Analytic phonics

Part of a series on
Reading
Learning to read Reading readiness Vocabulary development Vocabulary learning
Scientific theories and models Dual route theory Simple view of reading Science of reading Scarborough's Reading Rope The active view of reading model
Cognitive processes Comprehension Phonemic awareness Phonological awareness Subvocalization Word recognition
Reading instruction Analytic phonics Basal reader Concept-oriented Directed listening and thinking activity Guided reading Independent reading Literature circle Phonics Reciprocal teaching Structured word inquiry Sustained silent reading Synthetic phonics Whole language
Reading rate Fluency Slow reading Speed reading Words per minute
Readability Automatic assessment Legibility Readability test
Reading differences and disabilities Dyslexia Hyperlexia Reading disability Reading for special needs
Language Alphabetic principle Braille Dolch word list Grapheme History of printing Language Morpheme Orthography Phoneme Sight word Vocabulary Written language Writing Writing system
Literacy Critical literacy Close reading Distant reading Family literacy Functional illiteracy Great books Literary criticism Literature Children's
v t e

The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the English language and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (June 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Analytic phonics (sometimes referred to as analytical phonics^[1] or implicit phonics^[2]) refers to a very common approach to the teaching of reading that starts at the word level, not at the sound (phoneme) level. It does not teach the blending of sounds together as is done in synthetic phonics. One method is to have students identify a common sound in a set of words that each contain that same sound. For example, the teacher and student discuss how the following words are alike: pat, park, push and pen. Analytic phonics is often taught together with levelled-reading books,^[3] look-say practice, and the use of aids such as phonics worksheets.^[4]

Analytic phonics can also help with spelling. For example, a student learns that the initial sound in pig is the same as that in pen and pat, so they conclude that they must write that sound with the same letter (grapheme) "p".^[5]

Sometimes, analytic phonics is referred to as Implicit phonics because the understanding of the sound-letters connection is implied and not necessarily taught directly.^[6]

Analog phonics is a subset of analytic phonics that uses the onset-rhyme of many words. In the word snap, "sn" is the onset and "ap" is the rime (the part starting with the vowel). So, snap rhymes with map, sap, clap, and so on. ^[7]

Analytic phonics is different from synthetic phonics (that starts at the individual sound/phoneme level and builds up to the whole word), and whole language (that starts at the word level and does not encourage the use of phonics). It may, however, be used as a part of the balanced literacy approach.