Which activity would best support phonics instruction?

Engaging in word sorting based on sound patterns is a highly effective activity that directly supports phonics instruction. This approach allows students to focus on the relationships between sounds and the letters that represent them, thus enhancing their understanding of phonics. By categorizing words according to similar phonetic elements, learners can better grasp how different sounds can be represented by specific letters or combinations of letters, thereby reinforcing their decoding skills.

This activity promotes active engagement with language, as students must analyze and manipulate words, fostering their phonemic awareness—an essential component of phonics. Moreover, this hands-on experience can help students internalize patterns in spelling and improve their ability to read unfamiliar words.

In contrast, reading silently could reinforce comprehension and vocabulary but does not actively focus on the foundational skills related to phonics. Listening to audiobooks may expose students to vocabulary and narrative structure but lacks the interactive quality necessary for practicing phonics skills. Writing essays using complex vocabulary, while important for developing writing and composition skills, does not specifically address the phonics instruction that helps students decode and understand basic word patterns.