I don’t recall that. I know that we heard the term a lot later.
I do know that we did ‘sound out’ the sounds of letters, and maybe I just don’t remember.
I’d really like to find an old instructional book that was used in that era.
I remember in 1st grade, the teacher had letter combinations on the chalk board. (She had a multi-chalk holder to make the lines.) We’d all sound them out.
Br, th, ph, etc.
i before e except after c.
“I do know that we did ‘sound out’ the sounds of letters, and maybe I just don’t remember.”
This is what I remember also - sounding out. Spelling had a lot to do with this also. I loved spelling and have always been a good speller. Remember the Dick and Jane books with their dog Spot?