After students learn to read two- and three-letter words (consonant-vowel-consonant or CVC words), many are ready to learn compound words. Because compound words are longer, reading them makes students feel like they are making progress.
It is important to select the words you use carefully. Many compound words are not CVCCVC words. Some words the child should be able to decipher include those below.
| backpack | Batman | bedbug |
| bobcat | cannot | catnap |
| catnip | cobweb | hatbox |
| hilltop | hotdog | hotrod |
| laptop | pigpen | pinup |
| sunset | sunup | zigzag |
Let the child study a word for a few seconds. Tell him the word has two little words in it. If he cannot figure it out, tell him that the two little words come together in the middle of the long word. If he still is stumped, put your fingers over the syllables, one at a time, and ask the child to sound out each part. Then ask him to put both parts together. If he has already forgotten the first syllable, do it again.
comicphonics for early readers 