How can teachers help students better decode difficult words during reading sessions?

Teaching phonemic awareness strategies is effective in helping students decode difficult words because it provides them with foundational skills necessary for sound recognition and manipulation. Phonemic awareness involves understanding that words are made up of individual sounds, or phonemes, and being able to identify, blend, segment, and manipulate these sounds. This understanding directly supports students in decoding unfamiliar words by equipping them with the tools to break down words into their constituent sounds, which enhances their ability to sound out words independently.

Incorporating phonemic awareness exercises, such as rhyming, sound matching, and blending sounds into words, can significantly bolster a student’s reading abilities. These strategies build confidence and competence, allowing students to tackle challenging words more effectively during reading sessions.

While regularly introducing new vocabulary and providing sight word lists can contribute to students’ reading development, they primarily focus on recognition rather than the mechanics of decoding. Allowing students to skip difficult words may provide temporary relief but does not foster the skills they need for long-term reading success. Therefore, teaching phonemic awareness is crucial for equipping students with the tools they need to decode words they encounter independently.