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Introduction To Context Clues
Introduction To Context Clues
• When your students know how to use this practice, they become
better, more fearless readers.
• Even if a new word slows them down, they have the tools they need
to tackle it head on and make sense of it. That means that new
words aren’t obstacles; they are steps to new knowledge.
How Can I Prepare Students to Use This
Practice?
• Provide clear explanations of what context clues are and how to
identify them in text.
• Offer online and print reference materials (dictionaries and
thesauruses), as well as a variety of texts.
• Share strategies to help students use tools to interpret context
clues.
• Give students lots of opportunities to practice finding context clues
in print and digital text in all content areas.
Discussion Questions 1
1. Why is the ability to use context clues especially important for
struggling readers?
2. In what ways have you taught your students about the six types of
context clues?
3. How might you vary the level of text complexity you use to teach
context clues?
Activities Before Reading
2. If students are using digital text, which features can help them
identify context clues?
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Technology (CAST).
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