In phonics, a special sound refers to the unique sounds that certain letters or combinations of letters make when pronounced. For instance, the letter ‘c’ can produce different sounds in different words, such as the hard ‘k’ sound in ‘cat’ and the soft ‘s’ sound in ‘cereal.’
Special sounds are crucial for helping children learn how to read and write because they help decode unfamiliar words. Understanding these sounds enables learners to recognize patterns and improve their pronunciation skills. Additionally, special sounds often include digraphs, which are pairs of letters that create a single sound, such as ‘th’ in ‘the’ or ‘sh’ in ‘ship.’
By focusing on these special sounds, educators can build a solid foundation for literacy, allowing students to confidently tackle more complex reading and writing tasks as they progress.