Decoding skills are foundational for reading proficiency, but many secondary students still struggle in this area. These students don’t just struggle academically. They often exhibit behavior problems, as well, as a way to mask their inability to read. Their difficulty with decoding makes it impossible to engage with and comprehend grade-level texts across all subjects. Fortunately, there are many targeted word-level interventions that can help bridge the gap. I have found that many of the following strategies are easily implemented in my mainstream classroom to the benefit of all of my students, not just those who struggle with decoding.

So, without further adieu, here are six strategies secondary teachers can implement to support struggling decoders in the general education setting.

1. Morphological Awareness Activities

Morphology refers to the understanding of the structure of words. This includes roots, prefixes, and suffixes. By integrating explicit instruction related to these concepts into your every day routine, you can help students decode and understand multi-syllabic words that they would otherwise struggle with.

Strategies:

• Word Building: Teach students how to break words into morphemes (“unhappiness” = “un-” + “happy” + “-ness”).
• Root Word Trees: Create visual diagrams showing how various words are derived from a single root.
• Explicit Instruction in Common Affixes: Focus on high-frequency prefixes and suffixes, such as “re-,” “pre-,” “-tion,” and “-able.”

Morphology is also a really valuable tool in other content areas, particularly in science, where academic vocabulary often includes complex, multisyllabic terms. For example, teaching students to break down the word “photosynthesis” into its Greek roots (“photo” = light, “synthesis” = putting together) helps them grasp its meaning while reinforcing decoding skills.

Social studies teachers can use morphology to unpack words like “industrialization” or “democracy,” fostering both language and content knowledge. By integrating morphology instruction into content lessons, teachers can support students’ understanding of key terms and concepts while reinforcing word-level skills.

2. Fluency Drills with Word Lists and Sentences

Fluency practice can build automaticity, or the ability to decode and read automatically. This allows struggling readers to focus more on comprehension.

Oftentimes, we “practice fluency” by reading our super tough grade level texts. But these are not the best for practicing fluency. Fluency should be practiced on the level that the students are able to decode and read automatically and gradually increase in difficulty. If a student is only reading at a 3rd or 4th grade level, it is crazy to have them practice fluency by reading their 8th grade level text.

Instead, incorporate fluency drills into your day to day or week to week structure with texts that are related to, but not necessarily the same as, the curricular texts that you are reading in class. I have a blog post all about fluency that you can read here.

Strategies:

• Repeated Reading: Have students read and reread short passages to increase speed and accuracy.
• Timed Challenges: Use timers to encourage students to decode as many sentences as possible in a set time, focusing on accuracy first.
• Partner Reading: Pair students to read aloud to one another, providing immediate feedback and support.

3. Vocabulary Development with High-Frequency Words

Many struggling readers need targeted support to master high-frequency words that they might not have been exposed to in their every day life. I am a huge proponent of structured and explicit instruction of vocabulary. Doing so in a way that allows for practice of multiple skills, like using context clues, for example, is one way that I justify spending time on it week in and week out.

Each week, I provide my students with five new words that they should know to be able to read the complex texts they will encounter as they mature. Throughout the week, they learn those new words AND practice using context clues to aid in that endeavor multiple times. I, wholeheartedly, believe that it has changed what my students are able to accomplish. If you would like to take a look at the structure that I use and try it for yourself, I have a six week free unit. It only takes about ten minutes a week of class time.

Other Strategies:

• Sight Word Practice: Use flashcards or apps to help students decode high-frequency words that they will see throughout the reading of an upcoming text.
• Contextual Practice: Teach students to recognize high-frequency words in meaningful sentences and passages.
• Word Sorts: Organize words from a text that you are about to read. Have students look for patterns or features of the words or put them into categories based on their meaning or purpose.

4. Spelling Rules as a Gateway to Practicing Syllabication and New Vocabulary

Spelling instruction can be an effective way to review phonics, syllabication, and vocabulary, making it a valuable tool for ELA teachers. It isn’t necessarily something that you would think of as a mainstream tool for secondary teachers, but it depends on your students and what they need. I have had years when so many of my students struggled with decoding that we went back to spelling rules and it made all of the difference.

I have a line of spelling rules for middle school that might be just what your students need.

Spelling rules can come to life with interactive activities. Have students create visual aids, like “spelling rule posters,” to reinforce their learning. Engage them in “spelling bees” tailored to focus on specific patterns or rules they’re studying. When introducing new vocabulary, demonstrate how understanding spelling rules, such as prefixes or suffix changes, can help decode and comprehend unfamiliar words in texts across disciplines.

Strategies:

• Syllable Division Practice: Teach students how to break words into syllables using common spelling rules (VCV patterns). This helps with decoding and pronunciation.
• Highlight Spelling Patterns: Focus on rules such as doubling consonants before adding suffixes (“running”) or changing “y” to “i” (“happier”).
• Vocabulary Integration: Use challenging spelling words as an opportunity to introduce new vocabulary, discussing meanings and usage.

5. Technology-Based Interventions

Sometimes, we get those students that have moved around a ton, or have been absent a thousand times and have missed so much instruction that they are more behind than you know what to do with. When I have been in that case, without a reading interventionist in sight, I have had to resort to technology based interventions. And I don’t mean for that to sound so negative. I just like to provide hands on interventions as much as possible. But technology can provide engaging and personalized practice for struggling decoders.

Strategies:

• Phonics Apps: Tools like Reading Horizons, Lexia, and Nessy provide systematic phonics practice.
• Text-to-Speech Tools: Help students hear how words are pronounced while they follow along with the text.
• Interactive Whiteboards: Use digital tools to demonstrate word-building and decoding exercises interactively.

6. Cross-Curricular Word Practice

Integrating decoding practice into various subjects ensures students see the relevance of these skills across contexts. Teachers can work together to create unified vocabulary lists that emphasize decoding across disciplines. For example, science and history teachers might identify overlapping roots and affixes like “geo-” or “bio-” that appear in their subjects. Joint projects, such as creating a “word wall” for the entire grade level, can highlight important terms and their components, promoting consistent reinforcement of decoding skills throughout the school day.

Strategies:

• Content-Specific Word Lists: Provide phonics-based support for vocabulary in science, history, or other subjects using some of the ideas above.
• Word Mapping Activities: Break down multisyllabic words in context, such as “photosynthesis” or “industrialization.”
• Shared Reading in Content Areas: Guide students through decoding and comprehending challenging words in academic texts.

My best piece of advice is to help students understand that reading is a skill that improves with practice. By framing challenges as opportunities for growth, teachers can create a classroom culture that values effort and resilience.

Decoding challenges don’t have to hold secondary students back. By implementing targeted, word-level interventions, teachers can help their students develop the foundational skills needed to unlock reading success. With patience, persistence, and strategic instruction, struggling readers can build their confidence and grow into proficient, independent readers.