Which component of reading is most closely associated with early literacy instruction?

Phonological awareness is the component of reading most closely associated with early literacy instruction because it lays the foundation for understanding the sound structure of language, which is crucial for developing reading skills. This skill involves the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken words, including skills such as rhyming, segmenting syllables, and identifying the initial sounds in words.

Early literacy instruction often focuses on phonological awareness because it directly supports the ability to connect sounds to letters, an essential step in learning to read. When children are proficient in phonological awareness, they are better prepared to tackle phonics and decoding skills, which are necessary for reading fluently and effectively.

Other components, such as text comprehension and literature analysis, while vital for overall literacy, typically become more prominent in later stages of literacy development when children have achieved basic reading proficiency. Multimodal literacy, which includes understanding and producing information in various forms, also pertains more to a broader understanding of literacy that evolves as children grow.