Which statement best describes difficulties in reading and following instruction methods?

• A. Not reading at grade level; still building fundamental skills like phonics and word recognition
• B. Visual impairment
• C. Hearing impairment
• D. Not reading at grade level; not developing phonics

Answer: (A)

Reading progress relies on decoding words through phonics and word recognition. When a learner isn’t at grade level but is still building these foundational skills, the central difficulty is decoding and recognizing words well enough to follow written instructions. This means they may struggle to understand and act on what the text asks them to do, even as they continue to develop phonics and decoding ability. Targeted, systematic phonics instruction, decodable texts, and guided practice help strengthen decoding and fluency, which in turn improves following directions and overall comprehension. While sensory impairments like visual or hearing issues can create additional barriers, the statement best describing the reading and instruction-following challenge centers on ongoing development of decoding skills. The alternative focusing only on not developing phonics is narrower and doesn’t capture the ongoing process of building these foundational skills while reading below grade level.