Activity B

Reading process

The next few activities allow tutors to look more closely at the process we use when we read.

Use of overheads, discussion

Materials and equipment

Overhead 6.3: Letter Cues
Overhead 6.4: Nonsense Words
Overhead 6.5: Scrambled Letters
Overhead projector, screen

Preparation

Prepare overheads.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

  1. Put up the overhead Letter Cues and see if tutors can fill in the blanks to read the sentence. Discuss the following conclusions:
    • Our knowledge of word recognition helps us fill in the missing letters.
    • It is easier to read when the vowels are missing than it is to read when the consonants are missing.
  2. Put up the overhead Nonsense Words and ask tutors to pronounce them correctly. Discuss the following conclusion:
    • We use our knowledge of phonics and phonemic awareness to decode unfamiliar words.
  3. Put up the overhead Scrambled Letters and ask tutors to read it. They will be surprised at how easy it is to read.

Activity C

Making sense of what we read

This further expands on the process of reading. The activity shows that even when we can read the words themselves easily enough, the key to fluent reading is comprehension.

Use of overhead, discussion

Materials and equipment

Overhead 6.6: The Procedure
Overhead projector, screen

Preparation

Prepare overhead.