1. How many words will we learn this year?
2. Why learn sight words?
3. Ways to learn: Practice with letters
4. A dry erase board:
5. Use funny voices:
6. Flexible ways to practice:
7. Commercial Games
8. I'm thinking of a word:
9. Flash cards:
10. Making sentences:
11. Beyond just reading:

How many words will we learn this year?

100-Yes, one hundred words. We will learn 25 words each nine 
weeks. 

Back to Top

Why learn sight words?

Sight words (high frequency words) are words that students 
encounter frequently in reading and writing. It is critical that 
readers and writers develop automatic recognition of sight words, 
a skill that leads to fluency. Students need to be able to read 
sight words "instantly" without hesitation, 
because sight words make up 65% of all written material. 
Comprehension begins to break down when students are focused on 
trying to decode or sound out the words.
 
Many high frequency words do not follow regular phonetic rules. 
They do not follow easy spelling patterns (example: cave, save, 
wave, gave, have) As a result, these words are more difficult for 
students to master. Asking a child to "sound it out" is pointless 
with this type of word and generally causes increased frustration 
for beginning and struggling readers. Young readers need to 
recognize these words as "sight words".  In order for 
students to retain a difficult word, they need many opportunities 
to experience and manipulate it.
 
Much of our language has been adapted from other languages during 
its development. It is interesting that only one sixth of the 
words survived from old English and almost all of those words are 
high frequency words. 
  
Below you will find a few ideas for practicing these words. These 
suggested ideas are for you to help your child become a better 
reader.  Not all ideas are suited for all readers so please pick 
and choose the ideas that are best for you and your young reader.

Back to Top

Ways to learn: Practice with letters

Make the word, read the word, and break the word. 
Later, encourage child(ren) to make the word, read the word, 
cover the word, write the word, check the word, read the word. 
(Children may peek at the word if necessary while they are 
learning to write it correctly.)   I use homemade letter cards 
they work the same as plastic letters and are less expensive.

Back to Top

A dry erase board:

Write the word over and over until it is 
learned, erasing each time. This is a writing task, not a copying 
task. If the child is using paper and pencil, fold the paper over 
each time or use another paper or card to cover the previous 
word. If the child needs a model to start with, provide it. Then 
cover it and allow the child to peek if necessary. Then remove it 
altogether. Encourage the children to make sure the words are in 
their heads.

Back to Top

Use funny voices:

As you go through the stack of cards, ask the children to read in 
the following voices:
baby, robot, Frankenstein, monotone, goofy, scary, mad, old, 
underwater

Back to Top

Flexible ways to practice:

Write several times on the practice page
Rainbow writing (each letter written in different color)
Magnetic letters
Write on a dry erase board
Write in the air
Write on the carpet
Write on a Magna Doodle
Write on a chalkboard
Write words with a wet sponge or brushes on the sidewalk
*we will learn sign language in the class as another way to spell 
words

Back to Top

Commercial Games

Any games with cards to read or letters 
to manipulate:  Scrabble, Go Fish, Bingo, Boggle, Word Search, 
Hang Man

Back to Top

I'm thinking of a word:

This is a good activity for developing scanning skills. You need 
to have many words available for it to be effective.
 
I'm thinking of a word. It rhymes with___, means the same thing 
as___, is 
the opposite of___, we use this word when___, etc. 
When you know it, say it.

Back to Top

Flash cards:

To engage all readers (including expert readers)
Whisper/Shout: teacher/parent directed using cards. As you go 
through the stack of cards, students read words in a whispery 
voice. After several words, "Say it louder." Students gradually 
move up to a gentle shout for the last few words.

Back to Top

Making sentences:

This is a good activity to use once a week. Start by giving your 
child 2 word cards. The child thinks of a sentence that uses 
those two words. The child says his/her sentence. Gradually move 
up to more words. Keep the activity oral, do not have the child 
write his/her sentences until later in the school year.  
Sentences can be silly or serious!

Back to Top

Beyond just reading:

*Match cards whose word begins with the same letter or syllable.
*Match cards whose word ends with the same letter or syllable.
*Match cards whose words rhyme.
*Arrange cards according to the number of syllables in each word.
*Make up sentences using the words on the cards.
*Make up a story using all the words on the cards.

Back to Top