In phonics instruction, what should a teacher prioritize after students master closed-syllable words?

After students have mastered closed-syllable words, the next logical step in phonics instruction is to focus on decoding words with silent -e patterns. This approach builds on the foundational skills that students have developed with closed syllables, where they learn the basics of vowel sounds and syllable structures.

Silent -e patterns introduce students to the concept of how the presence of a silent letter can change the pronunciation of a vowel in a preceding syllable, shifting it from a short sound to a long sound. This progression is important as it helps students understand the complexities of the English language and enhances their decoding skills.

Moving to the silent -e pattern effectively prepares students for reading more complex words and improves their ability to recognize and decode other vowel patterns in words they encounter later. This knowledge is essential as it lays a strong foundation for future reading development and comprehension, making it a logical step after mastering closed-syllable words.

The other choices, while relevant to overall literacy development, do not directly build on the specific phonics skill of recognizing and decoding vowel sounds altered by silent letters.