What is Synthetic Phonics? A Simple Guide for Parents and Teachers

If you've heard terms like "synthetic phonics", "systematic phonics", or "the Science of Reading" and wondered what they actually mean, you're not alone.

This guide breaks it down in plain English.

The Big Idea

Synthetic phonics is a method of teaching reading that focuses on:

1. Teaching children the sounds (phonemes) that letters and letter combinations make
2. Teaching children to blend those sounds together to read words
3. Teaching children to segment words into sounds to spell

That's it. It's systematic, explicit, and incredibly effective.

Why "Synthetic"?

The word "synthetic" here means synthesising or blending sounds together. It has nothing to do with being artificial!

When a child sees the word "cat", they:

• Say /c/ (the sound, not the letter name)
• Say /a/
• Say /t/
• Blend them together: "cat"

This is the opposite of older methods where children were encouraged to guess words from pictures, context, or the first letter.

How is it Different from Other Approaches?

| Approach | How it Works | Effectiveness | |----------|--------------|---------------| | Synthetic Phonics | Explicitly teach sounds, then blend | ✅ Highly effective | | Analytic Phonics | Teach whole words, then analyse patterns | ⚠️ Less effective | | Whole Language | Learn words by exposure and context | ❌ Not effective for most | | Balanced Literacy | Mix of phonics and whole language | ⚠️ Inconsistent results |

Research consistently shows that systematic synthetic phonics produces the best outcomes, especially for struggling readers.

The Australian Context

Following the UK's success with systematic phonics (and the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check), Australian states have increasingly adopted this approach.

Key developments:

• NSW introduced the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check in 2021
• South Australia followed shortly after
• The Australian Curriculum now emphasises systematic, explicit phonics

What Does Good Synthetic Phonics Instruction Look Like?

1. Systematic: Sounds are taught in a planned sequence, from simple to complex
2. Explicit: The teacher directly teaches each sound—no guessing
3. Cumulative: New learning builds on previous learning
4. Decodable texts: Students practice with books containing only the sounds they've learned
5. Multi-sensory: Using actions, visuals, and writing alongside hearing

How PhonicsMaker Supports Synthetic Phonics

PhonicsMaker was built specifically to support synthetic phonics instruction:

• Generate stories using only the sounds you've taught
• Target specific grapheme-phoneme correspondences (GPCs)
• Create unlimited decodable readers at the right level
• Personalise stories to boost engagement

Whether you're a teacher needing classroom resources or a parent wanting to support learning at home, having the right decodable texts makes all the difference.

Try PhonicsMaker free →

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Summary

Synthetic phonics is simply the most effective way to teach reading. It works by explicitly teaching sounds and blending, using decodable texts for practice, and building skills systematically.

If you want your child or students to become confident, capable readers, synthetic phonics is the path.