Decoding vs. Encoding: Why Spelling Is Just as Important as Reading
When we think about teaching a child to read, we often picture books, word cards, and oral reading practice.
But one of the most powerful ways to improve reading isn’t reading at all—it’s spelling.
Reading (decoding) and spelling (encoding) are two sides of the same coin. When students learn how to spell words based on sound-letter patterns, their reading improves, too.
In this post, we’ll explore:
The difference between decoding and encoding
How they support each other in brain development
Why spelling deserves more focus in early literacy instruction
What Is Decoding?
Decoding is the process of translating printed letters into sounds to read a word.
For example: seeing the word map and saying /m/ /a/ /p/ = map.
It requires:
Phonemic awareness (hearing sounds)
Letter-sound knowledge
Blending skills
Decoding is essential for beginning readers to unlock unfamiliar words and build fluency over time.
What Is Encoding?
Encoding is the reverse: taking the sounds in a spoken word and turning them into written letters.
For example: hearing the word map, identifying the sounds /m/ /a/ /p/, and writing “map.”
Encoding requires:
Phoneme segmentation (breaking a word into sounds)
Sound-to-letter mapping
Spelling pattern awareness
Encoding is often overlooked—but it's just as foundational.
Why Spelling (Encoding) Improves Reading (Decoding)
Here’s what research shows: encoding strengthens decoding by reinforcing the brain’s sound-letter connections.
When students:
Segment sounds
Match them to graphemes
Write them down...
They’re practicing the same cognitive pathways needed to read—but in reverse.
Spelling helps words become “mapped” into long-term memory, which leads to automatic recognition (a key goal of the Science of Reading).
Encoding also:
Clarifies confusing sound patterns (e.g., /k/ = c, k, or ck)
Strengthens vocabulary and morphology knowledge
Supports handwriting and fine motor integration
The Brain Science Behind It
Neuroscience confirms that reading and spelling activate overlapping brain regions involved in language processing.
But here's the kicker: encoding typically requires more precise phonemic analysis than decoding.
When reading, students can sometimes guess or self-correct. But spelling demands careful attention to each sound and its correct representation.
That effort rewires the brain for more accurate word recognition during reading.
What About Irregular Words?
Even irregular words benefit from encoding practice.
Take the word said:
Regular sounds: /s/ → s, /d/ → d
Tricky part: ai → /e/ sound
Teaching students to spell irregular words by identifying the regular parts and the “heart part” (the part they must remember) makes them easier to map—and more likely to stick.
Final Thoughts
Decoding helps kids read words.
Encoding helps them own them.
When we treat spelling as an equal partner in reading instruction—not an afterthought—we give students the tools to become confident, capable readers and writers.
If you're already teaching phonics, the next step is simple:
Add encoding practice every day.
Because when students can build a word from scratch, they’re far more likely to recognize it in the wild.
