What does underlining refer to in phonics instruction?

In phonics instruction, underlining refers to building understanding of how letters function in words. This process involves teaching students to recognize the relationships between letters and their corresponding sounds, which is essential for decoding and encoding written language. By focusing on how letters work within the context of words, students develop the skills necessary to manipulate sounds and create new words, thus enhancing their reading and writing abilities. This understanding helps them make connections between phonemes (sounds) and graphemes (letters), which is fundamental for literacy development.

The other options do not capture the essence of what underlining signifies in phonics. Marking words with symbols may pertain to annotating text but doesn't directly relate to phonics principles. Highlighting vowels is important, yet it is a more specific aspect of phonics rather than a broader instructional concept. Focusing only on the final sound of a word presents a limited scope, as phonics involves analyzing all sounds in words, not just the final sound.