Part 3/8:
At the heart of Mississippi’s success is phonics instruction—a method that teaches children the relationship between sounds and their corresponding letters. Cantwell describes phonics as the way most individuals learned to read: children are taught the alphabet's 26 letters and the 44 sounds they produce, enabling them to decode unfamiliar words effectively.
She emphasizes that structured, multisensory, and explicit phonics instruction is crucial, particularly in early education. "Most children need this," she asserts, noting that phonics provides the foundation for confident, independent reading and helps diminish disciplinary issues related to frustration or disengagement.