Phonics is a method for teaching reading and writing to beginners. To use phonics is to teach the relationship between the sounds of the spoken language (phonemes), and the letters (graphemes) or groups of letters or syllables of the written language. Phonics is also known as the alphabetic principle or the alphabetic code. It can be used with any writing system that is alphabetic, such as that of English, Russian, and most other languages. Phonics is also sometimes used as part of the process of teaching Chinese people to read and write Chinese characters, which are not alphabetic, using pinyin, which is.
Children should practise phonics by reading books consistent with their developing phonic knowledge and skill; and, at the same time they should hear, share and discuss "a wide range of high-quality books to develop a love of reading and broaden their vocabulary" - National curriculum in England, 2014.
McGuffey's Primer 1836
Reading time at a primary school in rural Lao PDR
Image: Ramsay Richard Reinagle (1775 1862) A Boy Reading T01073 Tate
Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of letters, symbols, etc., especially by sight or touch.
A reading muse
There is a growing body of evidence which illustrates the importance of reading for pleasure for both educational purposes as well as personal development. Photo: Reading a newspaper in Catania, Sicily.
Volunteer reads to a girl at the Casa Hogar de las Niñas in Mexico City
Woman reading on a train ride to pass the time, Oklahoma, U.S., June 1974
