The Many Jobs of Silent ‘e’
One of the first phonics rules students learn in Kindergarten is the job of “silent e” or “magic e.” Most of us know or remember this rule as applying to words that end in a “vowel-consonant-e” pattern. The ‘e’ at the end of the word makes the vowel before it long (so ‘cap’ becomes ‘cape’ […]
Using Syllabication to Decode
Some students learn how to read somewhat effortlessly, with no need for explicit instruction or strategies. They just “get it.” But many don’t. And all too often, reading instruction in classrooms assumes students will learn to read largely on their own. There may be a smattering of phonics and/or decoding work here and there. But […]
What is Orthographic Mapping?
Are you a passionate educator? Join our team and become a Braintrust tutor today! Orthographic mapping is the process by which students learn to connect sounds in words that they already know to the spelling of those words in order to make them more instantly recognizable. Students begin to use orthographic mapping only after they […]
The Road to Reading Fluency
The road to reading fluency is a long one, and every step is crucial. That’s because each skill builds upon the one before it. That’s why it is so important to build strong foundational reading skills. Each step forward lays the groundwork for the success that is sure to follow! As the saying goes, “first […]
What is Morphological Awareness?
Are you a passionate educator? Do you love helping kids develop morphological awareness? Join our team and become a Braintrust tutor today! Morphological awareness is one of many skills that help students learn how to read and write. A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in language. The words “like” and “a” are both […]
Components of the Reading Rope: Decoding
Decoding is at the heart of reading. While far from the only necessary skill, it is the skill without which all other reading skills are virtually useless. Decoding simply refers to the process of determining how to say a word based on its sounds. This used to be widely referred to as “sounding it out.” […]
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