Phonics Instruction

It's important because...

• it leads to an understanding of the alphabetic principle- the systematic and predictable relationships between written letters and spoken letters

they are effective when they are...

• systematic- organizing carefully selected sets of letter-sound relationships into a logical sequence
• explicit- provides teachers with precise directions for teaching these relationships

effective phonics programs provide...

• ample opportunities for children to apply what they are learning about letters and sounds to the reading of words, sentences, and stories

systematic and explicit phonics instruction

• significantly improves children's word recognition, spelling, and reading comprehension
• is most effective when it begins in kindergarten or first grade