One of the most common worries: "what if my child meets a word they don't know?" Inferring meaning from context is the cure — and it's a teachable skill.
Read the whole sentence first
Don't fixate on the unknown word. Read past it. Often the words around it give the meaning away. "The maverick scientist refused to follow the textbook" — even without knowing "maverick", you can tell it suggests independence or rebellion.
Look for contrast and example clues
Writers signal meanings with phrases like "in contrast", "however", "for example". These often reveal the answer. Practice now on context-clue questions.
Trust your best guess
Children often freeze when a word looks unfamiliar. Train them to commit to their best guess and move on. They'll be right far more often than they think.