I would like to take a few moments to share an important strategy called chunking that will enable your child to become a better reader and writer.
What is chunking?
In school, we are working on chunking,, a strategy used to figure out unknown words in reading and writing. Our students learn to chunk words into parts and think about other words they know to aid the reading/writing process. For example, when trying to read excitement, students could chunk the word into ex, cite and ment, and use words they know like Rex, bite and tent to figure out unknown chucks.
�They may think, �If I know Rex, this is ex, if I know bite, this is cite, If I know tent, this is ment. The word is excitement.� The strategy works the same in writing. For example, students may write the word sticker by listening for the chunks and using words they know like lick and her. They may think �If I know lick, l-i-c-k, then stick must be s-t-i-c-k. And if I know her, h-e-r, then er must be e-r. That�s how to spell sticker.�
How you can help at home:
The first step in helping your child become a better reader and writer is to read with him/her at
home daily. Set up a literacy rich environment by having books, magazines, and other reading
materials in many places throughout the home. Ask your child to write with you as you fill out grocery lists, write letters or pay bills.
When your child reads aloud and comes to a word he/she does not know:
( Give him/her time to come up with the word rather than supplying the word right away.
( Ask him/her to look at the beginning letter of the word and think of what would makesense to him/her.
( Ask them to look for the chunks in the unknown word.
( Cover part of the word to focus attention on one chunk at a time.
( Give them a word with the appropriate chunk(s).
For example, if your child is stuck on hamster, you might say, �You know the word
Sam, does that help with the first chunk.�
When your child reads the wrong word:
( Give him/her time to correct the mistake on his/her own.
( Ask, �Does that make sense.,�
( Ask, �Does that sound right?�
( Ask, �what letter does it start with, what chunk does it have?�
To spell an unknown word:
( Ask your child to listen for the sound and put down letters for the sounds he/she hears.
( Ask your child to listen for the chunks in the word, and use words he/she knows with
the same chunks.
( Supply your child with a word(s) that have appropriate chunks.
Thanks for you support!
Together we can make better readers and writers!
