Which of the following is a characteristic of phonics instruction?

Phonics instruction is characterized by its focus on teaching the relationships between sounds (phonemes) and letters (graphemes), which is essential for decoding words. By emphasizing these sound-letter relationships, phonics instruction helps learners understand how spoken language corresponds to written text, enabling them to sound out words when reading and to spell them when writing. This foundational skill is vital for literacy development, as it equips students with strategies to tackle unfamiliar words independently.

The other options pertain to different aspects of literacy and instruction. Emphasizing literary analysis focuses on understanding themes, characters, and deeper meanings in texts rather than on the mechanics of reading. Encouraging free writing nurtures creativity and expression, which may not directly involve teaching the systematic relationships between sounds and letters. Analyzing complex texts often involves comprehension and interpretation skills rather than the foundational phonics principles needed for effectively decoding words. Therefore, the focus on sound-letter relationships is what distinctly defines phonics instruction.