Different Approaches to Reading Instruction

This page will tell you about six different approaches to reading instruction: phonics, guided reading, sight word, linguistic, language experience, and multisensory.

The most effective way to teach reading is through systematic phonics instruction with decodable texts. Listen to the podcast, Sold a Story, to find out more!

The Phonics Approach

THIS IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO TEACH READING! Get my 100s of decodable text links organized by sound and spelling, and see my links to free decodable stories.

Reading Task Emphasized	Decoding—translating letter symbols into speech sounds.
Motivational Approach	Increased skill in decoding printed words.
Decoding Approach	Synthetic – begins with individual speech sounds and builds into words.
Story Content	Stories are based on the sounds of the words being learned.
Vocabulary Selection	Words are selected for their phonic regularity and phonics rules.
Vocabulary Difficulty	Phonetically regular words with short vowel sounds are considered the most accessible, and phonetically irregular words are the most difficult.
Mode of Response	Emphasis on oral reading (some programs require a moderate amount of writing).
Structure and Completeness	Varies by program, ranging from very structured to more teacher-developed.

The Guided Reading Approach

DO NOT TEACH THIS WAY. Listen to Sold a Story!

Reading Task Emphasized	Comprehension—understanding the meaning of the printed words.
Motivational Approach	Increased proficiency in reading and comprehending texts using various strategies. Books at all levels are inviting and engaging.
Decoding Approach	Analytic – emphasis on context clues, structural analysis, and configuration clues; and Synthetic – begins with individual speech sounds and builds into words. Uses the “cueing system.”
Story Content	Stories become increasingly interesting and more challenging as the levels progress from A to Z. Students read REAL literature, even in kindergarten.
Vocabulary Selection	Words selected to be taught are generally Tier 2 words. These words appear in various texts and the written and oral language of mature language users.
Vocabulary Difficulty	Words whose meanings the children are most likely to know are the most accessible; words not in their speaking vocabulary are considered the most difficult and are understood in context.
Mode of Response	Whisper and silent reading are emphasized over oral reading. Comprehension is assessed via discussions.
Structure and Completeness	There is no formal guide. Teachers develop the program. I recommend reading the CAFE book by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, and exploring Fountas and Pinnell’s materials for more information.

The Sight Word Approach

Remember the old basal readers from the 1970s and 1980s—the textbooks with corresponding workbooks, such as Dick and Jane? That’s the sight word approach!

See my FREE sight word stories!

Reading Task Emphasized	Comprehension—discovering the meaning of printed words.
Motivational Approach	Enjoyment of the story content and its relationship to the children’s lives.
Decoding Approach	Analytic – emphasis on context clues, structural analysis, and configuration clues.
Story Content	Stories are told by a central group of characters who are involved in typical childhood experiences.
Vocabulary Selection	Words are selected based on their frequency of use by typical children in each age group.
Vocabulary Difficulty	Words whose meanings the children are most likely to know are the most accessible; words not in their speaking vocabulary are considered the most difficult.
Mode of Response	Silent reading is emphasized over oral reading; there is little writing.
Structure and Completeness	They are typically offered as a comprehensive program, including a detailed teacher’s guide and numerous supplementary materials.

The Linguistic Approach

Words and stories are predictable.

Reading Task Emphasized	Decoding—translating printed words into spoken language.
Motivational Approach	Increased skill in reading words.
Decoding Approach	Analytic—begins with the spelling pattern of the whole word; students discover relationships between spelling patterns and speech sounds.
Story Content	The spelling pattern of words relates to stories.
Vocabulary Selection	Words are selected based on their spelling pattern.
Vocabulary Difficulty	Accessible words have the most common spelling patterns (CVC, CVCe). The most difficult words have irregular patterns.
Mode of Response	Emphasis on oral reading; generally, a low amount of writing.
Structure and Completeness	Highly structured and marketed as a complete reading program.

The Language-Experience Approach

This is based on the child’s language. Preschool, kindergarten, and grade 1 teachers can easily incorporate this into their daily routines.

Reading Task Emphasized	Comprehension—understanding the meaning of the printed word.
Motivational Approach	Enjoyment of story creation and story content.
Decoding Approach	Analytic—begins with the whole word and gradually works back to letters and syllables; emphasis is on context clues with other decoding skills.
Story Content	The students write stories based on their shared experiences.
Vocabulary Selection	The students’ spoken language guides the selection of vocabulary.
Vocabulary Difficulty	Words most common in a child’s speaking vocabulary are considered the most accessible; those not in the child’s speaking vocabulary are considered the most difficult.
Mode of Response	The first step involves silent reading, followed by oral reading and a significant amount of writing.
Structure and Completeness	Considered a complete program with a low amount of structure.

The Multisensory Approach

The Wilson and Orton-Gillingham approach involves students using visual, auditory, and tactile pathways simultaneously.

Reading Task Emphasized	Decoding—translating letter symbols into speech sounds.
Motivational Approach	Increased skill in decoding printed words.
Decoding Approach	Synthetic—begins with individual speech sounds and builds into words with a strong emphasis on motor feedback.
Story Content	Stories are related to the sounds and motor patterns being learned.
Vocabulary Selection	Words are selected by their phonic regularity and the phonics rules they follow.
Vocabulary Difficulty	Phonetically regular words with short vowel sounds are the easiest, while phonetically irregular words are the most difficult.
Mode of Response	Emphasis on writing, other motor activities, and oral reading.
Structure and Completeness	Highly structured programs and are often paired with other reading programs.

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Edited on 07/10/2025

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