What should I say besides sound it out?

Your student brings home a book that they spent a little time practicing at school, or maybe it's a book they've never read. They come up to that word and say I don't get it! You eagerly tell them, "sound it out!" You can encourage that, but keep in mind that not all words can be sounded out.  

Your child might pick up clues about a word from the picture, other words in the sentence, or any rhyming patterns. 

Whether your child is a beginning reader, a reluctant reader, or an eager reader, there are encouraging words that you can say to be "a coach!"

Check out this poster below, courtesy of http://it.pinellas.k12.fl.us/Teachers3/gurianb/bookmarks.html for encouraging things you can say to your student to help them figure out an unknown word!

You can also say encouraging things like, "What would make sense there?" or "You said this word______. Let's say that word slow, and run our ringer under it and see if it matches."

Most of all, remember to praise the efforts and keep the reading fun. Simply sharing the enjoyment of reading together will increase your child's confidence and reading skills and help to start you child off for a lifetime of reading enjoyment!