What does a grapheme represent in reading?

A grapheme represents a written or printed representation of a sound, which is a fundamental concept in the study of phonics and the decoding of written language. In essence, graphemes are the smallest units of written language that correspond to specific sounds in spoken language. For example, the letter 'b' is a grapheme that represents the /b/ sound, while the combination of letters 'ch' corresponds to a distinct sound in words like "chop." Understanding graphemes is crucial for young learners as it helps them connect sounds to letters, facilitating the process of reading and writing. This foundational knowledge enables children to decode words, ultimately leading to greater literacy skills.