From what I've seen, most early readers memorize everything, and do not decode things phonetically.
This was my DS... it was easier for him to memorize rather than decode.
DD, on the other hand, just did both... without any issues... She was just really, really comfortable and fluent from a young age. It's interesting how they're each unique.
Interestingly, DD is also a crackerjack speller, and has never practiced or studied her spelling. DS, on the other hand, struggles in this regard and needs lots of drills and written practice before he masters some words.
