FUN DECODING ACTIVITIES

 

Decoding, which entails segmenting and merging sounds together, is an essential skill for learning to read. In order to correctly recognise written words and decode their meaning, it takes both knowledge of letter-sound correlations and the capacity to use that knowledge.

Strong decoding abilities enable a student to read both known and unknown words with ease as they learn the sound-letter connection. 

It requires practice to become excellent at decoding! With the activities mentioned below and by providing reinforcement along the way as the student's reading confidence grows,  your child's phonics and decoding skills can improve. Here are some easy and affordable strategies to improve your child's decoding skills:

1. Bottle Cap Art 

This activity can be done using simple things found around the home - bottle caps! ‘

Items needed for this activity: 

• bottle caps 

•  markers 

• drawing pad 

•  pencil 

• crayons/colour pencils 

Using the markers, write different letters on various bottle caps. Use the bottle caps to form words appropriate to your child’s reading level and vocabulary. Have the child sound out each word, then take turns drawing and colouring the item or the action being done. 

If the letters chosen are ‘p’, ‘o’ and ‘t’. Once the child sounds out the word, they are given the opportunity to draw their interpretation of the word and even colour it! 

2. Flash Card Match 

For this activity you'll need various flashcards. Flashcards can be created at home using bristol board, paper or it can even be printed. The first set of flashcards should contain words that the reader is familiar with or learning. The second set of flashcards should have matching images for each word. 

In this game, the student randomly picks a flashcard and sounds out the word. Once they are able to read the word, their next task is to find the corresponding picture. This activity helps to improve their reading skills by encouraging them to segment and blend the letter sounds. It also allows them to express their understanding of that word by finding the matching picture. 

Crucial reading skills are developed all while having fun! 

Students are more eager to participate and engage in activities when teachers or parents use activities that make learning interesting and enjoyable. Students who are having fun while learning are more likely to remember what they are learning since the experience is enjoyable and memorable.

For struggling readers, reading is already a task they abhor. By making their learning experience a fun and enjoyable one, not only do they learn the needed skills for their grade level, but they are also able to develop an avid love of reading and see it as an enjoyable activity. 

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 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.

 

                                             

Chrystal Murray 

Reading Interventionist 

1-868-474-9819