What is explicit phonics instruction?

Explicit phonics instruction is centered on teaching children the relationships between letters and sounds in a systematic and direct manner. It involves providing clear and structured lessons where students learn to recognize letters and the sounds they represent before moving on to the blending of those sounds. This foundational approach allows students to decode words effectively by understanding how sounds combine to form syllables and, ultimately, words.

By focusing on teaching the letters and their corresponding sounds, explicit phonics instruction equips students with essential skills needed for reading. Once they grasp these foundational components, they can progress to blending sounds together into syllables and words, which enhances their reading comprehension and fluency. This method contrasts with other techniques that might emphasize whole words or context clues first, which do not prioritize the systematic learning of sounds and letters essential for early reading development.