How are reading lessons set up in code-based instruction?

• A. By systematically connecting spoken words to written words step by step.
• B. By memorizing whole words without sounds.
• C. By focusing solely on grammar rules.
• D. By teaching only listening comprehension.

Answer: (A)

Code-based reading instruction builds decoding skill by explicitly teaching how spoken language maps to written symbols in a clear sequence. Lessons are arranged to connect spoken words to their written forms step by step: identify and isolate individual sounds, link those sounds to letters or letter patterns, then blend the sounds to form words and segment words to spell. Students practice decoding using texts that reinforce the exact sound-letter relationships they've learned, gradually handling more complex letter patterns as they grow more confident. This structured approach targets the essential code of reading—the relationship between phonemes and graphemes—and develops independent decoding, rather than relying on memorizing whole words, focusing only on grammar rules, or teaching listening in isolation.