Moving Beyond Syllable Rules: Helping Students Decode Multisyllabic Words with Flexibility with Devin Kearns
If your students can decode CVC words but completely shut down when they see fantastic or instruction, this episode is for you.
In today’s conversation, we dig into what really helps students read multisyllabic words — and it’s not just memorizing syllable types.
We talk about:
Why syllable rules alone aren’t enough
What “flexible decoding” actually means
How morphology (prefixes, suffixes, bases) changes the game
What “set for variability” looks like in real classrooms
Why over-relying on rigid strategies can hold students back
This episode will help you rethink how you teach longer words — and give you practical shifts you can make immediately.
What You’ll Learn
✔ Why students need more than syllable division rules
✔ How to teach students to try, adjust, and refine their decoding
✔ The role of morphology in upper elementary reading
✔ Why word reading is problem-solving — not rule-following
✔ How to build automaticity and flexibility together
Key Takeaways
Decoding isn’t about perfection on the first try — it’s about adjustment.
Students need practice being flexible, not just accurate.
Morphology supports both decoding and meaning.
Teaching students to “try it, then tweak it” builds independence.
Learn More from Devin Kearns
If this conversation resonated with you, here are some of Devin’s research areas and places to explore more of his work:
Research on set for variability and flexible decoding
Work on morphology and multisyllabic word reading
Studies on how readers adjust pronunciation when decoding unfamiliar words
You can explore:
Website : devinkearns.com
His published research articles on multisyllabic word reading
Interviews and conference presentations on advanced decoding
(Search: Devin Kearns multisyllabic word reading or Devin Kearns set for variability to find his research articles and talks.)
Want More?
Explore more Science of Reading PD, decodables, small-group planning tools, coaching sessions, and literacy resources at Route2Reading inside the Literacy Edventures Membership.
