10 reasons your student needs more strategies beyond "sound it out"

The English language is a bit complex. Because of the many different origins of English words and the ever evolving nature of the language, students need more tricks-of-the-trade for decoding unknown words than the old mantra "sound it out."

Here's 10 reasons why:

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.

2. The farm was used to produce produce.

3. The soldier decided to desert the dessert in the
desert.

4. They were too close to the door to close it.

5. The buck does funny things when the does are present.

6. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

7. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

8. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

wordle

Many literacy educators are familiar with countless word games - and they're great. I'm sure I'll post about some of my favorites in the future. But I think a lot of us are unfamiliar with wordle. Its a fun website where you use text to create graphics.  All the words use (removing all words except for nouns and verbs) are sized according to the number of times each is used in the text.

Below is an example of a wordle created from the most important sentences of manifestos on the use of multicultural literature in the classroom created in my most recent grad class.