What critical aspect does explicit instruction address in reading?

Explicit instruction plays a crucial role in reading education as it focuses on the clear and direct teaching of concepts. This method ensures that students understand the specific skills and strategies needed for reading by providing structured and sequenced learning. It involves modeling the desired behaviors, teaching the relevant strategies step-by-step, and providing guided practice to reinforce learning.

By emphasizing clarity in instruction, students can grasp the complexities of reading, such as phonemic awareness, decoding, and comprehension strategies. This direct approach helps to remove confusion and allows for immediate feedback, making it a vital part of effective reading instruction.