Key findings from the scientific research on phonics instruction include the following conclusions of particular interest and value to classroom teachers.
Systematic and explicit phonics instruction is more effective than non-systematic or no phonics instruction
Systematic and explicit phonics instruction makes a bigger contribution to children’s growth in reading than instruction that provides non-systematic or no phonics instruction.
How do systematic programs of phonics instruction differ from non-systematic programs? The hallmark of programs of systematic phonics instruction is the direct teaching of a set of letter-sound relationships in a clearly defined sequence. The set includes the major sound/spelling relationships of both consonants and vowels.
The programs also provide materials that give children substantial practice in applying knowledge of these relationships as they read and write. These materials include books or stories that contain a large number of words that children can decode by using the letter-sound relationships they have learned and are learning. The programs also might provide children with opportunities to spell words and to write their own stories with the letter-sound relationships they are learning.
Approaches to phonics instruction
Most teachers are acquainted with several approaches to phonics instruction, including those listed below. The distinctions between approaches are not absolute, and some programs of instruction combine approaches.
Synthetic phonics: Children learn how to convert letters or letter combinations into sounds, and then how to blend the sounds together to form recognizable words.
Analytic phonics: Children learn to analyze letter-sound relationships in previously learned words. They do not pronounce sounds in isolation.
Analogy-based phonics: Children learn to use parts of word families they know to identify words they don’t know that have similar parts.
Phonics through spelling: Children learn to segment words into phonemes and to make words by writing letters for phonemes.
Embedded phonics: Children are taught letter-sound relationships during the reading of connected text. (Since children encounter different letter-sound relationships as they read, this approach is not systematic or explicit.)
Onset-rime phonics instruction: Children learn to identify the sound of the letter or letters before the first vowel (the onset) in a one-syllable word and the sound of the remaining part of the word (the rime).
Systematic and explicit phonics instruction significantly improves kindergarten and first-grade children’s word recognition and spelling
Systematic phonics instruction produces the greatest impact on children’s reading achievement when it begins in kindergarten or first grade.
Both kindergarten and first-grade children who receive systematic phonics instruction are better at reading and spelling words than kindergarten and first-grade children who do not receive systematic instruction.
Systematic and explicit phonics instruction significantly improves children’s reading comprehension
Systematic phonics instruction results in better growth in children’s ability to comprehend what they read than non-systematic or no phonics instruction. This is not surprising because the ability to read the words in a text accurately and quickly is highly related to successful reading comprehension.
Systematic and explicit phonics instruction is effective for children from various social and economic levels
Systematic phonics instruction is beneficial to children regardless of their socioeconomic status. It helps children from various backgrounds make greater gains in reading than non- systematic instruction or no phonics instruction.
Systematic and explicit phonics instruction is particularly beneficial for children who are having difficulty learning to read and who are at risk for developing future reading problems
Systematic phonics instruction is significantly more effective than non-systematic or no phonics instruction in helping to prevent reading difficulties among at-risk students and in helping children overcome reading difficulties.
Systematic and explicit phonics instruction is most effective when introduced early
Phonics instruction is most effective when it begins in kindergarten or first grade. To be effective with young learners, systematic instruction must be designed appropriately and taught carefully. It should include teaching letter shapes and names, phonemic awareness, and all major letter-sound relationships. It should ensure that all children learn these skills.
As instruction proceeds, children should be taught to use this knowledge to read and write words.
Phonics instruction is not an entire reading program for beginning readers
Along with phonics instruction, young children should be solidifying their knowledge of the alphabet, engaging in phonemic awareness activities, and listening to stories and informational texts read aloud to them. They also should be reading texts (both out loud and silently), and writing letters, words, messages, and stories.
