What type of instruction starts with teaching letters and the sounds they represent?

The type of instruction that begins with teaching letters and the sounds they represent is explicit phonics instruction. This approach focuses on direct and systematic teaching of phoneme-grapheme relationships, where students are explicitly taught the sounds associated with each letter or letter combination.

In explicit phonics instruction, the process is structured and sequenced, allowing students to gain a solid foundation in decoding words. This method helps learners understand how letters correspond to sounds, which is crucial in building their reading skills and enhancing their ability to tackle unfamiliar words.

Other types of phonics instruction, like systematic phonics, may involve a structured approach but could also encompass a broader range of skills beyond just sounds and their corresponding letters. Implicit phonics instruction often relies on exposure and discovery rather than direct teaching, while contextual phonics instruction focuses on teaching phonics simultaneously with reading in context, rather than starting with the sounds themselves.