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You are here: Home / All categories / Teach Me How To Read: 10 Strategies to Try When You are Stuck on a Word

Teach Me How To Read: 10 Strategies to Try When You are Stuck on a Word

August 18, 2014 • 19 Comments

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As a former first grade teacher there was nothing more rewarding then teaching someone how to read!  It is an amazing experience to watch someone learn to read for the first time.  It can also be challenging to teach someone to read.  There are lots of reading activities and strategies that you can employ to help with this process though.

Ideas for helping to teach someone how to read from growingbookbybook.com

We all get stuck on words from time to time.  This is especially true for beginning readers.  Our first instinct is to tell a child the word when they get stuck.  BUT, hold on.  I have 10 strategies that you can use to encourage them to figure out the word on their own!  I even have a handy free printable list for you to use too.  You will truly be teaching your little one HOW to read.

10 Strategies to Teach Me How To Read

Good readers use lots of different strategies.  Decoding words or figuring out the words is just one piece of the reading puzzle.  Below are prompts that you can use to help a child apply strategies to figuring out unknown words.

1.  Wait at least 5 seconds.

Before saying anything,  quietly count to 5.  Many times, if we just give the reader a moment to struggle and problem solve, he will be able to figure the word out on his own.  But, if that doesn’t work, try some more of the strategies on the list.

2.  Give it a try.

Many kids are in the habit of just waiting for someone to tell them the unknown word.   Encourage them to try it on their own.  This is a great confidence builder.

3.  Do you see a part you know?

Bigger words can be daunting.  Have the child look for a part they already recognize in the word.

For example, in the word hitting, the child might recognize the “ing” ending or the little word “it”.  Knowing some word parts can help you figure out the word.

4.  Look at the picture for a clue.

The pictures are meant to compliment the text and often can provide valuable clues to unknown words.  Easy readers are purposefully designed to provide lots of text support through the illustrations.

5.  Get your mouth ready for the first sound?

This one is similar to give it a try.  I used to say, “Give it a try.  The word might just pop out.”  When a child attempts the first sound, sometimes the correct words just falls out.  This prompt is great for those kids who just sit and stare into space waiting for someone to tell them the word.

6.  Think about what word would make sense.

This is a strategy for decoding and comprehension.  Thinking about the sentence, paragraph or story often provides clues to the unknown word.

7.  Cover up part of the word and try again.

Covering the endings (suffixes) of words often helps young readers recognize words they may already know but don’t recognize with the suffix attached.

8.  Skip the word.  Keep reading and then come back.

Sometimes, when the other strategies aren’t working, it’s best to skip the word and read on to the end of the sentence.  The rest of the words can be helpful in determining the unknown word.  Just remember to remind the child to return to the unknown word after skipping it.

9.  Go back to the beginning and try again.

When we are struggling with too many words in a sentence or a paragraph our reading fluency is greatly impacted.  All this problem solving also impedes comprehension.  Try telling the child to go back to the beginning of a sentence, a paragraph or a page and try starting again.

10.  Does is sound right?  Does it look right?

If a child mispronounces a word or says the wrong word, these two questions are very helpful.  Thinking about what makes sense is critical in determining words and comprehension.

I created this free printable of the reading prompts for you to print out and keep handy as you are reading with a child.  I hope you enjoy helping someone who says, “Teach me how to read!” as much as I do!

Click here to download 10 Ways to Help a Child Stuck on a Word

Use these prompts to help children learn to decode words.  Great tips from growingbookbybook.com

For more ideas to help children decode words check out these posts:  Reading Pointers and Martian Fingers.

Follow Growing Book by Book on Facebook.  We have daily conversations about growing our youngest readers.

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19 Comments Filed Under: All categories, Learning to Read Tagged With: decoding strategies

About Jodie Rodriguez

Jodie Rodriguez is a mom of two young boys and an early childhood/elementary educator with over 20 years of experience. Jodie's passion is helping parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in nurturing and reaching ALL of our youngest growing readers.

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  1. Renae says

    September 6, 2014 at 5:46 am

    Thank you so much for linking up to the Kids Learning Printables Linky Party. I just love this post and printable! You are being featured this week. We hope to see you link up again!

    Reply
  2. Anne at Left Brain Craft Brain says

    August 30, 2014 at 8:52 am

    Such great suggestions! We’re just starting to work on reading at our house, so I’m filing this away. Thanks for sharing at the Love to Learn Linky!

    Reply
  3. Erica Barrow Navis says

    August 30, 2014 at 3:31 am

    Very helpful! I’ve pinned this for later. Baby E is just 10 months old now but I know I’m going to need this for the future!

    Reply
  4. Beth says

    August 28, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    Great tips! I pinned this. Thanks for linking up at TGIF! Have a GREAT weekend,
    Beth =)

    Reply
  5. maryanne @ mama smiles says

    August 23, 2014 at 1:53 pm

    These are wonderful! Pinned to my literacy board 🙂

    Reply
  6. Mum of One says

    August 22, 2014 at 4:54 am

    This is such a useful post and some really brilliant ideas. I am just approaching this stage with my toddler and now feel much better prepared for it. Thanks so much for sharing with the #pinitparty. I have pinned and shared.

    Reply
  7. Alicia Crenshaw says

    August 19, 2014 at 11:42 pm

    I absolutely love this. My kindergartner is starting school at an online charter this year. My husband is notorious for “helping” kids with homework by simply giving them the answers and I’ve worried about him doing this while our little guy reads aloud. Glad to have it all laid out for him – and it’s a great reminder for me, too! Thank you.

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      August 20, 2014 at 2:13 pm

      So glad it will be useful to you Alicia!

      Reply
  8. The Lived Life says

    August 19, 2014 at 8:11 pm

    Love this! A keeper for sure 😉

    Reply
  9. JDaniel4's Mom says

    August 18, 2014 at 8:04 am

    This is really wonderful! Great tips! I will be sharing this post.

    Reply
  10. Anna@The Measured Mom says

    August 18, 2014 at 7:46 am

    Great, great!!!! I’ll be scheduling to share on Facebook next week, and pinning of course! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      August 18, 2014 at 7:59 am

      Thank you so much Anna!

      Reply
  11. Cassie @ 3Dinosaurs.com says

    August 18, 2014 at 6:24 am

    Love this post. I know so often that people ask what to do when kids can’t figure it out. Great thing to print and keep in the schooling area.

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      August 18, 2014 at 7:59 am

      Glad it’s helpful Cassie!

      Reply

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