Which approach emphasizes connecting sounds and letters in reading?

Phonics is the approach that focuses on connecting sounds and letters in reading. It is a method of instruction that teaches the relationship between written letters and the sounds they represent, facilitating the decoding of words. This systematic teaching of sound-letter correspondences enables students to read more effectively by sounding out unfamiliar words and building their vocabulary.

Using phonics instruction, learners gain an understanding of how phonemes (the smallest units of sound) correspond to graphemes (the written representation of those sounds), which is fundamental in establishing reading skills. This approach is particularly beneficial for early readers and those struggling with reading, as it provides them with tools to decode text independently.

In contrast, other options like phonology primarily concern the study of sounds in a language without focusing on the letter-sound connections needed for reading. Orthography refers to the conventional spelling system of a language, while fluency relates to the ability to read text smoothly and with expression rather than the foundational connection between sounds and letters. Thus, phonics stands out as the clear approach that emphasizes making these connections essential for decoding written language.