Arrowhead Elementary School

Tips for Practicing Sight Words

 

Rationale for Learning Sight Words

Consider these thirteen words:

         a    and    for    he    in    is    it    of    that    the    to   was    you

These words account for approximately 25% of all words in school texts.

Mastery of sight words is a powerful tool for successful readers.

What is a sight word?

Sight words (or high frequency words) occur so often in text that students should be able to read them instantly. Instant sight word recognition improves reading fluency and comprehension. Students cannot always 'sound out' sight words.

Why do we practice the same words all year?

Average learners need to see a word 35-70 times before it becomes part of their long term memory. Some students may need to see a word as many as 200 times.

Should we practice all the words at once?

Let your child be your guide. The sight word packet given to you at the beginning of the year contains all the sight words that your kindergartener needs to know by the END of the school year. Work with as many words as your child can handle. Some students will be ready to use all the words in varying combinations while others the focus should remain on the words introduced in class each month.

How should we practice the words?

Once you and your child have chosen the word or words you wish to work with, refer to the "Ways to Practice Sight Words' list to find an appropriate activity for your child.

Ways to Practice Sight Words

1. Rainbow Words: Using a crayon write a sight word once then trace over the word several times using a different color each time.

2. Make a poster, mobile or creative display using the words.

3. Fill a cookie sheet with sugar, salt or sand. Write sight words using your finger. Shake the tray gently to 'erase' the words.

4. Write sight words in the bath tub using shaving cream.

5. Use magnetic letters on the fridge or a cookie sheet to make each word.

6. Write the words on construction paper, cut into individual letters, mix up the letters then put them back together to spell the word.

7. Try to make sentences using just sight words.

8. Make a Bingo game using sight words. Visit http://dltk-cards.com/bingo/bingo1.asp to print out blank bingo cards.

9. Write the words on the sidewalk with chalk or water and a paintbrush.

10. Clap and change the words. ( are = A clap   R  clap  E  clap  )

11. Search for sight words in magazines. Cut them out, glue onto construction paper.

12. Make sight words using play dough or clay.

13. Type words on the computer. Print and read to a friend.

14. Create a word search.

15. Write the words on a chalk board or dry erase board. If using a chalk board, write the word using water and your finger then 'erase' using a damp sponge.

16. Make up a story with an adult. Type it on the computer then go back and underline all the sight words.

17. Arrange the sight word cards in a row. Begin with a whisper then slowly say each word a little bit louder as you go along. Repeat going from loud to soft.

18. Play Memory with sight words. Make two sets of sight word cards, cut them out, mix them up turn them face down. Take turns flipping them over two at a time trying to find pairs.

19. Read each word in a different voice. (Robot voice, scary voice, squeaky voice, whisper voice, animal voice)

20. Play SWAT! Lay out all the sight word cards. Take turns being the person to call the words while the other person swats the word called with a fly swatter.

21. Turn off the lights. Play flashlight sight words. Take turns reading the card the flashlight shines on.