Which of the following describes the focus of phonics education for early readers?

Phonics education for early readers primarily focuses on helping them understand the sound structure of words. This is an essential skill for developing reading abilities, as it teaches students the relationships between letters and sounds (phonemes). By recognizing and manipulating these sounds, children can decode written words, which is a fundamental step in learning to read effectively.

This approach involves systematic instruction in letter-sound correspondences and helps students to develop skills like blending sounds to form words and segmenting words into individual sounds. Mastery of phonics facilitates fluent reading and comprehension, as students become more confident and capable of decoding unfamiliar words independently. Thus, understanding the sound structure of words is the foundational focus of phonics education for early readers, making them proficient in reading skills as they progress through their literacy development.