Introduction
Is your child guessing at words instead of decoding them? If so, they may be relying on context clues or visual similarity instead of using essential decoding skills. Using Structured Literacy prompts can help your child develop stronger reading skills by guiding them to use decoding strategies instead of guessing. This article provides effective, research-backed prompts you can use at home to help your child read with confidence and accuracy.
Here’s the thing—supporting your child through their reading struggles can feel overwhelming. You’re not alone in this journey! I’m here to help you feel empowered, confident, and fully equipped to guide your child toward success.
What To Do When Your Child Guesses at Words
When your child guesses at words, it’s a sign that they are relying on context clues or visual similarity instead of using decoding skills. The prompts below are designed to help you gently guide your child to use their Structured Literacy skills and strategies to build stronger reading skills.
The beauty of these prompts is how well they work when woven into daily practice through the Shared Parent Activities in Lexercise Professional Therapy. These activities are designed to be simple, effective, and fun—creating connection and alignment between you and your child as you work toward their reading success. They are carefully chosen to target your child’s specific needs, and when you provide skilled prompting, your child’s progress can accelerate more quickly than you dreamed possible.
Prompts to Encourage Decoding
- “Let’s look at the letters and read the sounds, one at a time.”
- “What’s the first sound in this word?”
- “Now, let’s look at the middle sound.
- “What is the last sound in the word?”
- “Touch each letter and say the sound as you go.”
- “Let’s stretch out the sounds and then blend them together.”
Prompts for Syllable Identification
- “Let’s break this word into parts (syllables).”
- “Let’s count the syllables in this word.”
- “Read each syllable separately and then put them together.”
- “Does this syllable follow a pattern you know?”
Prompts for Applying Spelling Patterns & Rules
- “What vowel sound do you hear? What letters could make that sound?”
- “Do you see a vowel team or silent-e that changes the vowel sound?”
- “What do you know about words that end with this pattern?”
- “Does the word follow a rule you’ve learned?”
Prompts for Word Recognition & Analysis
- “Let’s check every letter. Are you sure you read all the sounds?”
- “Does this word have a base word or prefix/suffix you know?”
- “Let’s read the tricky part slowly.”
- “Do you see a chunk or part of the word you already know?”
- “Now, let’s read it again to make sure it sounds right.”
Prompts for Encouraging Self-Monitoring
- “Did you check all the sounds?”
- “Try that again, looking at all the letters.”
- “Does that sound like a real word?”
- “Did your sounds match the letters?”
- “Let’s double-check that word. Try again.”
Prompts for Fluency & Meaning
- “Now that you’ve read all the sounds, blend them smoothly.”
- “Let’s read it again, but more smoothly this time.”
- “Does it sound like a word you know?”
Encouraging Visual-Phonological Connection
- “Let’s match each sound to the letter or letters.”
- “What spelling pattern do you see?”
- “Check the letters. Make sure your sounds match the letters.”
Praise and Encouragement
- “Nice job sounding that out!”
- “I love how you checked every sound.”
- “Great job noticing that tricky part!”
- “You’re using your skills like a pro!”
- “I like the way you stopped and worked on that word.”
Conclusion
Using Structured Literacy prompts helps children build confidence, accuracy, and fluency in their reading. As you encourage your child to decode instead of guessing, you are reinforcing essential skills and strategies that will benefit them for a lifetime.
At Dyslexia Superstars, we believe in creating connection, love, and rapport between you and your child as you work together toward reading success. You have the power to make a profound difference, and I’m here to support you every step of the way.
Ready to take your child’s reading journey to the next level? At Dyslexia Superstars we provide expert intervention and personalized parent coaching to empower you and your child to achieve reading success. Schedule your free consultation with me today!
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