What is the 'bottom up' approach in reading instruction?

The 'bottom up' approach in reading instruction focuses on building understanding from the smallest units of language, such as individual sounds, to larger units like whole words and sentences. This method emphasizes that students first learn phonemic awareness, which involves recognizing and manipulating the sounds in words. Once they grasp the sounds, they progress to blending these sounds into words, and finally to reading sentences and comprehending text.

By starting with the foundational elements of language, this approach ensures that students have the necessary skills to decode words effectively. This skill set is critical as it forms the basis for more complex reading tasks, such as fluency and comprehension. The 'bottom up' approach is particularly beneficial for early readers or those who struggle with phonics, as it reinforces the connection between sounds and their corresponding letters, ultimately enhancing their reading abilities.