What to do When a Word Stumps Your Child

Learning to read can be very frustrating for both parents and children.  Here are a few suggestions for those times when your child is trying to read to you.

-Be patient and give wait time.  Don’t jump in to help too quickly.  Giving 5-10 of wait time before responding helps your child realize that it’s okay to work a word through. 

-Decide on the best way to help your child figure out the word.  Sometimes “sound it out” is a good method, but sometimes there is a better option.  Consider the following guiding prompts as well.

-What word do you think would go there?
-What would make sense there?
-Use the picture to help you.
-We read this on the page before.  Let’s go back and see if that helps us.
-Let’s go back to the beginning of the sentence and try again.
-Break word into syllables, have your child sound each out, then blend word together.
-Softly write in books with pencil to help your child visually break down words.
-Point to each letter (or group of letters) to guide child through the sounding out process.
-For groups of letters that make an unexpected sound.  Give your child a hint.  For example, for the word “night” you might say, “Let me give you a hint here.  These four letters say ITE. Try sounding out the word saying ITE for these letters. “

-Always applaud your child for working through words, trying and failing, and reading in general.  Here are a few sample comments:  

-Great job! That was a tricky word.
-You’re becoming such a good reader!        
-It can be frustrating, but even I come across words I don’t know.  Good job tackling it!
-I liked the way to you….That’s what good readers do.