Which strategy most directly supports decoding and fluency in early readers?

• A. Explicit instruction in letter-sound relationships with guided practice
• B. Silent reading only
• C. Memorizing sight words without decoding
• D. Grammar worksheets

Answer: (A)

Decoding and fluent reading come from knowing how letters map to sounds and then practicing blending those sounds into words with guidance. Explicit instruction in letter-sound relationships gives learners a clear, systematic way to decode unfamiliar words, and guided practice reinforces correct sound-letter mappings, supports accuracy, and builds automaticity. This combination directly strengthens the skills needed for decoding and smooth, rapid reading.

Silent reading alone doesn’t provide the explicit instruction or guided practice needed to develop decoding. Memorizing sight words without decoding helps recognition of some words but doesn’t teach how to pronounce new or unfamiliar words. Grammar worksheets target writing and syntax rather than teaching how to read word-by-word, so they don’t directly develop decoding or fluency.