Basal reader instruction often includes the use of enlarged big books and word/picture cards to support decoding. Which choice best reflects this feature?

• A. Relies on flashcards exclusively.
• B. Uses only worksheets.
• C. Included use of enlarged 'big books' and word/picture cards.
• D. Avoids any visual aids.

Answer: (C)

Basal reader instruction often relies on enlarged big books and word/picture cards to support decoding. The big books give students a large, accessible text to read aloud with the teacher, highlighting phonics patterns, sight words, and repeating language in a meaningful context. The size and repetition help students notice letter-sound relationships and apply decoding strategies as they follow along with the story, making the process more concrete and collaborative through shared and guided reading.

Word and picture cards provide concrete, manipulable references for phonics practice, word recognition, and decoding skills. They let students isolate sounds, blend phonemes, and segment words, while the pictures give meaning cues that reinforce comprehension and recall. This combination—text that can be read aloud with support and targeted word-level practice with visual cues—embodies how decoding is scaffolded in a basal program.

Choosing materials that rely exclusively on flashcards, using worksheets alone, or avoiding visual aids would miss the collaborative, context-rich and visual-support approach that these tools are designed to provide.