WBES Literacy Letter
from the Reading Coach
Read-At-Home Plan April 2023
Recognizing Misread Words and Correcting Errors
Experienced readers know when what they are reading does not make sense because they have misread a word. Once they realize that they have misread a word, experienced readers can correct their mistake. Beginning readers don’t always notice when they misread a word because they don’t always pay attention to what they are reading. So it is important to show your children how to recognize misread words when they read. A reader should think about what he or she is reading and decide whether it makes sense or not, that is, self-monitor. We also need to show children how to self-correct when they misread a word. Improving the ability to self-monitor and self-correct will help children understand what they read and become better readers.
Does That Make Sense?
Families can help children monitor what they read and make corrections when
they misread words. As you read to your child, you can provide examples of how to recognize
when words are misread by “thinking out loud.” You can say things like, “That didn’t make
sense. I’m going to read that sentence again.” When your child reads to you and misreads
a word, ask your child to stop and see if he or she can correct the error. If not, reread the
sentence with the misread word exactly as your child read it and ask, “Did that make sense?” If
your child does not self-correct, read the word and have him or her reread it. Then have your
child read the sentence correctly.
A First Grade Teacher’s Guide to SUPPORTING FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN
FOUNDATIONAL READING SKILLS
Developed by
Marcia Kosanovich, Ph.D.
Laurie Lee, M.S.
Barbara Foorman, Ph.D.