How do I teach context clues? How do my students use context clues? If you teach reading, you’ve probably wondered these questions about how to teach context clues.
Simple Ways to Learn Context Clues
You know that decoding word sounds is one of the major obstacles to reading fluency. You also know that there is another major obstacle…using context clues to decoding word meanings.
Vocabulary is a killer in reading comprehension. It is also one of the largest factors in creating strong readers. However, it is not enough to teach words. We have to make it simple to master!
In this post, you will discover these effective context clues strategies:
- Questions that Scaffold Understanding of Context Clues
- Use Short, Above-Level Texts
- Practice Across Genres
- Read ample Informational Texts when learning context clues
- Use Task Cards to Scaffold Cognitive Resources
Let’s start with a quick lesson idea, then we’ll go into strategies and examples from different genres. Here’s a simple lesson idea from flocabulary.com on how to teach context clues.
How To Teach Context Clues, Lesson Ideas
- Step 1: Ask About Tough Words
Ask if any students know the meanings of the words “gaunt,” “aloof,” “forlorn,” and “commercial vehicle.” Likely, none will. Tell them that you are going to reveal a powerful detective technique that will sometimes allow them to figure out what these words mean, as well as others, without ever looking at a dictionary.
- Step 2: Provide Context
Give out examples of those words in sentences. Review the definition of context clues. More on that in this post.
- Step 3: Explain and Attempt
Explain that there are different types of context clues. Explain that students can use this tool in all of their reading. Explain that when the context-clue approach doesn’t work, students should either keep reading or look up the word in the dictionary. Work through examples with the class. Have students underline the part of the sentence that gives a clue, and then write out a definition. *Later in this post, I’ll share some context clues resources that are specifically designed for this type of practice.
Two Simple Strategies for Teaching Context Clues
Why teach context clues?
Word meanings can be constructed from the clues before, within, and after the sentence with the unknown word. There are also clues within the word.
The context surrounding an unknown word can help a student understand its structure, how it’s used, and ultimately its meaning. Struggling readers need us to explicitly teach these concepts. With clear instruction, they can draw upon multiple approaches to determine word meanings.
Reading Research Shows…
Research shows that students who struggle with reading need us to explicitly teach these skills. They can not simply be “discovered” through reading and reading more. This is the core idea behind the Science of Reading.
How to teach context clues?
Sound, evidence-based approaches such as direct instruction, spiral review, choice in reading materials, and varied interaction (including technology) with new words will help students learn to use context clues. There are several types of context clues that students must be able to identify:
- Synonyms & antonyms
- Descriptions
- Syntax (i.e. is the word a noun or a verb in this sentence?)
- Word parts (morphology)
Reading Research Shows…
According to the Council for Learning Disabilities, “Vocabulary knowledge is the single most important factor contributing to reading comprehension.”
Resources that Scaffold Context Clues
It’s not enough to teach context clues or to provide practice worksheets. Students need quality practice with resources that amount to more than a worksheet. Scavenger hunts (like this one for text features) and task cards are designed for student engagement.
Students also need practice with more support and intentional scaffolding (Read more about the effects of too little and too much Scaffolding) than just a book.
Make Context Clues Simple with Scaffolding
Scaffolding provides students with just enough support as they struggle through learning context clues. And yes, they should be allowed to struggle through it. The struggle is the mental processing that makes learning stick. But they shouldn’t struggle without scaffolding.
What is Scaffolding in Reading?
In reading instruction, scaffolding refers to a variety of instructional techniques used to move students progressively toward stronger understanding and, ultimately, greater independence in the reading process.
Use Questions that Scaffold Student Practice
The best scaffolding helps readers by asking text-dependent questions:
- Identifying synonyms in the context
- Identifying contrast in the context
- Understanding descriptions in the context
- Using grammar (i.e. this word is a verb, adjective, or a noun)
- Looking for examples in the context
- Break apart within-word context (i.e. base words, roots, affixes)
Use Short, But Challenging Texts
Short texts allow students to finish the reading process, apply their skills, and receive feedback. Context clues task cards that are written at a higher reading level than students’ independent ranges are perfect.
For 1st-2nd grade, students should be practicing with segmented texts at reading levels 3-5. A shared reading is the ideal instructional format because the teacher shares the decoding responsibility with the students, but they carry the responsibility of comprehension.
In grades 3-6, students should also be reading context clues task cards written at levels 5-8. Why? The texts bring the challenge, yet the segmenting and targeted questioning provide the scaffolding.
Informational Texts are Challenging
A properly prepared context clues task card will provide plenty of complex text that reaches across different curriculum areas. Students receive the additional benefit of building content area background knowledge.
Provide Context Clues Practice Across Genres
Make practice meaningful by applying context clues strategies in poetry, fiction, and interpreting figurative language. Poetry is perfect for practice because of the context clues are concise.
Context clues in fictional texts are different than those in informational texts. Figurative language (similes, metaphors, idioms) provides an additional challenge because of the amount of interpreting needed.
Task Cards Scaffold Cognitive Resources
If you continue to use segmented texts in resources like task cards, students will be able to focus on context. Why?
Less cognitive load is dedicated to maintaining meaning across a longer text. The shorter text opens working memory. Working memory is devoted to the skill of using context clues.
View a variety of context clues task cards that can easily scaffold your students’ success!
We offer task cards that address a variety of genres and types of context clues for grades 2-6.
Context Clues Task Cards
View our context clues task cards on TeachersPayTeachers
If you’re looking for context clues resources, we’ve designed a mega set of task cards, tested them in dozens of classrooms, and packaged them for you!
Here’s what other teachers say.
More engaging and fun…
These were absolutely amazing with STAAR prep. It made STAAR prep more engaging and fun.
Jessica S. // Aug. 2, 2018
Students loved it…
Great product! Used for review and my students loved it.
Dwan J. // Jun. 24, 2018
What’s in the Context Clues Mega Bundle?
Context Clues Task Cards Mega Bundle is 86 task cards for:
- vocabulary development,
- understanding unknown words,
- using context clues,
- synonyms,
- antonyms,
- figurative language,
- dictionary entries, and more!
It’s a mega set of all multiple-choice, quick-to-use, no prep, and rigorous segmented texts!
It includes expository, content-area, informational, poetry, and other genres are included to help students better use context clues! Great for STAAR review, and it’s CCSS aligned.
Context Clues Task Cards
View our context clues task cards on TeachersPayTeachers
