While reading Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott, I came across a quote that I really like, “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird” (p. 19). I couldn’t help but to think of the first graders I’m working with. They are learning the different strategies they can utilize when they don’t know how to read a word. The strategies are shown on the image below. During our English reading time (this is a dual language class), the kids were to read their books and use these strategies if they came across a difficult word. Several students proudly raised their hands to show me how they figured out hard words. I remember one student in particular. She learned how to read the word ‘village’ by using the strategies. She was hoping to use a picture to help her, but there wasn’t a picture of a village on the page. She decided to break the word into chunks. The sounds she was coming up with were vi-lla-gay. She told me she knew that wasn’t right because it didn’t sound right (self-correct). So, she covered the ‘e’ in the end of ‘village’, and sounded the ‘g’ the way it sounds when you name the letter (she went back and re-read). Bingo! She read the word ‘village’ and immediately recognized it so she knew she was able to figure out the word. Her face lit up as she was telling me the process she went through. I remember telling her, “Great job! You see, if you take on hard words little by little, your reading will get better and better!” I really believe this is true. I can imagine how frustrating it must be at times to come across words and not be able to read them. Learning how to read is one of the most difficult yet important things a child will learn how to do. I strongly believe if kids are given the right tools and taught the proper strategies, they can take it ‘a-word-at-a-time’ or ‘bird by bird’ and figure out all the difficult words that come their way.
Children can follow these strategies when they come across a difficult word!
