Reading longer words
English · Early Years · The School
Same skill, more sounds
Blending three sounds and blending five sounds is the SAME skill. You are not learning something new. You are just doing the same thing a few more times. s-t-a-n-d becomes "stand". Five sounds, one push together. Do not rush a long word. Take it sound by sound, exactly like a short one.
Two small words joined
Some long words are really two small words stuck together. SUN and SET make SUNSET. BATH and TUB make BATHTUB. COB and WEB make COBWEB. Look for the two small words hiding inside. If you find them, you already know most of the word. Try it the other way too. Can you think of two small words you could join to make a new one?
Clap it, then blend it
A long word can be broken into syllables first. Clap "rabbit": rab-bit, two claps. Now blend each part on its own: r-a-b, then b-i-t. Join the two parts: rabbit. Clapping first makes a long word feel much smaller. Try clapping your own name. However many claps it takes, you can blend it the same way, one part at a time.
COBWEB: find COB and WEB inside it. Two small words, joined. MUFFIN: clap it first, muf-fin, two claps. Blend each part: m-u-f, then f-i-n. Join them: muffin. SUNSET: find SUN and SET inside it. Every long word breaks down into pieces you already know how to read.