Infographic titled “The Difference Between Decoding and Comprehension—And Why Kids Need Both,” with an open book and two speech bubbles labeled “Decoding” and “Comprehension.” A lightbulb and letter icon highlight the importance of both skills for reading success.

Understanding the Two Pillars of Reading Success

“My Child Can Read the Words, But Doesn’t Understand Them…”

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many parents are surprised when their child appears to read fluently, but struggles to answer simple questions about what they just read. Others see the opposite: a child who understands stories when read aloud, but can’t decode the words independently.

That’s because reading has two essential components: decoding and comprehension. At Growing Oaks, we work on both—because one without the other simply isn’t enough.

What Is Decoding?

Decoding is the ability to translate written letters and spelling patterns into spoken words. It involves recognizing sounds (phonemes), matching them to letters (graphemes), and blending them together to read fluently.

In simple terms: decoding is how your child “gets the words off the page.”

Strong decoding skills require:

Phonemic awareness
Understanding of sound-letter relationships
The ability to blend and segment sounds
Efficient word recognition

When decoding is weak, children may guess at words, read slowly, or skip words altogether—making comprehension nearly impossible.

What Is Comprehension?

Comprehension is the ability to understand, interpret, and make meaning from text. It includes:

Understanding vocabulary
Connecting ideas across sentences
Grasping the main idea and details
Drawing inferences and conclusions

Even a strong decoder can struggle with comprehension if they don’t have the background knowledge, vocabulary, or attention skills needed to process the story or information.

Why Kids Need Both—And Why Schools Often Miss One

Some reading programs overemphasize decoding (phonics drills, word lists) while neglecting comprehension. Others assume comprehension will “just happen” once decoding improves.

But children need both—explicitly taught and practiced together.

At Growing Oaks, we use EBLI (Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction), which integrates reading, spelling, writing, and comprehension from the very beginning. Students don’t just sound out words—they understand what they’re reading.

How You Can Support Both at Home

✅ For decoding:

Play sound and word games
Use audiobooks paired with the print version
Encourage reading out loud in short, low-stress sessions

✅ For comprehension:

Ask “why” and “how” questions, not just “what”
Pause during reading to check understanding
Discuss what you’ve read together

📌 Tip: Don’t worry if your child is stronger in one area than the other—both can be built with the right support.

Ready for Balanced, Evidence-Based Support?

If your child struggles to read fluently or make sense of what they read, Growing Oaks can help. We offer personalized, one-on-one instruction designed to build both decoding skills and comprehension.

✅ Certified EBLI instruction
✅ In-person and online sessions
✅ Support for readers ages 5 to 105

Let’s Help Your Reader Thrive

It’s not just about getting the words right—it’s about understanding them, too.
👉 Schedule a free consultation at growingoaks.us/appointments

Sources:

Gough, P.B. & Tunmer, W.E. (1986). The Simple View of Reading.
National Reading Panel. (2000). Fluency and Comprehension Sections.
EBLI. Reading with Accuracy and Understanding. https://eblireads.com/improve-fluency-and-comprehension-by-providing-supported-reading/

The Difference Between Decoding and Comprehension—And Why Kids Need Both