You do know that phonics is totally different to the “phonetic alphabet” yeah?

I’m just asking because I’ve seen a LOT of teachers on Facebook confusing the two.

What’s “phonics”?

Phonics is simply how you teach reading.  It’s used the world over.  It’s dead easy and gets great results (even though it has quite a techy sounding name 🙂 )

Once your kids can speak you can read more about phonics here. 

So what’s the phonetic alphabet then?

On the other hand the International Phonetic Alphabet, sometimes called the IPA or in Russia they often call it “transcription,” is where the different pronunciations of sounds are written with those funky looking symbols eg

This is awesome if you are teaching university level linguistics,.

Or if you are living in a country with no internet or technology.

Or if you are living at the end of the 19th century when it was invented.

If you’re living in 2019 then you don’t need it.

In fact you’re hindering 99% your students if you even mention it.

So if someone asks if you are using “phonics” in class,  make sure you’re talking about the right thing!