What type of phonics instruction does a word sort represent?

A word sort is categorized as analytic phonics instruction because it emphasizes the recognition of patterns, relationships, and properties in words rather than explicitly teaching sound-symbol correspondence. In this method, students compare and categorize words based on shared phonetic features or spelling patterns. This approach encourages them to think analytically about the structure of words, which helps enhance their understanding of how different phonemes and graphemes interact.

By sorting words according to their attributes, learners can make generalizations about spelling or pronunciation rules, fostering a deeper understanding of language structure. This form of instruction also promotes critical thinking and engagement with the text, as students are encouraged to look for similarities and differences in variations of words, leading to greater retention and application of phonics skills.

In contrast, synthetic phonics focuses more on the explicit teaching of letter-sound correspondences and blending sounds to form words. Holistic and global approaches tend to focus more on overall meaning and concepts rather than dissecting words into their individual components, which is not the primary goal of a word sort.