- Definition
Phonics is a way of teaching kids to read by helping them connect the sounds that letters or groups of letters make with how those sounds are written down. It helps them sound out words to read them and also helps them spell words correctly.
Knowing the sounds for 'c', 'a', and 't' helps a child sound out the word 'cat'.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Phonics is like learning a secret code where each letter has its own special sound.
Ask your child: What sound does the first letter of your name make?
Common mix-up: Kids may think reading is just memorizing whole words. Phonics is a tool for sounding out new words by connecting letters to their sounds.
Examples
- Blending the sounds 'd,' 'o,' and 'g' to read the word 'dog'.
- Learning that 's' and 'h' together make one 'sh' sound, as in 'ship'.
- Hearing the word 'sun' and writing the letters s, u, and n.
phonics is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
