Which is the first skill typically acquired in reading?

Which is the first skill typically acquired in reading?

• A. Decoding, sounding out words.
• B. Fluency.
• C. Comprehension.
• D. Vocabulary.

Answer: (A)

The first skill typically acquired in reading is decoding: learning the sound structure of the language and how letters map to sounds, then blending those sounds to pronounce words. This foundation lets a reader convert written symbols into spoken language, which is necessary before meaning can be accessed. As decoding becomes automatic, reading can become fluent, and with more practice, vocabulary grows and comprehension develops. The other skills—fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—build on decoding: fluency is reading smoothly and with pace, vocabulary is knowing word meanings, and comprehension is understanding what the text says, all of which depend on being able to read the words in the first place.

The first skill typically acquired in reading is decoding: learning the sound structure of the language and how letters map to sounds, then blending those sounds to pronounce words. This foundation lets a reader convert written symbols into spoken language, which is necessary before meaning can be accessed. As decoding becomes automatic, reading can become fluent, and with more practice, vocabulary grows and comprehension develops. The other skills—fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—build on decoding: fluency is reading smoothly and with pace, vocabulary is knowing word meanings, and comprehension is understanding what the text says, all of which depend on being able to read the words in the first place.