These are helpful strategies that may be practiced at home!

1. Chunk the Word: "Chunking" (phonograms) help students break apart a word into word families. Here's an example: I see the word, "C-H-A-L-K ". Now, how can I figure out how to say that word? I'll try breaking it into chunks that I'm familiar with. What words look like "chalk"? Well, there's walk" and "talk", so maybe "chalk" rhymes with those words. I know that "ch" has it's own sound, so if I add it to the "alk" chunk, I get "chalk." That's it--"chalk.

2. Look at the Pictures: Look at the pictures for clues.

3. Stretch it Out: Stretch words out and put sounds together.

4. Skip it, Skip it: skip the word, read to the end, hop back and read it.

5. Try it Again: Try to reread, try a new word.

6. Get Your Lips Ready: Say first sounds, read and say it again.

7. Ask for Help: Ask for help after you've tried the other strategies.