How Is Phonics Used in a Reading Program?
Phonics, which is how letters blend together to form words, is crucial to teaching children how to read. For students to move beyond very basic reading skills, they must understand phonics concepts so they can identify unfamiliar words as they arise. Phonics is one step in a process that develops this ability and overall reading comprehension.Letter SoundsChildren begin early to recognize that each letter represents one or more sounds–a concept also known as “phonemic awareness.” Often, even before they can associate the sounds with the letters themselves, children have learned that words are made up of a combination of different sounds.Letter RecognitionAlthough a separate principle, letter recognition is closely tied to phonemic awareness. Beginning readers must learn to identify the individual letters as well as to understand the concepts of words and sentences.Word RecognitionSome frequently used words, especially ones that don’t follow basic phonics rules, are taught simply by me
