Which strategy is most effective for decoding unfamiliar words in a text?

• A. Silent reading
• B. Providing a graphic organizer
• C. Modeling several strategies for decoding unfamiliar words
• D. Listing questions about the text

Answer: (C)

Approaching unfamiliar words with explicit instruction that shows multiple strategies in action is most effective. When a teacher models several decoding techniques, students see a flexible toolkit in use: breaking a word into parts such as syllables or morphemes, sounding it out and listening for accuracy, using context clues to confirm meaning, checking how the word fits with the sentence and surrounding text, and knowing when to switch strategies or try a reference aid. Watching the teacher think aloud demystifies the process and helps students understand not just what to do, but when and why to choose a particular method. This kind of modeling supports independent reading because learners internalize these strategies and learn to apply them across different words and contexts, gradually building fluency and comprehension.

Silent reading without guided decoding practice doesn’t teach the steps for tackling unknown words. Graphic organizers are helpful for organizing ideas, not for teaching how to decode. Listing questions about the text targets comprehension rather than equipping students with practical decoding tools. Modeling multiple strategies provides a concrete, transferable set of approaches students can rely on whenever they encounter unfamiliar vocabulary.