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Number 272

Context Clues—Can You Figure It Out?

by Rynette R. Kjesbo, M.S., CCC-SLP

What Are Context Clues?

Context clues are hints or bits of information that help us figure out the meaning of difficult or unfamiliar words we read. Context clues are the words, phrases, or even pictures that surround a word, which help explain the word’s meaning. For example, “During winter, there is not enough light or water for leaves to keep their green color. As the bright green fades away, we begin to see yellow and orange colors.” We can determine from the context clues that the word “fades” means “loses color.”

Why Are Context Clues Important?

Understanding …show more content…

Identify words they may not know and help them find context clues that will help them figure out the meaning. For example, “Some plants have thorns, spines, and poisons which protect them from hungry animals looking for a snack.” Ask your children, “Would animals want to eat plants with thorns or poisons?” “What do you think protect means?”

* Write a simple sentence on a piece of paper and leave out a key word. Ask your children to fill in the blank with a word that makes sense. For example, “Sam bought a new _____.” Then, add more information to the sentence and discuss how the new context clues affect your children’s choice of words. For example, “Sam bought a new _____ at the bicycle store.”

* Write a sentence using a nonsense word. For example, “Jen hung her new bindersplat on a hanger and put it away in the closet.” Ask your child what the nonsense word could mean and discuss the context clues they used to figure it out.

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Helpful Products

The list of Super Duper® products below may be helpful when working with children who have special needs. Visit www.superduperinc.com and type in the item name or number in our search engine. Click the links below to see the product description.

Context Clues in Stories Super Fun Deck® | What Makes Sense? Fun Deck® | Item #FD-95 | Item #FD-60 | Story Prediction Fun

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