What To Say When Your Child Gets Stuck on a Word
Eight printable prompt cards with the exact words to use in the moments every parent of a new reader runs into — when they stop, guess, get frustrated, or want to quit.
What you get
- 8 cut-out cards — keep them where you read together
- Word-for-word prompts, the same ones reading teachers use
- One simple order behind every card: wait first, prompt second, praise last
- A bonus session mat: the whole 15-minute routine on one page
Free instant download. We will email you the cards and a few short tips for using them. No spam, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
These are the same prompts and the same session routine members use inside the Decodable Readers Vault for Parents — in the membership, short training videos show you how it all looks with a real book in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Won't saying the same things over and over feel robotic?
It feels that way for about a day — then it feels like relief. Children relax when they know what is coming, and you will stop lying awake wondering if you handled a hard moment wrong.
What if my child isn't reading books yet?
The cards still help with letter sounds and first blending, and the "frustrated" and "want to quit" cards work for any practice. When you are ready for real books, the cards pair with the free First Books Starter Pack.
Do I need to print them?
Printing and cutting works best — the cards are made to sit next to you while you read. They also work fine read from a phone or tablet screen.
Is this teaching method the same as the Vault's?
Yes — same prompts, same 15-minute session, same order of books. The Vault adds the books themselves, the practice pages, and videos that walk you through it.
