What is the importance of phonics instruction?

Phonics instruction is fundamental in helping students grasp the alphabetic principle, which is the understanding that there are systematic relationships between sounds and the letters that represent those sounds. This knowledge directly contributes to improved decoding skills, allowing students to sound out words and read fluently. By explicitly teaching the correspondence between sounds and letters, phonics equips students with the tools needed to decode unfamiliar words, fostering independent reading skills. Furthermore, a solid foundation in phonics aids in spelling as well. This foundational skill set is essential for early readers as they develop into proficient readers.