1. Tricky Words and to Understand
2nd Grade – Unit 2
Reading Units of Study
Readers
Use Strategies
to Figure Out
Tricky Words and to Understand
Their Books.
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words

2. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words
Readers figure out tricky words by reading through the whole word… Beginning, Middle, and End.
1. Stop at a tricky word.
Look at beginning of word…
slide through the
beginning, middle, and end.
Say word and ask,
“Does it sound right and does it
make sense in this sentence?”
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words
Day 1

3. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 1
There was an enormous alligator in the lake. enormous
e nor mous
There was a tremendous waterslide.
tremendous
tre men d ous
The word looked unfamiliar.
unfamiliar
un fam i liar
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 1

4. Readers figure out tricky words by reading through words part by part.
1. Stop at a tricky word.
2. Look at the parts of the word-
chunk by chunk.
3. Read through parts.
4. Reread and ask,
“Does this word make sense in
this sentence or part?”
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day 2

5. *Readers figure out tricky words
by trying different pronunciations: different sounds for the letters.
1. Stop at a tricky word.
2. Try a pronunciation.
Think and ask,
“Does this pronunciation sound right and make sense.
4. If not, try again!
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day 3

6. Readers figure out tricky words by trying different pronunciations.
I want to grow flowers.
Flowers fl /oo/ er s (as in boo)
Flowers fl /o/ w er s (short o
as in octopus)
Flowers fl /o/ w er s (long o
Flowers fl /ou/ er s (as in ouch)
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 3

7. Readers figure out tricky words
by using
ALL they know.
Stop when you come to a
tricky word.
Think- “What strategies can I use
to figure out this word?”
3. Try it and reread the sentence.
Ask, “Does this word make sense
in this sentence or part of
the text?”
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day

8. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 4

9. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day 5
Readers know if what they are reading is accurate by asking themselves,
“Does it make sense?”
1. Read a section of chunk of text.
Stop and think,
“Does it make sense?” or…
“Did I get or understand what
I just read?”
3. If not, read again.
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day 5

10. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day 5

11. Readers fix places that don’t make sense by using all they know.
Stop when you get to a place
that does not make sense.
Think about the meaning of
the text.
Use all of the strategies you
know to fix it so it makes sense.
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 6

12. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day
Tricky Word Strategies
Read through the word
part-by-part…
fl ow er
Say the sound at the
beginning of a word…
ch ip
Look at the picture to find out what matches…
person
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day

13. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day
Tricky Word Strategies
Read through the whole word..
fl u tt er
Use what you know about other words…
when whenever
Use different strategies from more than one word to figure out a large word…
education
ed – as in bed
cation – as in vacation
Use your brain… think
Suddenly,
Something is about to happen…
It would make sense to use the word “suddenly”.
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day

14. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 11
Readers visualize what is going on in their books by using all of the clues (illustrations, chapter titles, pictures) the book gives them.
1 .Read a section of text.
2. Look for clues to help you make a
picture.
3. Close your eyes and make a picture of
what is going on in the book.
The dog with the glasses was drooling.
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 11

15. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day 7
Readers build
their vocabulary and become word collectors by looking for unusual words and phrases.
Read and notice when you come to an unusual word or phrase.
Mark it with a post-it.
Write it in your reading or
writing notebook to use later.
4. Carry the word with you to
other books.
Become a “Word Wizard”!
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day 7

16. *Readers figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words by rereading
tricky words and phrases aloud.
1. Stop at an unfamiliar word or phrase.
2. Reread word or phrase aloud.
3. Ask yourself,
“Does that sound right and… make sense?”
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day 8

17. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 9
Readers figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words by reading ahead and using the context.
1. Notice an unfamiliar word.
2. Read on to the end of the sentence.
Think about the meaning of the
words.
Using that think, “What could the
unfamiliar word be?”
Suddenly, the bear turned at looked straight into the girl’s eyes.
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 9

18. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 10
Readers figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words by replacing unfamiliar vocabulary with synonyms.
1. Notice an unfamiliar word.
2. Think about the text meaning.
3. Try to replace it with a synonym.
Ask, “Does this make sense?”
The diamond was glimmering in the sunlight.
glimmering shiny
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 10

19. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 12
Readers visualize what is going on in their books by making pictures in their minds as they read (characters, actions,
and setting).
Take the authors’ words and
imagine the part in real life.
Ask, “What is the character
saying, doing, and feeling?”
Close your eyes and make a
picture!
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 12

20. Partners come prepared to talk with each other by choosing a book ahead of time and thinking about what they want to say.
1. Think about the books you are reading.
2. Choose a book you would like to share with
your partner and think about what you
want to say about it.
3. Share with your partner.
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies
to Figure Out Words - Day 13

21. Readers check to make sure they are “getting the story” by
retelling it to themselves at different points as they read.
1. Read a section of text.
2. Stop!
Check yourself by retelling that part.
3. Ask, “Did you understand that part?”
4. If not, reread section.
Then
After that
Next
Finally
First
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 14

22. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 14
Readers can retell stories across their fingers by using transition words.
Then
After that
Next
Finally
First
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 14

23. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day
*Readers can retell stories to their partners across their fingers by using transition words such as first, then, next, after that and finally so the partner can join them in thinking more deeply about the text.
1. Read a chapter or section of text.
2. Hold up your hand, use the transition words to retell the most important part to your partner.
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day

24. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 14
Readers can retell stories across their fingers by using transition words.
Then
After that
Next
Finally
First
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 14

25. *Readers read fluently
by reading with talking voices.
Think about what is happening
in the story.
Ask, “How would that sound in
your talking voice in real life?”
3. Read it that way.
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words -
Day 16

26. Sam was starving. He gobbled down cereal for breakfast.
. *Readers make their reading sounds smooth by going back and rereading.
1. Read a section of text.
2. Think about how it sounded-
smooth or choppy.
3. Go back, reread to
make it sound smooth.
Sam was starving. He gobbled down cereal for breakfast.
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words Day 17

27. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 18
*Readers read with phrasing and intonation by noticing and using punctuation.
As you read, notice the
punctuation marks.
2. Ask, “How should those signs
make this text sound?”
3. Read it in that way
. ,
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 18

28. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 19
Readers share their reading with a partner by rereading fluently a favorite part.
1. Choose a section of text.
2. Practice reading it fluently to your partner.
3. Ask your partner, “How did I do?”
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words - Day 19

29. 2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words
Unit 2
Reading Celebration!
Students create the front & back cover of their favorite book from this unit. Inside the cover they write down strategies they used to figure out tricky words and to understand their books.
2nd Grade RUS Readers Use Strategies to Figure Out Words
Celebration!