Phonics and Phonemic Awareness: What’s the Difference?
A strong foundation in early literacy is key to reading success, and early childhood educators play a huge role in building that foundation.
Two terms you’ll often hear in the context of early literacy are “phonemic awareness” and “phonics.” Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and play with the individual sounds (phonemes) that make up spoken words. Phonics, on the other hand, is all about connecting those sounds to the letters that represent them.
This article will dive into the definitions of phonics and phonemic awareness, highlight their key differences, and explore how they’re used in practice. We’ll also tackle some common misconceptions and provide actionable strategies for educators looking to boost early literacy skills.