sight word memorization is not the same as decoding. and if your child can’t read nonsense words, that’s your red flag. 🚩 this is part 2 of breaking down this 8 year old’s learning profile. we’re looking at what happens when a child memorizes words instead of using phonological awareness to sound them out. because bright kids get really good at memorizing. they can read fast. they know a lot of sight words. but can they actually decode? here’s the test: nonsense words. if your child can read real words but can’t read made up words like “blat” or “krem,” that tells you their brain is not processing sounds in the way it needs to for reading. that’s dyslexia. this isn’t a learning style. this isn’t a strength. this is a processing difference that needs intervention. if you’re watching your child substitute similar looking words, if they can’t sound things out even when you break it down, if the nonsense word test flagged for dyslexia, you’re looking at a real marker. remember: one sign doesn’t equal diagnosis. but multiple signs across the learning profile? that’s the picture. Refer back to part 1 if you missed it. #dyslexiasquad #phonologicalawareness #decodingskills #dyslexiasigns #dyslexia