Which term describes the connection between individual letters and their respective sounds?

The term that describes the connection between individual letters and their respective sounds is letter-sound correspondence. This concept is foundational in reading instruction because it helps students understand how written symbols represent spoken language. Mastering letter-sound correspondence allows learners to decode words, facilitating reading fluency and comprehension. It involves recognizing that letters can represent different sounds and that specific combinations of letters can create various sounds in different contexts. This understanding is essential for phonics instruction, which emphasizes the relationship between sounds and their written forms, supporting early literacy development.