The phonetic approach is a method of teaching and learning reading that is based on the alphabet’s letters and their sounds. To decode words in text, children learn the shapes of the letters and the sounds they make. Sounding out is a way for blending sounds together in an unfamiliar word. The phonetic approach to reading has benefits and drawbacks, but it remains an important part of early literacy instruction in most classrooms.
Children learn the shapes and sounds of alphabet letters in phonics lessons so they can recognize them on the page when reading. This ability aids children in decoding (or breaking down) new words into shorter sounds that can then be combined to make words. Beginning readers can utilize the phonetic technique to help them cope with difficult and unfamiliar words, increasing their confidence. This method can be used to slowly sound out words before they learn to recognize words instantly. When a child is confronted with a text that is slightly more advanced than his real reading level, the phonetic technique comes in handy. When longer, more intricate words can be broken down into individual letters or letter clusters, they become less intimidating.
When it comes to writing, phonics training can assist students in spelling new words. They can use the phonetic approach to break down a word in their heads as they prepare to write it, just as they would use it to break down a word when reading. They can say the word out loud or silently, break it down into smaller chunks, listen for sounds, and then envision the letters that go with it. Invented spelling is a term used to describe this process. While it may not always lead to the right spelling of a term, it is a good place to start. Students have a good chance of spelling the term correctly, or at least near enough for a teacher to comprehend what they meant. A phonetic method to spelling will assist children in completing writing activities that might otherwise be too difficult.
The phonetic approach may assist youngsters in reading words on a page, but it does not focus on word understanding. A pupil may read a full sentence without understanding it if they just use the phonetic approach. A different style of reading is the whole-language approach, which emphasizes meaning in language rather than decoding skills. Students will have a higher chance of understanding “ing” words while reading if they discover that words ending in “ing” show action, for example. If they comprehend the context in which they emerge, they may have a better chance of decoding fast.
Not all words are phonetically spelled. Many English words are not spelt in the same way they sound, which can be challenging for inexperienced readers who rely on phonetic reading. However, when dealing with terms like ocean or sugar, using the phonetic technique can take kids in the incorrect direction. Instead of learning to read these words letter by letter, youngsters must learn to memorize them so that they can recognize them immediately. Children who rely entirely on the phonetic approach will be unable to accurately read such words.