***Remember - 5 Pillars of Reading = Phonics, Phonemic Awareness, Vocabulary, Fluency, & Comprehension
All are important components and the phonics and phonemic awareness portions are crucial to set a good foundation and help students be able to apply their skills and understanding of reading when faced with more difficult/advanced reading text in years to come. (Note: Please don't discount intermediate students, as they still benefit from explicit phonics/word study instruction.)