What is considered one of the main elements of decoding?

Decoding primarily involves the ability to translate written words into their spoken equivalents. This skill is fundamentally based on sound-symbol correspondences, which refer to the relationship between phonemes (the smallest units of sound) and graphemes (the letters or groups of letters representing those sounds). Recognizing these correspondences allows readers to sound out words, which is essential for reading fluency and comprehension.

Sound-symbol correspondences are critical because they help students understand how to break down and read unfamiliar words. For instance, knowing that the letters "c-a-t" correspond to the sounds /k/ /æ/ /t/ allows a child to read the word "cat." This process of linking sounds to letters is a foundational aspect of effective reading and is crucial for developing literacy skills.

The other elements mentioned are important in their own right. Recognizing structural patterns aids in comprehension and helps readers understand text organization. Understanding literary devices enhances the interpretive skills needed for deeper responses to texts. Creating sentences is essential for writing fluency and communication. However, these components do not directly relate to the decoding process as sound-symbol correspondences do.