Which strategy is effective for teaching phonics support to students?

The strategy that focuses on word sorts and explicit phonics instruction is effective for teaching phonics support to students because it directly targets the skills necessary for decoding words. Word sorts allow students to categorize words based on their phonetic components, which helps them recognize patterns in spelling and pronunciation. This hands-on approach actively engages students and reinforces their understanding of sound-letter relationships.

Explicit phonics instruction involves teaching students the relationships between sounds and their corresponding letters or groups of letters in a clear and systematic way. This method helps students build a strong foundation in phonics, enabling them to decode unfamiliar words independently. By integrating these strategies, teachers can provide consistent practice and support, ultimately improving students' reading abilities.

While visual storytelling, listening exercises, and reading aloud each contribute to language development and comprehension skills, they do not specifically focus on the foundational skills of phonics that are critical for decoding and encoding words. Thus, the combination of word sorts with explicit phonics instruction better targets the specific needs of students learning phonics.