Understanding Phonics

Phonics is the skill of connecting sounds with letters or groups of letters to read words. At this level, students learn to recognize common spelling patterns and decode words they haven't seen before.

Why Is Word Recognition Important?

Being able to quickly recognize words helps you read smoothly and understand what you are reading. When you see a word like "light," you know the "igh" makes a long "i" sound, and you can read it quickly!

Common Patterns

• Vowel teams (ea, oa, ai)
• Silent letters (kn in "knee")
• Prefixes and suffixes (un-, re-, -ed, -ing)

Practice Tips

• Break long words into chunks.
• Read aloud to practice tricky words.
• Play word games to spot patterns.

Real-World Connection

You use phonics every time you read a new sign, menu, or instruction!