What aspect of reading does phonics instruction primarily focus on?

Phonics instruction mainly emphasizes the connections between letters and the sounds they represent, which is fundamental for decoding words. This method provides students with the skills needed to recognize the relationship between phonemes (the smallest units of sound) and graphemes (the letters or groups of letters that represent those sounds). By mastering these relationships, students can translate written text into spoken language, which is a critical component of developing strong reading skills.

While reading fluency, comprehension of text structure, and emotional responses to literature are also important aspects of reading, they build upon the foundational skills established through phonics. A solid understanding of phonics is essential for reading fluently and comprehending text, as it equips learners with the tools to tackle new words independently.