What is phonics? A Parent’s Guide
Parents often ask, what is phonics? Phonics is a method of teaching children how to read and spell by helping them understand the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and their corresponding letters (graphemes).
This foundational approach helps children decode words and understand how they work, forming the basis for all reading and spelling.
Phonemic Awareness: The Foundation of Phonics
Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words.
For example, the word ‘cat’ has three sounds: /k/, /æ/, and /t/.
This crucial skill lays the groundwork for phonics instruction, helping children connect sounds to written symbols and recognise how words are constructed from sounds.
Phonemes and Graphemes: The Building Blocks of Reading and Spelling
Phonics involves learning the sounds (phonemes) in words and the corresponding
letters or letter groups (graphemes).
For example, the /k/ sound is represented by < c > in ‘cat’ or < k > in ‘kite.’
As children progress, they encounter more complex sounds and letter patterns, such as
- digraphs (e.g., < sh > in ‘shop’),
- trigraphs (e.g., < igh > in ‘light’),
- and quadgraphs (e.g., < eigh > in ‘eight’)
The Standard Progression: From Basic to Complex
Phonics instruction progresses from simple to more complex concepts. Children first learn individual sounds and how to blend them into short words. Later, they tackle more complicated patterns and spellings, such as digraphs, trigraphs, and alternative
spellings.
Why Phonics Matters
Phonics enables children to decode (read) and spell words, building confidence and fluency. Phonics is vital for reading independence and comprehension, giving children the tools to break down unfamiliar words instead of relying on memorisation.
Hitchin Tutoring Co
We offer expert phonics tuition at Hitchin Tutoring Co to suit your child’s unique needs. Whether they need help with foundational skills or advanced reading strategies, we are here to help.
Visit our FAQs page to learn more about our tutoring services and how we can help your child succeed.
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