Flex the sound Decoding Visually Similar Words Cathy Collier 2025

Flex the Sound: Decoding Visually Similar Words

Flex the Sound is a decoding plan for helping students with visually similar words. As early readers encounter unfamiliar words, they need flexible decoding strategies to problem-solve tricky spellings. In English, which has many irregular spellings, kids will come across words that don’t follow the usual rules.

Research shows that to read these tricky words successfully, children need to recognize when a word doesn’t sound right and adjust their pronunciation. This skill, called “set for variability,” helps them match what they decode to the correct word they know. How easy this is depends on how clearly the word’s spelling connects to its pronunciation.

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Cathy Collier The Wise Owl (1)

Hello and Welcome to Cathy Collier’s The W.I.S.E. Owl. I am a Reading Specialist and Literacy Advocate for more than 30 years. BUT I was born to be a teacher. I am blessed with a very supportive husband and two grown boys. I am a teacher, talker, trainer, and passionate presenter. I’d love to talk about Reading and Writing for the Emergent Learner with your class, your school, your division, or your council. Invite me!

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