When encountering a multisyllabic word, what is the first step a student should take?

When a student encounters a multisyllabic word, the first step should be to locate the vowels. This is crucial because vowels are central to the structure of syllables and greatly influence how the word is pronounced. Identifying the vowels helps in breaking the word down into its syllabic components, making it easier to decode. By understanding where the vowels are, students can more effectively analyze the word's pronunciation and then explore further elements such as word parts, consonant clusters, or ultimately its meaning.

Recognizing consonant clusters or familiar word parts can indeed be helpful, but these steps tend to follow the initial identification of the vowels. Understanding the meaning of the word comes later, once the student has broken it down into manageable parts. Therefore, locating the vowels serves as a foundational step in the process of decoding multisyllabic words.