Teaching-decoding-step-5

Many tutors have identified that learners need additional help to progress with their decoding skills. Below are further specialised activities that follow the steps in the Read with Understanding progression. Some have been adapted from material available at: http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/sflcurriculum

Learners at the 5th step of the Decoding progression

Sight words and decoding

• Read an advertisement for a service in a directory: decode some unfamiliar words then decide which company to choose (for example, for car accident insurance repairs).
• In pairs, read short texts from daily life or dense material (for example, Yellow Pages, appliance instructions) that have been photocopied. Read the text once for general sense, circling any unfamiliar words. Read again and draw a line from each circled word out to the margin; copy out the word in large print in the margin. Discuss everything that can be worked out about the word, annotating it to demonstrate points, for example, underline familiar parts, divide into root and suffix/prefix or compound parts, underline a plural or verb ending. Re-read the word in the context of its sentence or position. Decide on the most likely meaning, using a dictionary to help if needed.

Useful sites for word lists:
http://english-zone.com/reading/dolch.html
http://www.literacyconnections.com/Dolch1.php