Reading using "Context Clues"

Let's Begin!

Sometimes reading can be frustrating, especially if there are a lot of words we don't know. There are strategies we can use to help us.. One strategy we can use is looking at things called context clues to help figure out what new words mean. Context clues are all the things around a word that can help us figure out what that word means.We can't always get a perfect definition of the word, but we can usually get enough of an idea to understand what we are reading. By the end of today's lesson, we will be able to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words from their context clues.

Here's how we do it:

1. Look at the word in the sentence and try to figure out the part of speech.
   

2. Look at the "neighbor words"--all the words around the mystery word. Do they give you any hints?
   

3. Look at the word in the sentence again. If necessary, look at the setences before and after as well. Getting warmer?

4. Guess the meaning of the word.
   

5. Check your guess by reading the sentence again. Does it make sense? If not, go back to #1!

Watch the video to see this strategy in action!
Click here for more information about context clues!