Chapter 9 - When Kids Can't Read

"Suggestion #3: Teach Word Parts. Teaching some words directly via word lists and teaching students how to find the meaning of other words indirectly via the context are both important. However, we can't directly teach the meaning of all words, and sometimes the context just leaves students clueless; therefore, we must also help readers increase their word knowledge by teaching them how words work." Page 188

I am working with a student on this very thing in my field placement. I am reading a novel with her that was written in 1959 and it is full of words we don't use very much in everyday talk anymore. I ask her what she thinks the words mean based on the context and sometimes she gets it right and sometimes she doesn't. Also, she struggles with word solving, so I have taught her some strategies to help her learn how different clusters of words fit together to make a word.