The book is based on the wisdom gained from working with hundreds of students who have attended the author's after-school reading clinic. This is reflected in the practical approach to helping students of all ages including those with English as a second language and those with a range of difficulties including, special needs, motivational and attention problems.

Phonics Handbook includes lesson plans for every phonics skill from the basic alphabet sounds through to blends, digraphs, syllable breaking and decoding Latin and Greek words. Each lesson is followed by a worksheet for students. Using this format, the book incorporates diagnostic assessment to measure what students need at the outset of teaching, as well as measuring whether the tutoring has been effective. Additional teaching strategies are given to reinforce spelling and assist reading comprehension. Strategies for 'hard to teach' students and information on reporting to parents are included, incorporating research on the best tutoring methods.