Connecticut Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) Practice 2026 - Free FORT Practice Questions and Study Guide

Decoding in the context of reading refers to the ability to translate print to speech. This process involves recognizing letters and understanding the sounds they make (phonemes), which allows readers to convert written words into their spoken forms. It is a foundational skill in reading development, as it enables individuals to pronounce words correctly and fluently.

Decoding is essential for reading because it bridges the gap between the visual representation of words on the page and their auditory counterparts. When children learn to decode, they gain the ability to sound out words, which contributes to their overall reading proficiency. This skill is critical for beginners as they learn to read, and it serves as a stepping stone to more complex reading tasks such as comprehension and analysis.

In contrast, understanding a text's meaning involves comprehension skills, which go beyond decoding to include interpreting and integrating information. Summarizing a passage deals with identifying key points and main ideas, while evaluating a text's structure focuses on analyzing how a text is organized. These skills are important but are separate from the basic behavior of decoding.