These helpful hints are taken from the Reading Connection by Aspen Publishers, Inc.

Use What You Know When Reading New Words

Can your child read unknown words? Of course they can! Your child can use words he or she already knows to read new words. Here is how you can help support your child:

Blends: Start with your child's name. If your child's name is "Troy" you may use the tr blend in his name to figure out new words like train. You may then talk about other kinds of blends like cr, pl, st, etc. You can explain how they blend together like tr. patterns in words: You may point out patterns in words if they have digraphs or word families.

For example, a word with a th at the beginning may sound the same in they, then, this and that. Show your child how they all have the th sound in common. You may also point out a word ending or word family. If you see the word cat you can show your child that the words rat, bat, sat and mat will also be familiar because they are in the same word family.

Breaking down words into chunks or syllables: You may break down a word like yesterday by covering the entire words and then slowly moving a piece of paper over each syllable.