Reacting to Miscues

Learning to read involves risk taking on the part of the child. When miscues (mistakes) happen, the guidelines listed below may help you both.

Ø Be patient - he/she may figure the word out (after 10 seconds comprehension is affected, so try one of the strategies below)

Ø Ask - "What would make sense?"

Ø Avoid saying "Sound it out." Instead suggest using a Decoding Strategy.

Ø Allow substitutions, "dog" for "canine," as some words are hard to decode. Meaning is maintained.

Ø Focus on what your child is doing well.

Ø Praise good tries and accurate reading.

Ø Remember, reading is about deriving meaning, so don't lose the flow of the piece. Sometimes, it is better to tell your child the word, and go on.