Reading Strategies

 

The following reading strategies are used by all readers regardless of age or ability. When a reader comes across a word he/she does not know, a balance of these strategies will help in the problem solving process.

 

	I can listen to see if the word makes sense.
	I can go back and reread.
	I can get my mouth ready to say the word.
	I can look at the first letter and the last letter of the word.
	I can put in a word that makes sense (guess and check).
	I can look for something I know.
	I can read on, reread, and check.

When reading with your child, it is important that you articulate what you notice they are doing. Often they are not aware of the strategies they are using even when they demonstrate them. When they hear feedback for using their strategies, they begin to internalize them even deeper and good habits develop.

Try this...

Say, "You did something good readers do, you..."

Stopped to check because it didn't make sense

Checked the picture

Reread the sentence

Got your mouth ready by saying the first sound out loud

Tried by yourself

Checked the word to see if it looked right

Recognized a "chunk" in that word

Kept working until you got it right

Used the first and last sounds in the word

Made a guess and then checked to see if it looked right, sounded right, or made sense