What is an important outcome of developing phonics skills in early readers?

Developing phonics skills in early readers significantly enhances their reading fluency and comprehension. Phonics instruction helps students learn the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent, which is foundational for decoding words. When students can sound out words efficiently, they can read more smoothly and with less effort, leading to greater fluency.

As students become fluent readers, they can focus more on understanding the text rather than just decoding individual words. This improved fluency is closely tied to reading comprehension, as students can grasp the meaning of sentences and paragraphs more effectively without getting bogged down by the mechanics of reading. As a result, enhancing phonics skills lays the groundwork for these essential reading outcomes, enabling students to engage with texts more deeply and enjoyably.