What is the first stage of decoding according to the four stages of decoding?

The first stage of decoding, known as the Pre-Alphabetic stage, is characterized by the initial recognition of visual cues associated with words rather than a full understanding of the alphabetic principles governing written language. In this stage, learners are able to identify familiar words based on their shapes, pictures, or the context in which they appear. For example, a child may recognize a stop sign not by reading it but by associating the color red and the shape with a stop command.

This stage serves as the foundation for later stages of decoding because it lays the groundwork for awareness of letters and sounds. Children who are in this stage may begin to make connections between letters and the sounds they represent as they progress to the next levels of decoding skills. Understanding the Pre-Alphabetic stage is crucial for educators as it helps them recognize the non-alphabetic strategies students might employ before they gain a deeper understanding of reading and writing.

In contrast, the other stages listed—Partial Alphabetic, Full Alphabetic, and Consolidated—represent more advanced levels of comprehension where the learners begin to develop a systematic understanding of the relationships between letters and their respective sounds.