Multisyllabic Words: Wiley Blevins’ Best Practices for Early Readers
For many developing readers, coming across multisyllabic words can feel like a major hurdle. Words that once felt easy suddenly expand into long, unfamiliar challenges. Without effective strategies, students might stumble, resort to guessing, or lose confidence in their reading abilities.
However, teaching students how to break down and decode longer words doesn’t have to be difficult—for educators or learners!
In a recent webinar, Wiley Blevins, phonics expert and author of From Phonics to Reading, shared proven strategies for teaching multisyllabic words, reinforcing the importance of phonics, word study, and morphology. Let’s explore Wiley’s key insights on teaching multisyllabic words, along with practical activities (including free downloadable multisyllabic word study activities) that can make a real impact in your classroom.
Why Multisyllabic Word Instruction Matters
Students in the early grades spend a lot of time working with one-syllable words. But as they move up in reading levels, they encounter longer, more complex words—and the transition isn’t always easy.
Research shows that on-level students often don’t know enough about major word structures, like syllables and morphemes (prefixes, suffixes, and base words). This knowledge gap can cause decoding difficulties, ultimately impacting comprehension.
That’s why it’s critical to introduce explicit instruction in syllable types, word parts, and vocabulary-building strategies before students fall behind.
Build a Strong Phonics Foundation for Multisyllabic Word Mastery
Before students can successfully decode multisyllabic words, they must have a solid understanding of phonics. One of the most effective ways to prepare them is by teaching six syllable types, which serve as building blocks for longer words:
- Closed syllables (cat, ship)
- Open syllables (go, he)
- Vowel-consonant-e (cake, hope)
- Vowel team syllables (boat, rain)
- Consonant-le (candle, little)
- R-controlled syllables (star, her)
When teachers make syllable types a regular part of instruction, students begin to see patterns in words, making decoding much easier.
Using Assessments to Identify Skill Gaps
One of the biggest challenges in teaching multisyllabic words is determining where students need support. Blevins recommends using a phonics survey, which categorizes skills into areas like:
- Short and long vowels
- Blends and digraphs
- Common syllable types
- Multisyllabic words
By analyzing results, teachers can pinpoint gaps and provide targeted instruction rather than reteaching what students already know.
The ‘Decoding Big Words’ Strategy
Once students understand phonics basics, they need strategies for breaking down longer words.
Wiley Blevins's Three-Step Approach to ‘Decoding Big Words’:
- Look for familiar word parts – Encourage students to spot prefixes, suffixes, and base words in unfamiliar words.
- Use syllable scooping – Draw arcs under syllables to break words into manageable parts.
- Practice with 10 new syllables per week – In third grade, introduce high-utility syllables that frequently appear in words.
Example: A second grader struggling to read "discovery" might first recognize "dis-" as a familiar prefix, then break down "cov-er-y" using syllable scooping.
By making this strategy explicit and routine, students develop confidence in tackling complex words independently.
Need a ready-to-use activity to help students decode big words? Download Wiley Blevins’s Big Word Strategies Activity—a fun, engaging resource designed to support students in breaking down multisyllabic words with ease.
Vocabulary Growth Through Read-Alouds
One of Blevins’s key messages? Oral language is the foundation for written language.
"If students don’t hear a word frequently, they won’t recognize it when they see it in print," he explains. Read-alouds and rich discussions help bridge this gap.
Simple ways to increase word exposure:
- 📚 Read aloud multiple times per day, pausing to discuss new words.
- 💡 Use context clues to infer meaning.
- 🎭 Act out tricky words to make them more memorable.
Dr. Blevins recalls a moment when he read The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds to a classroom. When he asked students which words they had “collected” from the story, one child excitedly said, “I love the word ‘gargantuan’—it means HUGE!” Moments like this show how powerful vocabulary exposure can be.
Engaging Activities to Strengthen Multisyllabic Word Skills
Building word awareness and reinforcing phonics skills is essential for helping students confidently decode longer words. Interactive activities provide a fun and effective way to support this learning process.
Sadlier offers free resources designed to help students break down and decode multisyllabic words:
✅ Big Word Strategies Activity (Grades 2–3)
- Developed by phonics expert Wiley Blevins, this engaging activity guides students through proven strategies to tackle big words with confidence.
- Helps learners break multisyllabic words into manageable parts, making reading smoother and more intuitive.
✅ Word Ladder—Short u Activity (Grades 1–3)
- Encourages students to build new words using clues, reinforcing phonics and vocabulary skills.
✅ Word Ladder—/ch/ & /wh/ Activity (Grades 1–3)
- Helps students recognize spelling patterns and strengthen their decoding strategies in a fun, interactive way.
Download these activities today and give students a fun way to practice multisyllabic words!
Practical Takeaways for Educators
- Use differentiated speed drills for targeted phonics practice.
- Flood students with rich vocabulary through read-alouds
- Teach students to identify and flexibly apply six syllable types.
- Incorporate quick warm-up activities to reinforce common syllables.
Final Thoughts
Helping students master multisyllabic words doesn’t happen overnight, but with the right strategies and engaging activities, educators can make a huge impact.
By combining phonics instruction, decoding strategies, vocabulary development, and interactive activities, students gain the tools they need to confidently approach any word they encounter.
Want expert insights on teaching multisyllabic words? Watch Wiley Blevins’s On-Demand Webinar to learn practical strategies for helping students decode big words with ease!
