What Are Context Clues?
Context clues are hints within a sentence or paragraph that help readers figure out the meaning of an unknown word. Instead of skipping over new words or always reaching for a dictionary, skilled readers use the words AROUND the unknown word to make smart guesses about its meaning.
This is one of the most important reading skills your child will use on the FAST test and throughout their education!
5 Types of Context Clues
1. Definition: The meaning is stated directly. Look for "means," "is," or "refers to."
2. Synonym: A word with the SAME meaning is nearby. Look for "or" and commas.
3. Antonym: A word with the OPPOSITE meaning provides contrast. Look for "but" or "unlike."
4. Example: Examples explain the word. Look for "such as," "like," "for example."
5. Inference: Figure it out from the overall meaning of surrounding sentences.
Activities to Try at Home
馃攳 Word Detective Game
When reading together, occasionally stop at a challenging word and play detective:
- "Let's figure out this word together. What clues do you see?"
- "Read the sentence before and after. What hints help you?"
- "What word would make sense here? Let's try it!"
馃摪 Magazine Hunt
Look through magazines or newspapers together:
- Find an article with some challenging vocabulary
- Challenge your child to figure out 3-5 words using context
- Discuss what clues helped them
- Check their guesses with a dictionary
馃幃 Substitute and Check
Teach your child this 3-step strategy:
- Step 1: Find clues around the unknown word
- Step 2: Make a guess about what it means
- Step 3: Put your guess in the sentence鈥攄oes it make sense?
馃摑 Vocabulary Journal
Create a "New Words" journal with your child:
- Write the new word
- Write the sentence where you found it
- Circle the clue words
- Write what you think it means
- Check with a dictionary and add the real definition
Parent Tip: Model Your Thinking!
When YOU encounter an unfamiliar word while reading, think aloud: "Hmm, I don't know this word. Let me look at the sentence... It says 'benevolent king who was kind to everyone.' The word 'kind' right after it must be a clue. Benevolent probably means kind or generous!" This shows your child how real readers use context clues.
Questions to Ask During Reading
- "What word don't you know? Let's figure it out together!"
- "Are there any clue words nearby? What about 'is,' 'means,' or 'such as'?"
- "Is there a word that means the same thing? Or the opposite?"
- "What does the rest of the sentence tell you?"
- "If you put your guess in the sentence, does it make sense?"
Don't Always Use the Dictionary First!
It's tempting to just look up every word, but context clue practice is essential. Have your child TRY to figure it out first, THEN check the dictionary to confirm. This builds the critical thinking skills tested on FAST!
Informaci贸n para Padres (Spanish Summary)
驴Qu茅 son las pistas de contexto? Las pistas de contexto son palabras en una oraci贸n que ayudan al lector a descubrir el significado de una palabra desconocida.
5 Tipos de Pistas:
- Definici贸n: El significado se dice directamente
- Sin贸nimo: Una palabra similar est谩 cerca
- Ant贸nimo: Una palabra opuesta est谩 cerca
- Ejemplo: Se dan ejemplos
- Inferencia: Se deduce del contexto general
Estrategia: Cuando su hijo encuentre una palabra desconocida:
- Buscar pistas en las oraciones alrededor
- Adivinar el significado
- Poner la suposici贸n en la oraci贸n para verificar si tiene sentido