Why is phonics such an important piece in a child’s literacy journey?
Five reasons why phonics instruction is so important.
Phonics instruction and phonemic awareness is a crucial step in developing a strong reader. It helps budding readers understand the relationship between letters and their sounds which leads to strong decoding and encoding (spelling) skills in the future.
Here are some reasons why phonics instruction is so important:
It is a basic building block: Phonics instruction teaches children the sounds that letters and letter combinations make, and how to combine those sounds to read words. For a child to read independently, this skill and knowledge is essential.
It supports spelling skills: Phonics instruction helps children to spell words by teaching them the sounds and letter combinations that make up words. It teaches them how these sounds are made separately and then how they sound together.
It helps children read new vocabulary: Once a child learns their foundational sounds and rules, they can use this knowledge to sound out new vocabulary, even words they’ve never seen or heard before.
It develops better readers: When children have a strong foundation in phonics, they become better readers overall. They can read more fluently and with better comprehension.
It supports struggling readers: Phonics instruction is particularly effective for children who struggle with reading, such as children with dyslexia. By breaking down words into their individual sounds, phonics instruction can help these children make sense of words.
In short, phonics instruction is a crucial part in teaching children to read. It is an essential piece in developing strong future readers who are confident and have a love of reading. Check out our socials and website for more information about how you can support your child’s literacy journey and how to teach phonics right within the home.
