What educational approach does Synthetic Phonics represent?

Synthetic phonics is an instructional method that focuses on teaching reading by breaking down words into their constituent sounds (phonemes) and then blending those sounds to form words. This part-to-whole phonics method emphasizes the understanding and manipulation of individual sounds, which are then combined to decode words.

By starting with the smallest units of sound, synthetic phonics allows students to build their understanding of word construction and reading in a systematic way, fostering better reading skills and phonemic awareness. This method is particularly effective in helping young learners or those struggling with reading, as it provides a clear and structured approach to unlocking the complexities of written language.

In contrast, other approaches like the whole word approach or sight words focus on recognizing whole words without breaking them down phonetically, which can lead to challenges in decoding unfamiliar words. Additionally, a focus on memorization and repetition does not promote phonemic understanding, which is foundational in synthetic phonics. Thus, the correct choice highlights the core principle of synthetic phonics as a method that emphasizes the relationship between phonemes and the spelling of words by starting with smaller parts before moving to whole words.