In decoding, what do children often use to help them understand new words during the Partial Alphabetic stage?

During the Partial Alphabetic stage of reading development, children are beginning to understand the relationship between sounds and letters. They often rely on visual cues and letter associations to decode new words. At this stage, children may recognize familiar letters and connect them with their corresponding sounds, helping them to predict and make sense of unfamiliar words. This process is essential as it builds their ability to use letter patterns in context, paving the way for more advanced reading skills.

Visual cues may include pictures that provide context, while letter associations help children bridge the gap between phonemes (sounds) and graphemes (letters). This strategy is particularly effective when children encounter new words since it allows them to use their existing knowledge to infer meaning and pronunciation. As they progress in their literacy journey, these skills grow stronger, leading to improved reading fluency and comprehension.