Use a Word You Know

'U Jho-iA- this-fa k ? Strategy You can use a word you know to help you read a word you’re having
trouble with. Look for a part of the word that’s the same as a part in a word you know.
Notice what’s different. Try to read the word.
LEVEL
any
LeSSOn Language You may find that there is a part in the word you’re trying to
read that’s just like a word you know. Sometimes this part is at the beginning, sometimes
in the middle, sometimes at the end. For example, if I ’m trying to read the word grown
I might notice that the gr is the beginning of another word I know how to read: green.
And then I may notice that ow is just like in the word slow. And I know “n: ” /n/. Next,
GENRE/TEXTTYPE I can think about what is going on in the story. I can think about what kind of word
any would fit there. Then, I can put together the sounds I know, /gr/-/ow/-/n A and see if its
a word I recognize that would make sense in the context. The text says, “I’m all grown
up." Grown makes sense and it matches the letters I see, too!

SKILL
Prompts
decoding • (N o n v e rb a l: ta p th e w o r d to in d ic a te th ere w a s a m isc u e .)
• What can you try?
• Is there a part of that word you’ve seen in other words?
• What part do you know?
• You know that part, it’s just like in the word
• What parts do you recognize?
• Read the part you know.
• What part looks tricky? Think of
another word
you can read that has that part.
• I see a part you know.
Use a Word
• You know the word____. (S a y a w o rd
th a t h a s th e s a m e p a r t.) Does that help? '(oil know
• Let me write another word for you.
( W rite a w o rd w ith th e s a m e p a r t o n
w h iteb o a rd .)
Do you know this word? What part is
like the part you’re reading?
• Let me show you a word that will help.
( W rite a w o rd w ith th e s a m e p a r t on
ay
w h ite b o a rd a n d u n d e r lin e th e sim ila r
p a r t.) Read this word. Now read the
word in your book.
ay
f t
Hat Tip: "A Compare/
Contrast Theory
of Mediated Word
ay
Identification"
(Cunningham 1979) clay
82 THE READING STRATEGIES BOOK