What does the term "decoding" refer to in reading instruction?

The term "decoding" in reading instruction specifically refers to the process of applying knowledge of letter-sound relationships to read words. This involves recognizing that letters represent sounds and using this understanding to sound out words. Decoding is a critical skill for beginning readers, as it enables them to translate written language into spoken language. Mastery of decoding allows students to read unfamiliar words independently and develop their overall reading fluency, which is essential for comprehension and further literacy development.

In contrast, summarizing a passage pertains to a higher-level comprehension skill that requires understanding the main ideas and details of a text, rather than simply recognizing how to read the words. Memorizing texts does not involve the application of phonetic knowledge; instead, it focuses on rote learning without contributing to a deeper understanding of the language. Lastly, inferring meaning from illustrations involves interpreting visual information rather than engaging with the text itself, which is not related to decoding words. Thus, decoding is fundamentally about translating text into spoken language using letter-sound knowledge.