What is Phonics?

Teaching phonics involves focusing on the acquisition of letter-sound correspondences to support reading and spelling. As children better understand the correspondences between sounds and letters, and between sounds and letter combinations, they are then better equipped to take on the more challenging tasks of decoding and encoding words.

The NRP found strong evidence in support of phonics instruction that is explicit and systematic (NICHHD, 2000). Explicit phonics instruction means the teacher provides clear and precise instruction, and systematic phonics instruction means that the teacher has a specific plan or sequence for introducing letter-sound relationships (Kilpatrick, 2015). The NRP recommended that systematic and explicit approaches to phonics include “a planned, sequential introduction of a set of phonic elements along with teaching and practice of those elements” and “the identification of a full array of letter-sound correspondences” (NICHHD, 2000, pp. 2–89, 2–99).

Further research following the publication of the NRP report indicates that systematic and explicit instruction in phonics is the most effective way to ensure reading growth (Berninger et al., 2003; Boyer & Ehri, 2011; Henry, 2003).