Which statement about phonics is true?

Phonics is fundamentally about the connection between letters and their corresponding sounds in written language. The correct statement highlights that phonics instruction involves teaching students how to associate specific sounds, known as phonemes, with their written representations, which are the letters or groups of letters (graphemes). This relationship is crucial for developing reading and spelling skills.

In phonics, learners understand that letters represent sounds in a systematic way, allowing them to decode words when reading and encode words when writing. This approach is essential for literacy development, as it lays the groundwork for effectively recognizing words through sound-letter relationships.

While speech sounds are a vital part of phonics, focusing solely on those without corresponding letters does not encompass the complete nature of phonics. Similarly, phonics is not limited only to written language as it also incorporates elements of spoken language, making the chosen statement about direct correspondence between letters and sounds the most accurate depiction of phonics.