What characterizes the Full Alphabetic stage of decoding?

The Full Alphabetic stage of decoding is characterized by children's ability to apply their understanding of alphabetic knowledge systematically. At this stage, learners have developed a strong grasp of the relationships between letters and sounds. They can decode words phonetically by segmenting them into their individual sounds and accurately blending those sounds to create words.

This systematic use of alphabetic principles allows children to read unfamiliar words by sounding them out, which is a critical skill for developing fluent reading and robust literacy. Mastering this stage means that students are not only recognizing letters and their corresponding sounds but are also effectively using this knowledge to decode and understand a wide range of written material.

In contrast, identifying letter patterns, recognizing words as visual objects, and using visuals along with context cues represent earlier or different stages of reading development where alphabetic knowledge might not yet be fully integrated or utilized in decoding tasks.