Evidence-based reading instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics can assist in the activation and use of which brain areas?

The correct answer relates to the function of the brain areas associated with language processing and reading skills. Evidence-based reading instruction focusing on phonemic awareness and phonics primarily activates regions in the back of the brain, especially those involved in visual processing and language comprehension.

Specifically, the left hemisphere, which houses critical areas for language, includes the occipital lobe (at the back of the brain) that is essential for visual recognition of letters and words. This area works in conjunction with other regions responsible for integrating sound (phonemic awareness) and the systematic understanding of the relationships between letters and sounds (phonics). Therefore, effective instruction in these areas promotes neural pathways that enhance reading abilities.

In contrast, areas in the front of the brain are more involved in executive functions, decision-making, and emotional regulation and are not primarily responsible for the processes tied closely to phonemic awareness and phonics. Similarly, areas on the side of the brain are usually linked to auditory processing and memory but are not the key zones activated by instruction in these specific reading skills. Lastly, the upper part of the brain is not the primary site for the functions associated with phonemic and phonics instruction, which generally are localized in the posterior regions.