Which instructional approach best supports a student's ability to decode words?

Promoting phonemic segmentation is an effective instructional approach because it directly enhances a student's ability to decode words. Phonemic segmentation involves breaking down words into their individual phonemes or sounds. This skill is essential for decoding because it helps students to understand how sounds connect to letters and how they can blend sounds to read words.

When students practice phonemic segmentation, they develop a deeper awareness of the sound structure of language, which is crucial for reading. This skill allows them to take unfamiliar words and piece together the individual sounds they hear to form the complete word. It lays the groundwork for successful decoding, making it easier for students to tackle new vocabulary as they encounter it during their reading.

In contrast, while focusing on vocabulary acquisition, integrating phonics with writing activities, and encouraging silent reading contribute to literacy development, they do not provide the same direct and specific support for decoding as phonemic segmentation does. Vocabulary acquisition is more about understanding word meanings, integrating phonics with writing helps with overall literacy but does not strictly target decoding skills, and silent reading primarily enhances comprehension and fluency but does not primarily support the decoding process.