Why are Phonics Crucial?

Phonics is a method of teaching reading and spelling that emphasizes the relationship between letters and their corresponding sounds in a spoken language.

But WHY is this so important? 

Some teaching methods encourage a new reader to guess at words using various clues. Without phonics, children are only able to guess and then memorize words. They are rendered helpless when encountering unfamiliar words without accompanying pictures. 

When in history has guessing ever been better than understanding and truly knowing? 

With phonics, the student is empowered to decode new words on their own, without the help of pictures and context. Their comprehension increases! 

Learning to read through phonics is the gateway to reading and writing. With this foundation, children can progress to mastering more advanced subjects such as science, history, and more. With more knowledge, they could conquer challenges in all aspects of their life. 

At First Step Phonics, we use these phonics practices in our books and workbooks, starting with the basics and gradually building, to give your student the tools they need to conquer every word at every level.

Take a sneak peak inside of First Books, Book 2: AI, introducing readers to new sounds with full color pictures. 

Learn more about our best-selling product, First Books here!

Not sure where to start? 
Assess your student's reading level here.