Multisensory Reading Strategies for Word Attack and Decoding Practice

This reading strategies resource was designed for teaching effective and explicit multisensory decoding, or word attack practice. It was created to work in direct correlation with the way the reading brain works when a new word is encountered, as well as the science of reading. 

Direct instruction using a systematic, structured literacy approach is highly recommended in order for these strategies to work well. This resource has been reviewed by a team of 7 highly trained educators using a structured literacy approach to reading intervention. 

Why teach reading strategies to help with decoding? 

Let's take the guessing game out of reading!

When students are taught explicitly how to look critically at an unknown word to decode it, we are providing the necessary tools to read effectively with any text. The strategies taught here will serve them well into adulthood, long after the pictures go away and the text complexity increases. The emphasis is on using a multisensory approach by building and strengthening the sound/symbol correspondence, instead of simply guessing at words in context. 

What about looking at the picture, you might ask?

Pictures are fine for comprehension, especially for nonfiction text. But, when we are working with growing readers, we want their eyes directly on the text when they are stuck on a word. They can use the pictures for comprehension purposes, but the strategies outlined in this resource do not encourage picture cues for decoding unknown words. It removes the heavy reliance on strategies that take their eyes away from the text when a growing reader is stuck.

Teaching Tips:

•Model each strategy carefully by using think alouds during a shared reading time. 

•Even though the strategies are numbered, do not feel like you have to go in that order OR have to use all of them every single time. Every child is different. Some may need to use one strategy more than another. 

I included materials for older and younger students. The younger students might like the animals as fun reminders! 

These are the animals listed below. You do not need to use the animals in the resource if you do not want to. 

• Find-It Flamingo
• Talking Toucan
• Looking Lion
• Break-It Bear

•Laminate and display the strategies. Send the bookmarks home and discuss how to use them with families. Use the bookmarks during small group reading or independent reading time. 

•To EXTEND and solidify learning, I recommend integrating the Spelling Strategies binder. GO HERE to preview this resource.

PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE PREVIEW TO SEE SOME OF THE PAGES IN THIS RESOURCE. Thank you!

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The Literacy Nest, LLC creates multisensory activities to use with reading intervention for struggling readers. Many of these dyslexia resources can be used as dyslexia activities, dyslexia strategies, or to support an Orton-Gillingham program or dyslexia intervention program. These Orton-Gillingham activities can be used in 1:1 support, small group or even whole class. Thank for you for checking my store for Orton-Gillingham based resources. 

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