Decoding

What is 'decoding'?

Decoding is the process of blending sounds together to read and pronounce unfamiliar words. It relies on alphabetic knowledge and an understanding of the alphabetic principle and represents a more advanced step in the process of learning to read. 

Why it matters

Teaching children decoding skills helps them understand how written words are connected to spoken sounds. Decoding involves breaking down words into their individual sounds and then blending them together to say the word. By learning this skill, children can read unfamiliar words by sounding them out, which builds their confidence and fluency in reading. It also allows them to become more independent readers, as they can figure out new words on their own, rather than relying on memorisation.

Activities using Cami's Reading
Adventure Card Set

Start with the beginner cards moving from VC to CVC words and move on to the extension cards CVCC and CCVC words.
Place a few cards on the table. ‘Can you find the word ______ ?’
Turn a card over. ‘Can you sound out this word?’
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Additional decoding activities

  • Using the orange or green card set (for extension activities): Place a card on the table. ‘Say the word. Say the sounds. Can you find the picture that matches?’

Teaching tips

  • Start with the beginner set and then move on to extension.
  • The additive blending method may help where the first two sounds are blended together first, adding subsequent sounds one at a time. This method can assist beginning readers and children with reading difficulties and disabilities to blend sounds together.
  • Nonsense words are used to practise blending skills as they can’t be recognised by sight. A few (in blue font) have been added to this set.