Which reading approach is described as skills-based, bottom-up, teaching smaller to larger reading subskills in a systematic, rigid sequence?

• A. Direct Instruction
• B. Language Experience Approach
• C. Basal Reader Approach
• D. Constructivist Approach

Answer: (C)

This description points to a method that builds reading skills from small units upward in a fixed, step-by-step order. The Basal Reader Approach uses graded basal readers and a tightly scripted sequence that starts with decoding and phonics, then moves to word reading, fluency, and finally comprehension. Each lesson reinforces a specific subskill, and the materials are designed to be used in the same order across classrooms, creating a highly structured, bottom-up program. This emphasis on mastering discrete, foundational skills before tackling larger reading tasks is what makes it the best fit.

Direct Instruction is also highly organized and explicit, but it isn’t defined by a fixed basal-reading program with a predetermined sequence of subskills. The Language Experience Approach centers on using students’ own experiences to create reading text, which is more holistic and experiential. The Constructivist Approach emphasizes student discovery and meaning-making rather than a rigid, skills-based progression.