEE IT (Connect Sounds to Letters and Secret Stories®): Students learn the Secret Story for that phonics pattern, a 15-20 second narrative that connects the sound to its letter pattern through the social-emotional memory pathways that develop earliest in children. Students find the Secret Story pattern amongst other letters and phonics patterns to deepen recognition. APPLY IT (Use in Real Reading and Writing): Students immediately use the pattern in real reading and writing, reading words that contain the pattern, then spelling and writing them. Every lesson ends with the code in their hands, not just in their ears. This structure builds the connections the brain needs for orthographic mapping, linking sounds, letters, and meaning together so words become instantly recognizable over time. What's included? ✓ 39 Sound Cards: Complete coverage of every Secret Stories® phonics pattern. Superhero and lazy vowels, consonants, digraphs, blends, and complex patterns. ✓ Instructional Routine on Every Card Back: The complete Say It → See It → Apply It sequence with blending and segmenting practice words, reading word lists, and spelling words. Everything needed for a complete lesson is on one card. No prep required. ✓ Bridging Sound to Print Insert: A research-grounded teacher and parent guide explaining the brain science behind the cards, how to use each card, and how to read the notation (slash marks = say the sound; bold text = read aloud to students). ✓ Works in Any Setting: Whole group, small group, intervention, morning work, centers, or home practice. No additional training required. ✓ Free Printables: Check out our free toolbox of resources to use alongside this resource. Note: The Classroom Kit or Homeschool Kit is required for use with this product. Who it's for: Secret Stories Sound Cards are designed for K-5+ classroom teachers, reading interventionists, literacy coaches, special education teachers, PreK programs, and parents. The cards work alongside any existing phonics curriculum or reading program. Nothing to replace, nothing to overhaul.