phonics

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

phonics
    n 1: teaching reading by training beginners to associate letters
         with their sound values

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Phonics \Phon"ics\ (f[o^]n"[i^]ks), n.
   1. Same as {Phonetics}.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A method of teaching reading and spelling to beginning
      students, emphasizing the sound values of individual
      letters and syllables, and the relationship between
      pronunciation and spelling. Contrasted to {whole language
      method} and {sentence method}.
      [PJC]