Structured Literacy: Focus on Phonics - What does direct, explicit, and systematic phonics instruction mean?

Direct, explicit, and systematic phonics instruction means that students are intentionally taught the relationships between sounds in spoken language and the letters or letter patterns that represent those sounds in print. It is direct because the teacher clearly teaches the skill rather than expecting students to discover it on their own. It is explicit because the teacher explains the concept, models how to use it, provides guided practice, checks for understanding, and gives immediate corrective feedback. It is systematic because phonics skills are taught in a planned, sequential, and cumulative order, moving from simpler sound-spelling patterns to more complex patterns and regularly reviewing previously taught skills.

Example of what this looks like:

A teacher might introduce the digraph sh by saying, “Today we are learning that the letters s and h work together to spell one sound, /sh/. Watch as I read this word: sh-i-p, ship.” The teacher models blending several words with sh, such as shop, shut, and fish. Students then practice reading the words with the teacher, read them independently, spell dictated words using sh, and apply the pattern in a short decodable sentence such as, “The fish is in the shop.” Throughout the lesson, the teacher provides correction, practice, and review so students connect the phonics pattern to both reading and spelling

For more information, watch the

PaTTAN Literacy Initiative Quick Pick: Components of a Phonics Lesson