High frequency letter-sound correspondence teaches which sounds first?

• A. The most frequent and useful letter sounds are taught first
• B. Only rare letter sounds are taught first
• C. Sound-letter correspondence is ignored at first
• D. All sounds are taught simultaneously

Answer: (A)

Starting with the most frequent and useful letter sounds gives beginner readers access to a large portion of ordinary words right away. When you teach sounds that show up often, kids can blend those sounds to form many simple words, read more text, and experience quicker success. That early success builds confidence, motivation, and a foundation for decoding longer words as new sounds are introduced gradually.

Teaching only rare sounds first would leave learners with very few usable words to practice, slowing progress. Ignoring the sound-letter link at the start would prevent them from practicing decoding patterns that make reading possible. Trying to teach every possible sound all at once can overwhelm beginners and hinder mastery of any single set of sounds.