Both decoding and encoding skills are needed to build a foundation in reading. Decoding is the process of translating written speech into verbal speech sounds by applying knowledge of letter-sound correspondences. It is the ability to recognize letters, apply their associated sounds, and blend sounds to form words. Encoding is the process of using letter-sound knowledge to write or spell words. Students must understand the various spelling patterns and rules of the Spanish language to correctly construct words in their written products. It is important that students demonstrate their knowledge by applying these rules consistently instead of using invented spelling because they may unknowingly write a real word they did not intend, causing reader confusion.

Multisyllabic words are words that have more than one syllable. In kindergarten, students learned to spell words with common patterns such as CVCV (puma), CCVCV (broma), or CVCCV (lento). In first grade, students are expected to use this knowledge to spell multisyllabic words that include: que-, qui-, like in quesadilla or cosquillas; gue-, gui-, like in guepardo or guitarrón; and güe, güi, like in güeros or paragüitas.