How is phonics important to reading

Phonics is a way of teaching children how to read and write. It helps children hear, identify and use different sounds that distinguish one word from another in the English language. Understanding phonics will also help children know which letters to use when they are writing words. Phonics involves matching the sounds of spoken English with individual letters or groups of letters.

For example, the sound k can be spelled as c, k, ck or ch. Teaching children to blend the sounds of letters together helps them decode unfamiliar or unknown words by sounding them out.

Introducing young children to the joy and wonder of books requires a systematic teaching of phonics. They see the world with new eyes and can better visualize the descriptions of what they read. Donald R. Unfamiliar words are easier for unravel as children develop their phonemic awareness. A student who learns phonics becomes more familiar with syllable structure.

For example, acknowledging that a closed syllable will end in a consonant and have a short vowel, while an open syllable will end in a vowel that makes a long sound. English structures become clearer and easier to understand through phonics education. Through Phonics education, children become more active with their reading, which also promotes achievement in other subjects, not just English.

Children can better grasp other types of knowledge across their curriculum. Teaching phonics is often designed to be fun and engaging for children. For example, games are often tied to lessons, and the visuals which accompany the lessons are usually very vibrant. This approach is meant to enhance the learning experience, and ultimately results in better overall development of reading and writing skills.

Of course, all children are individuals, each with their own learning styles. Phonics education is one method that can be incorporated into a complete, well-rounded reading program that encourages visual learners to recognize whole words by sight, and creates opportunities for extensive reading and creative writing. Before students can use a knowledge of sound-spelling relationships to decode written words, they must understand that words whether written or spoken are made up of sounds. Phonemic awareness is the understanding that a word is made up of a series of discrete sounds.

Without this insight, phonics instruction will not make sense to students. Activities, games, and lessons that help students learn early reading, spelling, and verbal skills. Create a List. List Name Save. Rename this List. Rename this list.

List Name Delete from selected List. Save to. Save to:. Save Create a List. Create a list. Save Back. Understanding Phonics By Wiley Blevins. Grades PreK—K , 1—2 , 3—5. What is phonics? Why is phonics instruction important? How should you structure phonics instruction?