How to Help 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:

• Wait 5-10 seconds to see what attempts are made
• Ask:  "What would make sense there?"
• Use the picture to help figure out the word
• Skip the word and continue reading to the end of the line or sentence
• Go back and read the sentence again
• If the word was on a previous page, go back and try to gin it
• Look for a smaller word in a big one
• Cover the ending (-ed, -ing) with your finger and try the word
• Look how the word begins:  Let the sound "pop" right out
• Help with blending (sounding it out)
• 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.