Context is the words and sentences around a word. Context clues are hints in that context that help you work out what a new word means.
Let's learn
- Read: “The puppy was so lethargic that it slept all day and would not play.”
- Clues: slept all day, would not play.
- Guess: lethargic means tired and slow.
- Check: put “tired” in the sentence. It makes sense.
Watch out for
- Skipping the word completely. Try the clues first.
Make it fit your reader
- Easier: Use sentences with very obvious clues.
- Harder: Find a word in your own book and use clues to define it.
Practice activity
- Detective log: write three new words, the clues and your guess.
- Swap test: replace the hard word with your guess and read the sentence aloud.
Tip for grown-ups: Keep practice short and cheerful: 10 to 15 minutes is plenty for young readers. Praise effort, let your child point to the words, and stop while it is still fun.