A student has begun to recognize text in larger units and utilize decoding skills with fluency. Which phase of literacy development is this indicative of?

The description of a student who is recognizing text in larger units and utilizing decoding skills with fluency aligns with the orthographic phase of literacy development. During this phase, learners begin to recognize words as whole units rather than solely relying on their individual letters or sounds. Their ability to decode becomes more automatic, allowing them to read more fluently and comprehend texts more effectively.

In this phase, students also start to develop a solid mental representation of words, enabling them to recognize familiar words quickly and tackle new vocabulary with greater confidence. The emphasis on fluency and larger units of text suggests that the student has progressed beyond the earlier phases of literacy development, where focus was primarily on grappling with letters and sounds in isolation or small groups.