Which of the following best describes phonics?

Phonics is best described as the link between sounds and their corresponding letters because it focuses on the relationship between the phonemes (the smallest units of sound) and graphemes (the letters or groups of letters that represent those sounds) in written language. This foundational skill is critical for decoding words, which allows readers to sound out and recognize unfamiliar words as they encounter them in text.

Phonics instruction helps learners to understand how letters represent sounds in speech, making it easier for them to read and write. This systematic approach to teaching reading emphasizes sound-letter correspondence, which is essential for developing proficient readers who can decode and spell words accurately. In contrast, other options focus on different aspects of reading skills or strategies that do not directly align with the concept of phonics. For example, understanding the meaning of context pertains to comprehension, direct visualization relates to visual processing of text, and memorizing entire texts involves rote learning rather than decoding skills.