Cross-Check

Cross Checking is a strategy for reading when students do not know a word in the sentence. It is when the student thinks about what the sentence means and looks at the sounds in the word to decode help with decoding the word. They want to make sure the sentence makes sense. Often students will either guess the word based on meaning in the sentence or just try to decode the word based on letter sounds in the word. The student needs to do both to correctly figure out what the word is and make sure it makes sense.

Example:
An example would be to write a sentence or two up for the students to see. Cover the word you want them to decode. Ask the students for examples of what might go into the sentence to make sense. Then give them the beginning sound of the word and have them rethink their answer.
Mom is washing the dishes. Cover dishes.
Students say:
Mom is washing the windows, dishes, car, toy, etc.
Tell the student the word begins with a d. Have them rethink what mom could be washing.
Mom is washing the dishes.