Phonics and word sounds
Phonics connects letters to the sounds they make. When you know the sounds, you can read words you have never seen before.
Short vowels
a as in cat, e as in bed, i as in sit, o as in hot, u as in cup.
Long vowels
A silent e makes a vowel say its name: cap → cape, kit → kite, hop → hope.
Blends and digraphs
Blends keep both sounds (stop, blue). Digraphs make one new sound (ship, chair, thin).
Try it: sound out these words
ship, flag, brave, chain, stone, thumb. Say each sound slowly, then blend them together.
Building vocabulary
A strong vocabulary helps you understand what you read and say what you mean. Use these three tools when you meet a new word.
1. Look at the context
Read the sentences around the word. "The enormous elephant shook the ground" tells you the word means very big.
2. Break the word into parts
| Part | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| un- | not | unhappy |
| re- | again | rewrite |
| -ful | full of | joyful |
| -less | without | fearless |
| pre- | before | preview |
3. Look it up
Check a dictionary, then use the word in your own sentence within a day. Words you use are words you keep.
Reading stories
Every story has the same building blocks. Finding them helps you understand and remember what happened.
| Element | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Characters | Who is in the story? |
| Setting | Where and when does it happen? |
| Problem | What goes wrong or needs solving? |
| Events | What happens in order? |
| Solution | How is the problem fixed? |
| Theme | What lesson does the story teach? |
Practice passage
Maya's kite got stuck in the tall oak tree behind the school. She tried jumping, but she could not reach it. Then she noticed the custodian, Mr. Ortiz, raking leaves nearby. She asked for help, and together they used his long rake to tug the string free. Maya learned that asking for help can be the smartest way to solve a problem.
Reading nonfiction
Nonfiction gives facts. Look for these features before you read:
- Title and headings tell you the topic and how the text is organized.
- Captions and photos add details the paragraph may not say.
- Bold words are important vocabulary, often defined nearby.
- Glossary and index help you find meanings and pages fast.
Text structures
Tells about a topic with details.
First, next, then, finally.
Alike, different, however.
Because, so, as a result.
Describes an issue and fixes.
Main idea and details
The main idea is the most important point of a text. Details are the facts that support it. Think of the main idea as the roof of a house and the details as the walls holding it up.
Example
Main idea: Honeybees work together to run their hive. Details: workers gather nectar, nurse bees feed the young, guard bees protect the entrance, and the queen lays eggs.
Summarizing in 3 steps
- Find the main idea in one sentence.
- Keep only the most important details.
- Use your own words, and keep it short.
Making inferences
An inference is a smart guess based on clues in the text plus what you already know. Authors do not always tell you everything directly.
Sam zipped his coat, pulled on his gloves, and watched his breath turn to fog.
Inference: It is cold outside. Clues: coat, gloves, visible breath.
Reading fluency
Fluent readers read smoothly, with expression and at a good pace. To grow your fluency:
- Reread favorite passages three times. Each time should feel smoother.
- Pay attention to punctuation: pause at commas, stop at periods, raise your voice for question marks.
- Read aloud to a family member or a pet.
- Read at least 20 minutes every day.