Which of the following is NOT a recommended strategy for teaching decoding?

• A. Whole-word memorization without code mapping
• B. Phonics-based instruction on letter-sound patterns
• C. Systematic blending practice
• D. Explicit instruction on sounding out letters

Answer: (A)

Decoding relies on understanding how letters map to sounds and then blending those sounds to read words. The method that is not recommended for teaching decoding is memorizing whole words without mapping them to letter sounds. This approach doesn’t teach students the sounds of letters or how to apply rules to new words, so it works only for familiar words and doesn’t build transferable decoding skill.

In contrast, phonics-based instruction on letter-sound patterns helps students learn which sounds different letters and letter combinations make. Systematic blending practice trains students to smoothly combine individual sounds into recognizable words, a core decoding step. Explicit instruction on sounding out letters teaches the precise steps of sounding out each letter or blend and then joining those sounds to form the word. Together, these strategies build the tools students need to tackle unfamiliar words confidently and accurately.