What approach does synthetic phonics primarily utilize?

Synthetic phonics primarily utilizes the part to whole approach, which involves teaching individual sounds (phonemes) and then blending these sounds together to form words. This method starts by breaking down words into their constituent sounds, enabling learners to decode by synthesizing these sounds into whole words.

The effectiveness of synthetic phonics lies in its systematic and structured approach to reading. By first focusing on the smaller units of sound, learners develop the skills to recognize and manipulate these sounds, leading to improved reading abilities. This contrasts with methods that might emphasize recognizing whole words or employing visual recognition strategies, which do not provide the same foundational understanding of the phonetic structure of language. Synthetic phonics ensures that students have a solid grasp of phonemic awareness, enabling them to apply this knowledge when encountering new words.