Tips for Multisyllabic Decodable Passage Practice
There are numerous benefits of using decodable text in our Orton Gillingham lessons. Perhaps the most important is to build a habit of using decoding skills and discourage habitual guessing. Decodable text limits the number of words where their decoding skills aren’t yet adequate. When students can use their emerging skills to successfully read the text, their success will encourage them to repeat that successful behavior and use their decoding strategies. Enter multisyllabic decodable passage practice!

How do I know when my students are ready for multisyllabic practice?
Introducing multisyllabic practice depends a lot on the individual student and their pattern of knowledge. Sometimes older students have such an extensive sight word vocabulary that they appear to read closed syllables with ease and yet show struggles with short vowel sounds in their encoding. For these students, I like to introduce multisyllabic words early on, once they have learned closed syllables. I may start by having students read nonsense words that are real syllables such as tic or con. By teaching a syllable division pattern and using multisyllabic words, students have an opportunity to practice the decoding skills they need in the setting in which they need the most support.
For younger students, or those who have not yet built automaticity, the decision can be very individualized. When progress has been slow, sometimes sticking with closed syllables makes sense. I find if they can efficiently decode closed syllables with blends and digraphs, even if they need to decode each word, but aren’t yet ready to introduce a new syllable type, they are usually ready for the next step with closed syllables and then introduce syllable division. For the more typical student learning path, I like them to have become comfortable with differentiating closed and vowel-consonant-e syllables. This is a logical time to introduce this next step and open new doors to brand new words.
Check out my blog posts for how I teach the steps of syllable division and grab your free, printable Orton-Gillingham syllable division poster!
Tips for Introducing Multisyllabic Decodable Passage Practice:
- Start with simpler multisyllabic decodable passages that use only closed syllables. Be sure to incorporate multisyllabic words into your review word lists once introduced.
- Increase exposure to other syllable types in multisyllabic words and syllable division patterns after they have been introduced. Include these words in your word lists and sentences. Incorporate these more complex words in reading passages.
- Get ready to read the multisyllabic passage with prereading practice:
- Word reading practice – Choose a few words that may be new vocabulary or that utilize the new skill being taught to practice on a grid. Use the Word List Builder to easily input the words from the passage and print them out on a grid for word reading. When students read the passage, they will not be seeing or decoding those words for the very first time.
- Phrasal and sentence reading practice – Choose a few phrases and sentences from the reading passage that will help to develop fluent reading. Consider complex sentence types such as compound sentences with conjunctions. Use sentences with different types of punctuation to encourage reading with expression. Use the Word List Builder app to easily input phrases and sentences from the passage and print them out in a grid for practice.
- Check for understanding with both written and oral comprehension checks.
- Oral questioning can ask quick comprehension questions. Students can answer orally, or can easily locate and highlight answers in the text.
- Written comprehension checks give students practice in crafting written responses in a concise way that follows grammar and syntax rules. Students can practice recycling the question to construct their answer.
Final tip: It is important to provide additional practice with the passage. Reread it for fluency practice during subsequent lessons or send it home with students for additional practice.
Multisyllabic Decodable Passage Practice
The use of multisyllabic decodable passages can enrich your teaching and extend student learning. Check out these resources in The Literacy Nest store for multisyllabic passages that include phrase and sentence practice and comprehension questions!
- Decodable Passages for Closed Syllables Multisyllabic Words with Comprehension
- Decodable Passages for Syllable Division Multisyllabic Words with Comprehension
Are you looking for a list of words to use in your Orton-Gillingham lessons? Word List Builder has got you covered!
Save time searching for words to use in your lessons! Create customized and meaningful review, build your folder of words, create templates and games, and much more in Word List Builder.
