Help kids figure out new words

                                                                    

Years ago, I shared a detailed lesson on how children can figure out unfamiliar words. That resource is no longer available, so let me briefly explain the approach I use with my students.

 

Not every word can be learned this way, but the method is powerful for teaching children how to logically decode many new words they encounter. It’s not about guessing — it’s about reasoning.

Family word 'an'

 Here is another example (final example) on how to prepare a book that can be easily learned by a disengaged kid. It has worked will all my students who learn to read within a few months.    

Family words

On 15.3.2016 I had written about how you can write your own book for your disengaged child.
I gave you an example of how to write using the family word 'at' as in bat, cat, fat etc.

You may get a list of family words from the following free site and write your book as I have explained.

Please ask any questions you may have in the comment section below to clear your doubts.

Get the family words from this site.

I started with 'at' and then moved onto 'an', 'ot' and so on.

Disengaged students - A comment from a friend

My friend and former boss Mr. Kandiah Namas had commented in my post yesterday. I have copied it below for your reading pleasure.

We have to ask ourselves as to why there are no disengaged students in the Tamil language. The simple answer is that, like my friend has put it, no two persons in the world will pronounce a word differently from another if he has been taught the Tamil alphabets properly.

A book with the first family words

Let your imagination run wild and think of all the phrases/ sentences you can make with the family words and with the sight words you have introduced to your child.

Look for a list of sight words as introduced by Edward Dolch in the 1930's. You may find them here or/and here.

You may write the words Dolch words in your search button and see if you prefer other web sites.

Write your own book

I had written books with family words accompanied with pictures I got a village girl to draw. These were all posted in this blog hosted by 'File Den'. Unfortunately 'File Den' closed shop without notice and I lost all my books.

You may, however, prepare your own books similar to the ones I prepared using family words which are very easy for kids to learn.

My latest student

On the 9th March 2016 the mother of one of my former student pleaded with me to teach her daughter who is in primary one this year. She said her daughter too, like her brother, cannot read at grade level. (See note below)

On 11.3.2016 Mary (not her real name) started tuition with me. Her spoken English is as good as most primary 3 kids.