Focus Skill: Decode Long Words

Follow these steps when you decode a long word.

1.  Look for word parts you know at the beginning or ending.  Cover them.

2.  Find the root word. Look for letter patterns you know.

3.  Sound out the root word.  If it has more than one syllable, look of the syllables and divide the word.

4.  Uncover the other word parts.  Blend all the letters and sounds to read the whole word.

5.  Make sure the word makes sense and sounds right in the sentence.

Now try your new skills with this paragraph.

        Rosie was wild and untrained as a puppy.  She wouldn't come, stay or sit, and at times she was uncontrollable.  She was a friendly pup, though.  She was a good listener, too.  These traits made her owner think that Rosie would make a good visiting dog someday.