Phonics is the understanding that there is a predictable relationship between the sounds of spoken language (phonemes) and the letters and spellings that represent those sounds in written language (graphemes).

Phonics instruction is a way of teaching reading that stresses learning how letters correspond to sounds and how to use this knowledge in reading and spelling. The goal is to help mentees understand that there is a systematic and predictable relationship between written letters and spoken sounds.

Symbol - Sound - Visual Associations

A /a/ apple

B /b/ baby

C /c/ cup

D /d/ door

E /e/ elephant

F /f/ fish

G /g/ glasses

H /h/ hand

I /i/ in

J /j/ jump

K /k/ kick

L /l/ lamp

M /m/ mom

N /n/ nose

O /o/ October

P /p/ pencil

Q /q/ queen

R /r/ run

S /s/ snake

T /t/ table

U /u/ umbrella

V /v/ vest

W /w/ why

X /x/ x-ray

Y /y/ yes

Z /z/ zipper

For a 10 minute YouTube video on the sounds of the alphabet, click here.