Which method is referred to as an efficient and effective way to teach phonetic patterns related to spelling?

The method identified as an efficient and effective way to teach phonetic patterns related to spelling is the word family approach. This method focuses on groups of words that share a common feature or pattern, such as a base word and its inflections or derivations. By grouping words into families, students can easily see similarities in spelling and pronunciation, which helps reinforce their understanding of phonetic patterns.

Teaching students word families allows them to make connections between words, aiding their spelling capabilities. For example, learning the family of "cat" leads to better recognition of "bat," "hat," and "mat," fostering not just spelling proficiency but also phonemic awareness. This approach is particularly beneficial in early literacy development as it encourages pattern recognition, which is crucial for mastering spelling skills.

In contrast, word power and etymology study focus on broader language aspects, such as vocabulary building and the history of words, which may not be as directly applicable to teaching specific phonetic patterns. Instructional spelling involves a more structured program of teaching spelling rules and practices but may not emphasize patterns in the same way that the word family approach does. Thus, the word family method is recognized for its targeted effectiveness in relation to phonetic patterns and spelling.