Which statement correctly differentiates phonics from decoding?

• A. Phonics maps sounds to letters; decoding is applying those mappings to pronounce words.
• B. Phonics is about grammar; decoding is about spelling.
• C. Phonics and decoding are the same thing.
• D. Phonics is only for advanced readers.

Answer: (A)

Phonics is about the relationships between sounds and letters and how those sounds correspond to letters or letter patterns. Decoding is the act of using that knowledge to read words aloud by blending the sounds together. So this statement correctly identifies that phonics maps sounds to letters, and decoding applies those mappings to pronounce words. The other ideas mix up concepts—grammar or spelling, equating phonics with decoding, or suggesting phonics is only for advanced readers—none of which accurately describes their relationship.