What does the term 'grapheme' refer to?

The term 'grapheme' refers to a unit of writing that represents a phoneme, which is the smallest unit of sound in a language. Graphemes can include letters, combinations of letters, or even symbols that denote sounds. For example, the letter "s" represents the phoneme /s/, while the combination "sh" represents the phoneme /ʃ/. Understanding graphemes is essential in phonics instruction, as they serve as the foundation for decoding and reading skills. This concept highlights the relationship between written language and spoken sounds, making it a fundamental aspect of literacy development.