What characterizes synthetic phonics?

Synthetic phonics is characterized by systematically teaching learners how to transform letters into sounds, a process that involves blending sounds to read words. This method begins with individual phonemes (the smallest units of sound) and builds toward recognizing whole words. By starting with the basic sounds associated with letters and combinations of letters, students are able to decode new words, which enhances their ability to read independently.

This approach contrasts with various other teaching strategies. For instance, visual cues (the first option) involve recognizing words by sight rather than decoding them, which is not the focus of synthetic phonics. Similarly, whole language approaches (the third option) emphasize recognizing words in context and using them within meaningful text rather than focusing on sound-letter correspondences. Lastly, emphasizing idiomatic expressions (the fourth option) pertains more to language comprehension and nuances, rather than the fundamental skills involved in phonics instruction.