Lesson planning
Organize textbooks and word lists, then prepare syllable and phonics explanations in advance.
SoundWhy Annual Membership
Not memorization. Learn to decode.
SoundWhy helps learners see how letters represent sounds and how those sounds blend into words. Phonics, syllable breakdowns, and grapheme–phoneme mapping make unfamiliar words easier to read—not merely easier to repeat.
Made for real learning
Make decoding clear—in class or at home
Classroom presentation
Project words, syllables, and grapheme–phoneme mappings so every learner can follow.
Learning with a parent
Listen, repeat, and review together at home—using decoding instead of rote memorization.
Independent practice
Break down unfamiliar words and connect letters to sounds to build confident reading.
Membership features
The teaching tools you need, in one clear path
Custom textbooks and units
Build your own course structure and organize units and words by class or curriculum.
Ready-made textbook lists
Choose content from the platform library and spend less time entering material.
Phonics and syllable breakdowns
Break longer words into approachable syllables and present each part clearly.
Grapheme–phoneme mapping
Show how individual letters and letter groups connect to speech sounds.
Full-screen classroom and repeat
Present words, phonetics, meanings, and repeat controls in a focused lesson view.
Teaching video creator
Turn the current unit into a landscape or portrait MP4 for class and review.
Word-list PDF downloads
Turn the current unit into an A4 study sheet with words, phonetics, meanings, and sound mappings.
Shareable word lists
Create a sign-in-free link for students or open it directly for classroom presentation.
British and American pronunciation
Switch between UK and US pronunciation while keeping phonetics, audio, and decoding displays consistent.
1-year membership
SoundWhy Member
For English educators, parents, and independent learners.
$
14.99
USD
/ year
/ year
One annual payment · About $1.08 per month
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Frequently asked questions
Membership features and limits
More detail about each membership feature, so you know how it works before purchasing.
Who are the membership features for?
They are designed for teachers, parents, and learners who want to teach or learn English decoding. Teachers can plan lessons and present in class; parents can guide listening, repetition, and review; learners can practise independent decoding with syllables and grapheme–phoneme mappings instead of relying on rote memorization.
How are ready-made lists different from custom textbooks?
Ready-made textbooks are organized and maintained by the platform and can be used directly for planning or classroom presentation. The current library includes widely used editions such as People's Education Press (PEP) and FLTRP, with more textbook series, grades, and word lists added over time.
Members can also create their own word lists, with a total allowance of up to 10,000 custom words: 10 custom textbooks, 20 units in each textbook, and up to 50 words in each unit.
What do phonics and syllable breakdowns show?
Words are divided into approachable syllables and presented with their sounds, helping learners move from seeing a new word to attempting to decode it.
What is grapheme–phoneme mapping for?
It makes the relationship between letters or letter groups and speech sounds visible, so learners can understand why part of a word is pronounced the way it is.
How can full-screen classroom and repeat mode be used?
The focused view brings together the word, phonetics, meaning, syllables, and playback controls for classroom projection, parent-guided learning, or independent practice.
Which format does the teaching video creator produce?
Turn the current unit into a landscape or portrait MP4 for lessons, review, or sharing with students. The video uses content from the selected textbook and unit.
Can I download a word list?
Yes. Members can download the current unit as an A4 PDF study sheet containing each word, phonetics, Chinese meaning, and decoding map. The PDF automatically lays out six words per page and supports a custom header, making it useful for lesson planning, classroom handouts, and review.
Can I share a word list with students or use it in class?
Yes. Members can create a read-only link for the current unit, send it to students for review, or open it directly for the complete classroom presentation. Visitors do not need to register or sign in and cannot edit the original list. The owner can choose an expiry period or disable the link at any time.
Can I switch between British and American pronunciation?
Yes. Members can choose UK or US pronunciation to match their textbook, lesson, or learning preference. Phonetics, playback audio, and decoding displays update together, helping teachers keep classroom models consistent and learners compare the two common varieties.