What is Phonics?

Phonics, a major component of structured literacy and the science of reading, is getting a lot of positive press lately. Many schools are waking up to the fact that more phonics instruction is needed for young readers and writers. While the buzz about phonics is new, there is a solid base of research, decades old, demonstrating its benefit for young readers. Please see the International Dyslexia Association website for research studies pertaining to the benefits of structured literacy.

So what is phonics? Phonics is the ability to decode new words, that is, for a reader to come across an unfamiliar word and use their knowledge of letters to “sound it out.” By applying the rules of phonics, students gain confidence to correctly read new words. By using phonics, they don’t need to guess words based on context or picture clues. In contrast, the process of guessing can be time consuming, frustrating, and laborious, and in the end, is not guaranteed to produce the correct word. 

This process also works in reverse to allow students to encode (spell) words. Most words in the English language can be spelled accurately using phonics and morphology (language structure) rules. Once these rules are mastered, students are able to communicate more confidently and effectively in written form. Often, spelling is de-emphasized in schools today leaving many students in need of direct instruction in phonics spelling patterns.

Why Phonics?

Not only does phonics knowledge increase reading confidence and decoding accuracy, it also increases reading rate and fluency. After sufficient experiences decoding a new word using phonics, the student remembers the word without needing to decode it. Then they can read the word easily when it appears in a new context.

When students read quickly, smoothly, and accurately, their cognitive processes are freed up to focus on what matters most – comprehension! Further, children enjoy books more when they can read them without a struggle, which encourages them to read more, which in turn strengthens their reading skills. It’s a beautiful cycle!

The same concept applies in written work. After obtaining experience sounding out a new word, kids are able to spell that word without needing to spend time thinking about how to spell the word correctly. When students can spell words quickly and accurately, they are able to freely express their ideas in writing. In short, phonics skills lay the foundation for a lifelong enjoyment of reading and writing.

Our Literacy Philosophy

Engaged Minds believes strongly in phonics as a necessary foundational piece of reading and writing instruction. While some students are able to learn to read and spell without phonics, learning phonics tools benefits all learners. According to the International Dyslexia Association, it is estimated that 20% of the population is impacted by dyslexia. It is well documented that dyslexic students must be taught phonics in order to learn how to read and spell. In short, Engaged Minds believes that phonics is necessary for some students and helpful for all.

How Engaged Minds Teaches Literacy

Engaged Minds uses only decodable texts for reading instruction until 1st grade phonics skills are mastered. After that, students have the skills they need to tackle a wider range of texts, such as “easy reader” series and early chapter books. 

Even after first grade phonics skills are mastered, many students benefit from a combination of phonics instruction and guided work with high-interest chapter books and authentic writing tasks to continue to build their decoding and encoding skills while gaining experience with authentic texts. When ready, readers tackle high-interest chapter books to increase engagement and reading fluency. 

Spelling skills are also taught using a phonics approach with a small amount of time spend memorizing high frequency words that do not follow phonics rules. Memorization is accomplished through kinesthetic, multi-sensory input such as tracing words on textured surfaces or doing jumping jacks while chanting the letters in a word.

Phonics Resources

Families often ask for recommendations for decodable text sets for emergent readers. The Bob Books Collection, the All About Reading series, and the Starfall Short Vowel Pal packs are our favorites. Older readers, who need to brush up on the basics, will benefit from The Primary Phonics and S.P.I.R.E. series. Simple Word Books provide decodable chapter book series.

Additionally, Mary Beth Hes has written short, decodable texts appropriate for practicing a wide range of phonics skills. Each text is designed to be printed on a single page and does not include illustrations, which underscores the focus on decoding. Digital files of these texts may be purchased from Engaged Minds. Please email marybethhes@engagedminds.net for details.

Letter to sound association provides the foundation of phonics knowledge.

A student uses their letter to sound knowledge to decode the word fit.

These are some of our favorite decodable texts for practicing phonics skills.

Kids re-read familiar texts to increase their reading rate and improve their ability to read with expression.

Once basic phonics rules are mastered, students engage in reading high-interest chapter books.