When teachers help students read unfamiliar words by guiding them to recognize a familiar segment in the new word, what is this method called?

The method where teachers assist students in decoding unfamiliar words by encouraging them to find a familiar part or segment within the new word is known as analogy phonics. This approach leverages the student's existing knowledge of word patterns and familiar word segments, allowing them to draw connections between words and enhance their reading skills. For instance, if a student knows the word "cat," they can use that knowledge to decode "chat" by focusing on the similarity in the onset and the familiar "at" ending.

In this context, analogy phonics helps to build a bridge between what the student already understands and new vocabulary, facilitating the learning process. Through this strategy, teachers promote a deeper understanding of how words are constructed and how phonetic elements relate across different words, ultimately supporting better reading fluency and comprehension.