What Can Teachers Do To Encourage Struggling Readers

Try this! Syllable Games For Beginner Readers 

What Is A Syllable?

Within a spoken word, a syllable is a single, unbroken vowel sound. They usually have a vowel or two if one is silent, as well as one or more consonants.

Why Are Syllables Important?

Phonological awareness includes syllable awareness as one of its components. Students learn to recognize the phonemes that make up words and to investigate speech sounds as syllables. A crucial notion for kids to grasp is that words are broken into syllables or word parts. Children advance from reading and writing single-syllable words (often with consonant-vowel-consonant constructions) to reading and writing multisyllabic words as their literacy understanding develops.

Decoding is sped up by breaking words down into sections, or "chunks." Students can read words more accurately and fluently if they understand the rules for syllable division. Students can learn to spell words correctly by understanding syllables.

Students with strong phonological skills are more likely to succeed in learning to read. These abilities are essential for learning about the language and laying the groundwork for understanding the sound-print connection.

Understanding words in a sentence comes first, followed by recognizing and producing rhymes, and finally recognizing and manipulating syllables. Compound words are ideal for syllable segmentation activities.

How To Practise Syllables?

Choose terms that the kids are familiar with when introducing the notion of syllables, and have them clap for each word portion or syllable in the word. Inquire how many times they clapped and how many syllables or word pieces the word has.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! 

Provide a list of words that the students are already familiar with and have them clap for each syllable. This can be done together at first until they grasp the concept and can attempt some words independently. 

JUMP! JUMP! JUMP! 

Provide a list of words that the students are already familiar with and have them jump for each syllable. This can be done together at first until they grasp the concept and can attempt some words independently. 

DRUM! DRUM! DRUM! 

Students can practise ‘drumming’ each syllable in the given words. If a tambourine or drum isn’t available, students can use their desks as drums. 

In all aforementioned activities, students can engage in an activity while learning. Children of all ages benefit from hands-on learning in practical learning situations. Students learn better when they are actively involved in their learning process, according to research.

At The Caribbean Academy for Reading Intervention and Development, we offer an Individual Reading Assistance Program that assists struggling readers to build skills in: 

• Sight words and high-frequency words 

• Sounds recognition 

• Reading comprehension 

• Letter and word recognition 

• Phonics and phonemic awareness 

Our Reading Assistance Programme is designed to teach the foundational skills of reading to children with significant academic challenges, empowering them to achieve grade-level proficiency. Our dedicated tutors help struggling readers understand the basic mechanics of reading and help them develop critical reading skills that will help them develop a lifelong love of reading. 

Target Audience: Struggling readers between the ages of 5 years to 10 years. 

Persons interested in our Individual Reading Assistance Program can contact us at 1-868-474-9819. 

Chrystal Murray 

Reading Interventionist 

1-868-474-9819

Chrystal Murray has a passion for imparting knowledge and adding value to the lives of others.

She has been an educator for over 14 years. She holds a B.A. Degree in History and Education

from the University of the West Indies (UWI). She also possesses several professional certificates in Understanding Dyslexia, Successful Educational Strategies for Children with Special Needs, and Supporting Multiple Abilities through Differentiation just to name a few. She is also certified in Counselling Youth and Children and Parenting the Adolescent. Chrystal is the Founder and Principal of two academic institutions, the Caribbean Ivy League Academy and the Caribbean Academy for Reading Intervention and Development. She founded the

Caribbean Academy for Reading Intervention and Development where she works assiduously

with children who have reading challenges. She also uses this platform to motivate, inspire and

help build confidence in the children who are in her care.