Reading Strategies

Specific strategies  that will assist with Accuracy:

• Count syllables in words.  Syllables are considered a beat in a word.  So how many sounds does the word have?  We often measure this with children at school by asking them to place their hand under their chin and feel how many times their hand moves to help count the syllables. Ladybug has 3 syllables for example, la-dy-bug

• Count the sounds in the words.  For example, h-a-t has three sounds.  Using a fidget toy, counting on your fingers or tapping can help count out the sounds in words. 

• Identify the beginning or ending sounds in words.  Example: Cat has a /k/ sound at the beginning and a /t/ sound at the end.

• Check for rhyming words: fall, tall, ball, mall

• Blend sounds:  an adult or teacher might stretch out each sound for the child and they have to blend it all together to hear the word.  For example: /m/ /a/ /t/ is mat

• Segment sounds: the child will stretch out each sound they hear. For example cat is /c/ /a/ /t/

• Manipulate sounds: For example, can  is made up of   /k/ an

• Manipulate words: For example, rainbow is made of rain and bow

• Make new words: For example, I know the word,  men so if I change the /m/ to  /p/, I can make the word, pen

Strategies for comprehension:   

• Compare new information to what you already know.  What is the same and what is different? Say back what was learned.  For example, “ Wow, I never knew…”

• Notice if there is a pattern with the character.  What do they do over and over.  Is there any advice that you would give them?

• How does the character feel? How do you know how they feel?  What could you learn from them?  What does that feeling teach you?

• What do you wonder about while you read?

• Can you think of a similar story? (Something that might have happened to you that is similar to the character in the book).

Strategies for Fluency

• Read aloud so the student can hear what it sounds like to read fluently.

• Invite student to read with you as you read.

• Encourage student to read a familiar book so they can hear their own fluent reading.

• You read a sentence and have them copy you.

• Following a highlighted text (i.e. on a screen/computer) while a story is being read aloud.

• Try a little readers' theatre where people take up speaking parts (like a play).