Which statement best supports decoding development in PK–3?

• A. Focus on silent reading without decoding practice.
• B. Provide explicit decoding instruction and decodable texts.
• C. Rely on memorization of sight words only.
• D. Use only high-level comprehension questions.

Answer: (B)

Decoding develops best when students receive explicit instruction on how sounds map to letters and ample guided practice with texts that align with those patterns. Providing clear, step-by-step instruction in phoneme awareness, letter-sound relationships, blending, and segmenting helps young readers build solid decoding strategies. Coupling that instruction with decodable texts gives children opportunities to apply what they’ve learned in context, encounter words they can decode with confidence, and gradually transfer those skills to more complex reading. This combination supports turning phonics knowledge into fluent word recognition, which is essential for early reading success.

Choosing silent reading without decoding practice skips the essential step of teaching how letters correspond to sounds, so decoding skills don’t develop. Relying only on memorized sight words ignores the need to decode unfamiliar words and limits progress with new text. Focusing exclusively on high-level comprehension questions also neglects the essential decoding practice that builds the skills readers need to unlock text.