Teaching reluctant readers word decoding gives students a tool or reading strategy; it increases reading fluency; and more importantly it builds their confidence. Decoding helps train the eye to see an unfamiliar word as a series of small words or sound units.
eg., uncandid = un - can - did; midwinter = mid - win - ter

Why is this important?

• It removes the mystery or fear factor from the act of reading.
• It provides the student with a simple tool that they can use to deal with unknown words.
• It trains the brain to break the word into sound units.
• It's fun to look for the little words and to use highlighters to mark them.
• It stops the student from reading a word one letter at a time.

Decoding is a great tool to give a struggling student and an excellent method of increasing fluency in other students at any reading level.

Together we can Teach All Kids to read,
Linda.

See our Teaching Resources for Decoding Words for worksheets.