Context Clue Detective Reading

A book slightly above independent reading level

Pencil for underlining and notes

Dictionary for checking guesses

Choose a passage with some unfamiliar vocabulary.

Read aloud together. Stop at unfamiliar words.

Underline the word. Ask: "What do you think it means?"

Look at context: surrounding sentences, tone, examples.

Teach four clue types: definition, example, contrast, inference.

Make a guess. Write it down.

Check the real definition. How close?

Practice with 5-6 words per passage.

Context clue reading is the single most important vocabulary strategy because it's what readers do independently, all the time, forever. A child who can figure out words from context will learn exponentially more vocabulary than one who always reaches for a dictionary.

The four clue types give your child a toolkit: "Is there a definition? No. An example? No. A contrast? No. Can I infer from the situation? Yes!" Systematic approaches reduce the frustration of encountering unknown words.

Celebrate close guesses as much as exact matches. Getting "reluctant" from context clues as "not wanting to" is close enough — and shows the skill is working.

Use this regularly. Even 5 minutes of context clue practice per reading session builds the habit. Eventually, your child will do this automatically.

This strategy is the key to reading increasingly challenging material. It's how readers level up.