Phonics instruction teaches readers to decode words by sounding out letters and letter combinations. It builds a foundation for reading by helping children understand the relationship between written symbols and sounds. Phonics and phonemic awareness, which is understanding that words are made up of individual sounds, allow children to decode words and lead to improved reading fluency and comprehension over time. Research shows that the ability to recognize words accounts for most of a child's reading comprehension in early grades, so phonics is critical for reading success.