Encoding in phonics refers to the process of taking individual sounds (phonemes) and blending them together to form written words. This skill is fundamental to literacy development, as it enables students to translate their spoken language into written form. When students engage in encoding, they consciously apply their knowledge of sounds and their corresponding letters to create words.
For example, when a child hears the sounds /k/, /a/, and /t/ and combines them, they are encoding those sounds into the written word "cat." This process highlights the connection between phonemic awareness (the ability to hear and manipulate sounds) and spelling. By practicing encoding, students strengthen their understanding of the phonetic structure of words, which aids in both reading and writing.
The other options do not accurately represent the concept of encoding. Reading written text aloud focuses on the ability to decode and vocalize written language rather than creating it from sounds. Decoding involves recognizing and understanding written words, which is the reverse process of encoding. Identifying spoken sounds alone does not encompass the active process of forming written words from those sounds, which is essential in encoding.