Decoding a Brand-New Word

Use a step-by-step plan to read a word you have never seen.

When you meet a new word, use a plan instead of guessing. First, look for letter teams like sh, ch, th, or ck and circle them in your mind. Second, find the vowel and decide if it is short or long. Third, say each sound or chunk.

Fourth, blend it together. Last, ask: is that a real word, and does it make sense here? Try 'The crab sat on the rock. ' For 'crab': blend cr, short a, b. Crab! It makes sense, because crabs live by rocks.

• 1Spot letter teams first.
• 2Find the vowel: short or long?
• 3Blend, then check that it makes sense.