What role does phonics play in structured literacy?

Phonics is fundamental to structured literacy because it explicitly teaches the relationships between letters and sounds. Through phonics instruction, learners understand how letters (graphemes) correspond to sounds (phonemes), enabling them to decode words when reading and spell words when writing. This systematic approach helps students connect sounds to written language, providing the essential skills needed for proficient reading and writing.

Structured literacy emphasizes the importance of this relationship because it promotes understanding of how to manipulate sounds and letters to form words, which is crucial for literacy development. By focusing on these connections, learners build a strong foundation in literacy that supports fluent reading and effective communication.