Phonics and Decoding Flashcards

What is the alphabetic principle?

Answer: The concept that letters and letter combinations represent sounds in a systematic way

The alphabetic principle is the foundational understanding that written letters and letter combinations systematically represent the sounds of spoken language.

Which type of phonics instruction introduces letter-sound relationships in a predetermined, logical sequence?

Answer: Systematic phonics

Systematic phonics instruction introduces letter-sound correspondences in a carefully planned, sequential order rather than as opportunities arise in connected text.

What is a grapheme?

Answer: A written symbol or set of symbols representing a single phoneme

A grapheme is the written representation of a phoneme, which may be a single letter or a combination of letters such as 'sh' or 'igh'.

What is a digraph?

Answer: Two letters that together represent one phoneme

A digraph is two letters that combine to represent a single phoneme, such as 'sh,' 'ch,' 'th,' or 'ph.'

Which syllable type ends in a consonant, typically resulting in a short vowel sound?

Answer: Closed syllable

A closed syllable ends in one or more consonants, which 'closes' the vowel and typically produces a short vowel sound, as in 'cat' or 'sit.'

When students apply letter-sound knowledge to read unfamiliar words, they are using which skill?

Answer: Phonological decoding

Phonological decoding is the process of using letter-sound correspondences to systematically sound out and read unfamiliar words.

Which syllable type contains a vowel immediately followed by the letter 'r,' which modifies the vowel sound?

Answer: R-controlled syllable

R-controlled syllables (ar, er, ir, or, ur) contain a vowel followed by 'r,' which changes the vowel sound so it is neither clearly short nor long.