What is phonics primarily used for in education?

Phonics is primarily used in education as a method to teach the relationship between sounds and their corresponding letters or groups of letters. This approach focuses on helping students understand how sounds combine to form words, enabling them to decode unfamiliar words while reading. By learning these sound-symbol relationships, students can develop their reading skills, allowing them to sound out words rather than relying solely on memorization or guessing based on context.

This foundational skill in phonics is crucial for developing proficient reading abilities, as it provides students with the tools to tackle new vocabulary and enhance their reading fluency. As students become more adept in recognizing and using these sound patterns, they gain confidence in their reading, which can lead to better comprehension and engagement with text.