Correct option is C
The correct answer is phonics instruction. Phonics instruction is a method of teaching reading that emphasizes the understanding of the alphabetic principle — the systematic and predictable relationships between written letters and spoken sounds. This teaching approach involves instruction in how to connect sounds with letters or groups of letters and blending these sounds to form words. Phonics is crucial for developing decoding abilities, enabling readers to sound out words they haven't seen before, unlike other methods that might focus more on recognizing words as whole units or on context-based clues.