Have you ever tried to help your child with their homework, only to realise that you have zero idea what half the words on the page mean?
You’re not alone! With so many new words and concepts in the Australian Curriculum, it can be hard to know what’s what and that’s why we’re here!
It’s time to unravel the mystery of decoding and why it’s crucial for your child’s reading journey…
What does it mean to decode?
Decoding is about letter-sound relationships in the English language—the ability to sound out unfamiliar words by understanding the sounds each letter represents. Even silent letters play a part in this symphony of language. It’s the foundation that all learning stands on; if your child can decode, they can read and understand written words.
Why is decoding important?
Learning to decode words is important because it is the foundation on which all other reading instruction builds. If students cannot decode words, their reading will lack fluency, their vocabulary will be limited and their reading comprehension will suffer.
What does decoding look like?
An example of decoding is segmenting (breaking up) the sounds in the word DOG – /d/ + /o/ + /g/ and then blending (combining) the sounds to make the word ‘dog.’ This is also called sounding out words.
If your child sees the letters “m, a, t” and can instantly identify their sounds, that means they should be able to decode the word ‘mat.’ If they know the sounds but can’t blend them, that may indicate additional challenges.
For older students, decoding can also include identifying separate parts and the letter patterns of a word to determine the whole word. For example, students may find the familiar base word ‘sense’ in the word ‘sensation,’ and then recognise the last half of the word.
How can we practice this at home?
If your child has been asked to practice their decoding skills as part of their homework, or you have been told they need to improve this on a report card, try these activities:
Sound it out creatively:
- Talk in a silly voice, or like robots on the way to school. Say the word cat to your child, emphasising each sound using a robot voice (c-a-t). Then ask your child to try.
Play with rhyme:
- Rhyme along with daily activities. As you zip your child’s school bag, ask them to call out words that rhyme with “zip” (lip, flip, trip, sip).
Practice, practice, practice:
- As your child gets dressed, say, “How do you think you spell the word ‘pants’?” Encourage them to really sound the word out as they say each letter.
Decoding is all about knowing letter sounds, so practice identifying individual sounds as much as possible! And remember, if you need additional learning support, ThriveTutors is here for you.
Discover the possibilities with ThriveTutors – Australia’s teacher-only, online tutoring platform for Prep to Year 12 students. Contact us today to book your lesson, with prices starting from $55*!
