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Everybody's Selling It—But Just What Is Explicit, Systematic Phonics Instruction?
Author(s) -
Mesmer Heidi Anne E.,
Griffith Priscilla L.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the reading teacher
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.642
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1936-2714
pISSN - 0034-0561
DOI - 10.1598/rt.59.4.6
Subject(s) - phonics , variety (cybernetics) , psychology , scope (computer science) , mathematics education , whole language , teaching method , phonemic awareness , linguistics , computer science , primary education , pedagogy , literacy , philosophy , artificial intelligence , programming language
The authors define phonics as a system for encoding speech sounds into written symbols and for teaching learners to use the relationship between letters and sounds to recognize words. The origin of the term explicit, systematic phonics is traced historically through studies and reviews of phonics instruction and policy documents. Results from a teacher survey highlighted the multifaceted nature of systematic and explicit instruction and led the authors to propose the following definition: Explicit, systematic phonics instruction is instruction matched to students' developmental levels. It incorporates a scope and sequence for content delivery and a variety of word‐study activities. Such instruction promotes student engagement and accountability through direct teaching.