by Karina Richland | Jun 25, 2026 | Decoding
A final silent e at the end of a word changes the short vowel sound into a long one. This small letter does not make a sound, but it tells the reader exactly how to say the word. The silent e rule is a spelling pattern where a final e is not said but tells the reader...
by Karina Richland | Jun 14, 2026 | Decoding
When a child reads a word, the child turns print into speech. When a child spells a word, the child turns speech into print. That simple contrast is the heart of decoding vs encoding. These skills move in opposite directions, but they rely on the same knowledge of...
by Karina Richland | May 13, 2026 | Decoding, phonics
Closed Syllable Examples and How to Teach Them Closed syllable examples help children see why a vowel usually makes its short sound in words like cat, bed, sit, hop, and sun. When a vowel is followed by one or more consonants in the same syllable, the consonant closes...
by Karina Richland | May 2, 2026 | Decoding, Orton-Gillingham, phonics, Reading, Structured Literacy
When students hit a long, unfamiliar word, they often freeze. They might guess, skip it, or shut down altogether. Syllable division rules give readers a strategy for breaking those big words into smaller, manageable parts so they can sound them out with confidence....
by Karina Richland | Apr 26, 2026 | Decoding
When students come across a long word they have never seen before, they often freeze. They might guess, skip the word, or shut down completely. Syllable division rules give students a reliable strategy for breaking unfamiliar words into smaller, readable chunks....
by Karina Richland | Mar 20, 2025 | A PRIDE Post, Activities and Games, Decodable Books, Decoding, Language & Reading
Language comprehension, the ability to understand words, sentences, and stories is very important for little ones who are learning to read. When children can understand what they hear and read, it helps them become better readers, writers, and talkers! What is...
