What does the synthetic approach to reading utilize?

The synthetic approach to reading focuses on breaking down language into its smallest components, which are sounds known as phonemes, and their corresponding symbols or letters. This method emphasizes the relationships between sounds and letters that correspond to those sounds, enabling students to decode words by blending these sounds together. By teaching students sound/symbol correspondence, they learn how to articulate and recognize words by connecting the sounds they hear to the written letters they see. This foundational skill is crucial for developing reading abilities, as it provides a systematic way to decode unfamiliar words and enhances reading fluency over time.