When Your Child Comes To An Unknown Word....
Often adults tell a child to "sound out" an unknown word. Frequently that prompt is successful and the word is decoded. When sounding it out doesn't work, adults usually tell the word and reading continues.However, our goal is to help children become independent readers. Here are some alternative suggestions for parents or "homework helpers" to use when your child confronts an unknown word:
Guess the Covered Word Strategy(From Four-Blocks Literacy Model developed by Pat Cunningham and Dorothy Hall) It teaches students to ask three questions when they find an unknown word. Cover the word to keep your place (use your finger or a small sticky paper).
Ask: What makes sense? Look at the word and ask: How long is the word? Ask: What is the beginning letter(s) and the other letters in the word? Some Other Things To Try
Wait 5-10 seconds to see what attempts are made. Ask: "What would make sense there?"
OR Use the picture to help figure out the word. OR Skip the word and continue reading to end of line or sentence. OR Go back and read sentence again. OR If the word was on a previous page, go back and try to find it. OR Look for a smaller word in a big one. OR Cover the ending (-ed, -ing) with your finger and try word. OR Look how the word begins. Let the sound "pop" right out. OR Help with blending (sounding it out). OR Tell the word and keep on reading.
It is important that children learn to use these strategies independently. When your child "figures out" a word, you might ask how he/she did it. Telling about their reading helps to reinforce learning.
Often adults tell a child to "sound out" an unknown word. Frequently that prompt is successful and the word is decoded. When sounding it out doesn't work, adults usually tell the word and reading continues.However, our goal is to help children become independent readers. Here are some alternative suggestions for parents or "homework helpers" to use when your child confronts an unknown word:
Guess the Covered Word Strategy(From Four-Blocks Literacy Model developed by Pat Cunningham and Dorothy Hall) It teaches students to ask three questions when they find an unknown word. Cover the word to keep your place (use your finger or a small sticky paper).
Ask: What makes sense? Look at the word and ask: How long is the word? Ask: What is the beginning letter(s) and the other letters in the word? Some Other Things To Try
Wait 5-10 seconds to see what attempts are made. Ask: "What would make sense there?"
OR Use the picture to help figure out the word. OR Skip the word and continue reading to end of line or sentence. OR Go back and read sentence again. OR If the word was on a previous page, go back and try to find it. OR Look for a smaller word in a big one. OR Cover the ending (-ed, -ing) with your finger and try word. OR Look how the word begins. Let the sound "pop" right out. OR Help with blending (sounding it out). OR Tell the word and keep on reading.
It is important that children learn to use these strategies independently. When your child "figures out" a word, you might ask how he/she did it. Telling about their reading helps to reinforce learning.
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