While we’re reading, sometimes ALuv (currently 6.5 years old) will come upon a sight word we’ve already studied and he’ll say that he doesn’t know the word or he’ll misread it altogether.

This is very common with readers in his developmental stage; especially among look-alike words (such as went/want or where/were).  Readers in his stage are developing new strategies for reading unknown words (such as reading by analogy), but they don’t apply them consistently, yet.

Here’s an easy trick that can help these readers to stop and focus on the letters that make up the word:

Ask the child to look at the word and spell it out loud.

W-H-E-R-E

Often, taking the time to look at each letter and spell it out helps them to find a pattern they know that can help them read the word.  Other times, just saying the letters out loud jogs their memory.  I’ve been amazed at how many times this has worked for ALuv.

So, for spelling out loud, give it a try.  Maybe it will work for your young reader as well. 🙂

 ~Becky