Word Reading and Decoding

Word Reading and Decoding are among the key skills that children need to develop before they can read fluently and comprehend what they are reading. By the end of Grade 3, children should be able to read familiar words and sound out unfamiliar words. This includes, for example, reading sight words, reading common words, and understanding the meaning of the words they are reading. Can your child:

• Read sight words? (e.g., non-decodable words like “the”, “was”, “of”)

• Read common words? (e.g., decodable words like “in”, “we”, “no”)

• Sound out unfamiliar words?

• Understand the meaning of the word they are reading?

Weaknesses in Word Reading and Decoding may lead to difficulties in developing more advanced reading skills such as reading fluency and reading comprehension. Without a solid foundation of Word Reading and Decoding skills children may encounter frustrating challenges when they try to read familiar words, decode unfamiliar words, and understand what each word means. The term "Dyslexia" is commonly used to refer to weakness in word reading and decoding.