How can teachers support students with decoding difficulties?

Providing explicit phonics instruction is a highly effective way to support students with decoding difficulties. Phonics instruction focuses on teaching the relationships between sounds and their corresponding letters or letter combinations, which is crucial for developing reading skills. By explicitly teaching these connections, students learn how to sound out words, which can significantly improve their ability to decode text independently. This approach helps build their confidence and encourages them to take on more complex reading material as their skills develop.

In contrast, the other options do not effectively support students facing decoding challenges. Skipping challenging words can hinder a student's reading development since it prevents them from practicing their decoding skills. Limiting reading time might reduce their exposure to text and opportunities for practice, which is essential for improvement. Asking students to read quietly does not provide them with the guidance and support they need to navigate challenging words, which is crucial for building decoding skills. Thus, explicit phonics instruction stands out as the best method for supporting these students.