Word Recognition

What is Word Recognition?

Word recognition is the ability to see a word and read the word with automaticity (Murray, 2016). The ability to read words without having to think about it allows for more focus on the content and less on decoding the words. This enables students to read more fluently and the ability to comprehend what they are reading.

Research Based Strategies

Recreate the Word - Once students are introduced to new words, have them write or make the word multiple times in fun ways such as using a white board, chalk, sand, shaving cream, play doh or magnetic letters.
Make a Visual Image - Have students create an image to go with the word they are practicing. Students can create their images in any of the ways mentioned above for writing the word.
Set Words to Music - Use familiar tunes and add in the word that the student is working on. Using the Bingo song, students can replace the word Bingo with their own words.
Frequent Reading - Having children read books of interest can support word recognition by seeing familiar words frequently. Children can read alone, read with a partner taking turns, or have someone read aloud while following along.
Sight Word Games - Practicing sight words can become repetitive so using games to practice makes it fun for students. Sight word bingo, word searches, and Splat! are all games that can be played to keep students engaged.

(Wise, 2017).

Research Based Interventions

Program - Touchphonics

Description - Make decoding concepts attainable by involving four modalities: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile. Through manipulation of the Touch-Units students can link sounds to letters, recognize patterns, and build and write words before finally reading words in context.

Tier - 2,3

Grade Level - K-5

Instruction Type - Small Group, Individual

(School Specialty, n.d.).

Program - Blast Foundations

Description - Exciting and engaging scientifically-aligned foundational reading skill instruction for 1st-grade students.

Tier - 2,3

Grade Level - 1-5

Instruction Type - Small Group

(Utah State Board of Education, n.d.).

Program - Early Intervention in Reading (EIR)

Description - Consists of grade-level, research-based intervention programs in which teachers learn proven strategies for helping struggling readers in the elementary grades.

Tier - 1,2,3

Grade Level - K-5

Instruction Type - Whole Group, Small Group

(Utah State Board of Education, n.d.).

Program - System 44

Description - An intensive, personalized intervention combines adaptive technology and teacher-led instruction to help students become proficient readers, writers, speakers, and critical thinkers.

Tier - 3

Grade Level - 3-12

Instruction Type - Small Group, Individual

(Utah State Board of Education, n.d.).

Program - Waterford Reading Academy

Description - Students practice their acquired literacy skills with scaffolded digital lessons that promote deeper thinking, understanding, and comprehension of the books they read.

Tier - 1,2,3

Grade Level - PreK-6

Instruction Type - Whole Group, Small Group, Individual

(Utah State Board of Education, n.d.).

Assessment

Formal

Title: Test of Word Reading Efficiency Second Edition
Author: Joseph Torgesen, Richard Wagner, Carol Rashotte
Description: A measure of an individual’s ability to pronounce printed words and phonemically regular nonwords accurately and fluently.
Age Range: 6-24 years
Administration Time: Approx. 5-10 minutes
Subtests: The Sight Word Efficiency (SWE) subtest assesses the number of real words printed in vertical lists that an individual can accurately identify within 45 seconds.
The Phonemic Decoding Efficiency (PDE) subtest measures the number of pronounceable nonwords presented in vertical lists that an individual can accurately decode within 45 seconds.
Cost: $318
Link: https://www.proedinc.com/Products/13910/towre2-test-of-word-reading-efficiencysecond-edition-complete-kit.aspx

Title: WIST: Word Identification and Spelling Test
Author: Barbara A. Wilson, Rebecca H. Felton
Description: Individually administered diagnostic test that assesses students' fundamental literacy skills.
Age Range: 7-18
Administration Time: 40 minutes
Subtests:
Word Identification
Spelling
Sound-Symbol Knowledge
Cost: $294
Link: https://www.proedinc.com/Products/11890/wist-word-identification-and-spelling-test.aspx?bCategory=LRA!READ

Informal

Assess word recognition in isolation - Provide a list of words and track whether the student could correctly read the word and if the word was read automatically or if it took more than 2 seconds to decode the word. Use word lists that allow for success and become increasingly more challenging to provide a range of data.
Assess word recognition in context - Have a child read a text orally and identify the following while they read:
Omissions: Circle words that the child does not say but are in the text.
Insertions: Write in where a child inserts a word that is not in the text.
Substitutions: Write the word the child says instead of what is in the text.
Mispronunciations: Write any word that is mispronounced.
Transpositions: Make a note where the child changes the order of the text.
Teacher Aid: Mark if any support was given in pronouncing the word.

(Christ and Cramer, 2011).

iPad Apps/Technology

Blending Board - Create a deck of phonemes that can be substituted and manipulated to create various kinds of blending activities. The decks enable users to practice decoding simple words, and multisyllabic words, too.
Cost: Free
Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/blending-board/id1521114657

Elkonin Boxes - Helps students increase their reading skills by challenging students to segment words into their individual sounds and syllables.
Cost: $1.49
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appinventor.ai_kemble_flynn.ElkoninBoxes&hl=en_US&gl=US

HOMER Learn and Grow - A learn-to-read app incorporates drawing, voice recording, stories, songs, and more, along with more traditional phonics exercises.
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/homer-kids-reading-learning/id601437586

Montessori Words and Phonics - Helps kids develop their reading, writing and spelling skills by building words from a set of 320 word-image-audio-phonics combinations using a phonics-enabled Movable Alphabet.
Cost: $3.99
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lescapadou.picturespelling

Starfall Learn to Read - There are 15 mini-books, each focusing on a specific vowel, along with videos and activities to enhance literacy learning.
Cost: Free
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.starfall.ltr

(Reading Rockets, n.d.).

References

Christ, T. & Cramer, R. (2011) "Assessing Word Recognition and Fluency Using an Informal Reading Inventory," Michigan Reading Journal: Vol. 43 : Iss. 1 , Article 4. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/mrj/vol43/iss1/4.
Murray, M. (2016). Word Recognition Skills: One of Two Essential Components of Reading Comprehension. Retrieved from https://milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/steps-to-success/chapter/3-word-recognition-skills-one-of-two-essential-components-of-reading-comprehension/.
Reading Rockets. (n.d.). Literacy Apps. Retrieved from https://www.readingrockets.org/literacyapps/phonics.
School Strategy. (n.d.). Reading Intervention. Retrieved from https://eps.schoolspecialty.com/products/literacy/reading-intervention?kxconfid=u7avswvjn&source=ggl&campaignid=WP_-_PPC_-_GGL_-_CRCLM_Pillar_-_Null_-_RVN_-_Search_-_Prop_Branded_-_Curriculum_Brands_-_PPG_-_USA_-_Null&placement=prop_branded&keyword=megawords&gclid=CjwKCAjwkvWKBhB4EiwA-GHjFrwUxRg0SLZddf_T4I8W92Jtk8tR-hKk0gJxwl1rEhgPqbTVenZdzRoCih8QAvD_BwE.
Utah State Board of Education. (n.d.). Evidence-Based Tiered Programs. Retrieved from https://www.schools.utah.gov/file/2616b67e-5c51-4c43-a361-23779571cee9.
Wise, R. (2017, Nov. 3). Try These 5 Fun Activities to Teach Your Child Sight Words. Retrieved from https://educationandbehavior.com/effective-strategies-for-teaching-sight-words/.

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