What is phonics?
Simply defined, phonics refers to the relationship between the speech sounds (phonemes) and their corresponding letters or letter combinations (graphemes). The goal of phonics instruction is to enable readers to develop fluency with reading (decoding words) and spelling skills.
Why is explicit phonics instruction important?
In the video below, Brainspring instructor Ingrid Hartig explains why understanding explicit phonics instruction is so important for all teachers.
"For teachers at every single grade level... it's essential because we need to understand how to teach reading, and when you understand how to teach reading, then you are going to understand the importance of building that base of phonemic awareness, you're going to understand the importance of knowing those letter sounds, you're going to understand the importance of those combinations." ~Brainspring Instructor, Ingrid Hartig
Check out these phonics materials!
Additional resources...
Florida Center for Reading and Research: Phonics Activities
Orton Gillingham Online Academy: "The Big Five: Phonics Teaching Letters and Sounds"
Garforth Education: "Phonics Instruction: What is it, and Why is it Important?"
The Conversation: "What is Phonics, and Why is it Important?"
