Students lacking which skills typically struggle with decoding words?

The ability to decode words primarily relies on phonological skills. Phonology involves the sounds of language, including the ability to identify, manipulate, and blend sounds to form words. Students with strong phonological awareness can break words down into their individual sounds (phonemes), which is crucial for decoding, as they can translate the written symbols (letters) back into spoken language.

When students struggle with phonology, they often have difficulty sounding out words, recognizing sound patterns, and linking sounds to their corresponding letters. This gap directly impacts their ability to read fluently and accurately, making phonology a foundational skill for effective decoding. Understanding phonology allows students to approach reading with a method that connects their knowledge of sounds to the letters and spelling of words they encounter.