Here are the steps of a word identification strategy you can
use. Each step tells one thing you should do when you come to a word you cannot
identify. Continue to follow the steps until you have identified the word.
1. LOOK AGAIN at the word. As
you look at the word again, say each letter in the word. This will get you to
look more carefully at the word. Often, when you look at a word a second or
third time, you will identify the word as
a word you know.
2. READ THE SENTENCE
containing the word to see if you can determine what the word means by how it
is used in the sentence. Sometimes, knowing the meaning of a word will help
you identify the word.
3. LOOK FOR A PREFIX at the
beginning of the word. A prefix is a word part that is attached to the
beginning of a word. Here are some examples of words with the prefix
underlined: prepaid, unheard, rerun.
4. LOOK FOR A SUFFIX at the
end of the word. A suffix is a word part that is attached to the end of a
word. Here are some examples of words with the suffix underlined: lovely,
tallest, spelling.
5.
LOOK FOR THE STEM. The stem is what remains after the removal of a
prefix and/or suffix. If there is no prefix or suffix, then the whole word is
the stem. Here are some examples of words with the stem underlined: prepaid,
lovely, misspelling).
6. BLEND AND SAY THE WORD.
Blend together the prefix if there is one, the stem, and the suffix if there
is one to say the entire word. For example: un+help+ful = unhelpful.
7. USE A DICTIONARY to help identify
the word. Look in the dictionary for the word and its phonetic
respelling. The phonetic respelling shows the most common pronunciation of the
word. Use the phonetic respelling to help you pronounce the word. Also, look
at the definitions provided for the word. Select the definition that best fits
the meaning of the word as used in the sentence. Knowing the pronunciation of
the word and its meaning should allow you to identify the word.
8. ASK SOMEONE for help identifying
the word. If you have reached this step and still cannot identify the
word, ask your teacher, parent, or another student to help you identify and
say the word.
Use this word identification strategy whenever needed in your
reading. You cannot understand what you read unless you can identify most or all
of the words.