How you can help, when your child is stuck on a word

When you are reading with your child, either for pleasure or as part of their nightly homework routine, it's inevitable that they're going to come across an unknown word. The most common thing to do is say, "sound it out" and most likely that won't work thanks to the complexity of the English language, or the fact that your child has probably already tried that without success. So, what can you do besides just telling them the word? Here is a list (in order) of somethings to try. This list comes from Intervention Central and is intended for a more formal reading intervention. However, I feel it is beneficial for both readers and parents to use when reading along with a child. It gives a structured way to help readers when they are stuck. Keep in mind if a child is having trouble with many words on the page, the book may be too hard at the time. Reading a book that is too hard will not help the child become a better reader, but reading and finding a "Just Right Book" is another article. 

Alright, back to the list and a few more tips.

Before beginning the reading, let your child know that if they come to an unknown word they should try his/her best and that you're there to help. 

The List: 

1. "Try another way." This cue is given directly after a reading error and alerts the student to the fact that she or she has misread the word. If your child does not understand, "Try another way," you could ask, "How else could you read that word?"

2. "Finish the sentence and guess the word." The child is encouraged to make use of the sentence context to discover the correct word pronunciation.

3. "Break the word into parts and pronounce each one." The child is directed to sound out the segments of a word independently.

4. Using an index card/bookmark/finger, the parent covers over parts of the word and guides the child to sound out only the part of the word that is visible. This approach teaches the child a method for reducing the amount of visual information in each word.

5. "What sound does '___' make?" As the parent covers selected parts of the word with an index card/bookmark, the student is directed to use phonics information to sound out the word.

6. "The word is ___." If the child cannot decode (read) the word despite help, the parent supplies the word. The student is directed to repeat the word and to continue reading.

This may seem clunky at first, but it will become habit and more natural over time. 

Letter Reversals & Confusion

Switching b's, d's, p's & q's

Letter reversals can be frustrating for young readers and parents alike. However, these reversals are a normal part of a child's reading and writing development. Let me first explain a strange concept. From the time the child was really young his stuffed animal was a bear. It did not matter if the bear was on its side, belly, back, head, or feet. It was always a stuffed bear. Now, the child is in school and learning letters. All of sudden, the orientation of the letter matters. A "P" rotated 180 degrees becomes a lower case "d." It's confusing stuff for your readers when they're navigating new learning territories. It is common and developmentally appropriate for reversal confusion to last into second grade. 

It's still a bear, no matter which way you spin it!

Here are Some Things to Help Reinforce Correct Letter Orientation 

Putting "b" and "d" to "bed" 

Show your child that the b's and the d's need to go to "bed" and that the rounded part of the letter must be within the bed. 

Finger "b" and "d"

Have your child make the letter b with his left hand and the d with his right hand. Some children will then make that letter to help differentiate a b or a d in their reading or writing. 

Other Letter Reversal and Formation Strategies

• Just asking your child to "check for b's or d's" draws attention to his/her reading or writing and they can usually catch their mistake. 
• Use your finger to trace or write letters on textured materials like sandpaper, screens, felt, etc. 
• Put shaving cream or whipped cream on a cookie sheet and write letters to create negative space letters.
• Put sand in a shallow dish and write letters, again making the negative space, and then gently shake to "erase" for the next letter. 
• Use pipe cleaner to form letters. 
• Use other materials from around the house to build letters like blocks, toothpicks, string, toys, etc. 
• Purchase alphabet noodles and have the child search for specific letters

Sight Word Practice Strategies

There are many terms used for words that don't follow typical English spelling patterns. Your child may have brought home a list of "sight words, snap words, or star words." Typically, this means that children should (ideally) be able to read these words instantly. These words are often difficult to sound out, which is where the terms "sight" and "snap" come into play. Children should know these words by sight or in a snap. In addition to not being able to sound out these words, many of the words are visually very similar. Take "or" and "of" for example. If you remove the horizontal line in the "f" you have the letter "r." Tricky stuff for young readers! 

Anyway, that's a little background info. The actual stuff you want is here! Here are some strategies to help reinforce the spelling and the reading of tricky words. Keep in mind that these strategies can be used with any new word or spelling word. These strategies engage the whole body, making these kinesthetic learning opportunities for your child. 

When I work with children and use this strategy, I have students create small flashcards containing their words. The student earns a small star on the card after he/she can read it with automaticity (by sight or in a snap). I quiz the child after practicing 3-5 new words by adding 3-4 starred words to the mix. This helps ensure that he/she is retaining the new information. 

Arm Tapping

Your child will spell the word and tap each letter out, starting at the shoulder and working toward the wrist. Then, the child slides his hand down his arm when saying the whole word to finish. Word cards can be out and then flipped over to try and tap/spell them from memory.

Table Writing

Looking at the word card, the child "writes" with his/her finger on the table and then slides his/her finger underneath the word while reading the whole word. This can then be done again, but flipping the word card over and table writing from memory. 

See & Say

The child looks at the word card and says the word. He/She also runs his/her finger below the word while reading. If the child does not know the word, use the script below. 

 

Air Writing

The child stands or sits and locks his/her arm and air writes to spell out the words. Word cards can be out and then flipped to try and spell from memory. Have him/her select a color to really visualize the letters and the motions. 

Sight word and spelling practice-Table Writing

Spelling and Sight Word Practice- Table Writing

Spelling and Sight Word Practice- See & Say + Corrective Language

Spelling and Sight Word Practice-Air Writing

Correcting Reading Mistakes

What do you do when your child is stuck or doesn't know the word?

Use this script to help teach and reinforce new words. This script sounds a little rigid, but it's about repetition and having the child say and use the word as many times as possible. 

Adapted from: http://www.sightwords.com/sight-words/lessons/