Advanced search

Browse your search results by sector:

Browse by audience:

 

Resources

Resource - Phonics: a definition

What is phonics?

Phonics refers to a method for teaching speakers of English to read and write their language. Phonics involves connecting the sounds of spoken English with letters or groups of letters (e.g that the sound /k/ can be represented by c, k, ck or ch spellings) and teaching them to blend the sounds of letters together to produce approximate pronunciations of unknown words. In this way phonics enables people to use individual sounds to construct words. For example, when taught the sounds for the letters t, p, a and s, one can build up the words "tap", "pat", "pats", "taps" and "sat"

You might also be interested in:

Phonics - a glossary of terms

Phonics - methods of teaching

Phonics - a timeline

Return to downloads

 
  • Join our fun run Run, walk or jog in our first ever Where’s Wally? fun run on Sunday 24 March 2013. Find out more
  • Parents and carers Give your child the best possible foundation in speech, writing and reading skills with Words for Life. Go to Words for Life
  • Join our network We provide inspiration, resources and support to transform literacy for children and young people. Find out more
  • Resources Our range of resources makes our programmes available to all schools for the first time. Find out more
 

The National Literacy Trust is a registered charity no. 1116260 and a company limited by guarantee no. 5836486 registered in England and Wales and a registered charity in Scotland no. SCO42944.
Registered address: 68 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1RL.