Ways to Study Sight Words
Basic literacy begins with a solid understanding of sight words (common words used and read in everyday language). Here are some fun ideas to practice sight words with your children. These activities should be enjoyable, not stressful. It is not important that the identification be immediate. Just like anything, practice is what helps one become successful at reading sight words.
To begin praciticing start with only a few (up to five) words at a time. These should be used over and over until the child has mastered them. Begin each practice session by reading the words together. Have your child repeat the words, pointing and sliding a finger beneath each word as he/she reads it.
Below under handouts are some Dolch sight word card sets you can easily print, cut and use.
Choose from the following activities:
1. Find small words (it, go, be) or letter chunks (-er, -ing, -en) inside of each word.
2. Put words on individual cards. Have child move cards into a column in alphabetical order.
3. Make rhymes with each word. Talk about the letters that are changing to make the rhyme.
4. How many of the words can yo put into a sentence together?
5. Ask your child what vowel sound is heard in each word. Is it long or short? What other words does your child know with that sound?
6. Play concentration (matching game) Make two sets of cards for each word. Mix all the cards up and place face down in columns. Each person takes a turn flipping two cards. If the cards are the same, then they made a match. But in order to keep the cards, they must be read correctly.
7. Play "Karuta" (Japanese card game) Make one set of cards for each word. Place cards face up. One person says the word and the others try to find the word first by touching it. Take turns having your child say the words and you finding them.
Thank you Dianne Daniel!
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