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 that they did not intend, causing confusion for their reader.

Students are expected to spell words with an orthographic accent. The orthographic accent is a written mark that indicates the stressed syllable in a word. The accent mark is shown in the following words: o-ra-ción, dó-lar, má-gi-co, or-to-grá-fi-co.

Students are expected to correctly spell palabras graves that have a written accent on the next to last syllable. For example, ángel, azúcar, débil, difícil.

The palabras agudas are words with the pronunciation stress on the last syllable. Such stress may be indicated with a written accent (known as orthographic accent), like in the words canción, canapé, tiburón, colibrí.