How does phonics instruction benefit students?

Phonics instruction is crucial because it explicitly teaches students the connection between letters (graphemes) and the sounds (phonemes) they represent. This foundational knowledge allows students to decode words when reading. By understanding how sounds correspond to letters, students can break down unfamiliar words into manageable parts, improving their overall reading fluency and comprehension.

Through systematic phonics instruction, students learn to sound out letters and blend them into words, which is essential for early literacy development. A solid grasp of phonics not only aids in reading but also builds confidence as students become more adept at tackling new and challenging words. This decoding skill is an essential component of reading proficiency and is a stepping stone to more advanced literacy skills.