Sight words are those words we see when we read, that we need to know "in a snap" in order to read more fluently. They are common words but they don't always follow the rules for "sounding out" and "blending sounds."
Special practice for those sight words can be turned into FUN TIME for you and your child!
There are many sources to find a list - you can google "high frequency words" or "sight words" and you will find many lists! I saw a cute one on Jan Brett's website - janbrett.com. For a simple list of First Grade words, click on this link:
http://www.education.com/magazine/article/firstgradesightwords
There are actually two lists: words to read, and words to read, write and spell.
Now, take those words and have some fun - a few words at a time. You might want to "pre-test" your little one and see what they already know. Or, you might take words that they stumble on in their reading and focus on a few at a time.
Make a memory game: Grab some index cards, cut them in half, and have your child write each word twice. Use cool markers, lots of colors, whatever makes it more fun and interesting. Set up a game board by turning six words at a time (12 cards) upside down in three rows - make sure they're mixed up! Focusing on a few words at a time, looking for matches, will help your child get fluent in reading these words. When they're ready, add more to make it more challenging :)
If you're looking for a shortcut to making cards, there are copy ready cards at http://www.spelling-words-well.com/support-files/first-grade-sight-words-cards.pdf
Letter tiles: Use your old Scrabble letters or pick some up at an office supply or teacher supply store. Play with them by making cards up (or using the ones from your Memory game), and challenging your child to find all the letters that make up that word, placing them in the correct order. After they get the visual matching, take away the cards … have one player read the word out loud and the other find the letters, without a visual guide. Great practice!
There are also many apps available for iPads and iPhones to practice sight words. Just search for sight words and look at the variety that come up. I like a version called K-3 Sight Words, because it has an audio self-check, after your child reads what is basically an electronic flash card. You can work up from Kindergarten words and see them in alphabetical or random order. I'm also a big fan of interactive white board apps that allow your child to write (with their finger) and audio record words and then play them back. Exciting!
Have fun! (More sight word fun to come in future posts …)
Special practice for those sight words can be turned into FUN TIME for you and your child!
There are many sources to find a list - you can google "high frequency words" or "sight words" and you will find many lists! I saw a cute one on Jan Brett's website - janbrett.com. For a simple list of First Grade words, click on this link:http://www.education.com/magazine/article/firstgradesightwords
There are actually two lists: words to read, and words to read, write and spell.
Now, take those words and have some fun - a few words at a time. You might want to "pre-test" your little one and see what they already know. Or, you might take words that they stumble on in their reading and focus on a few at a time.
Make a memory game: Grab some index cards, cut them in half, and have your child write each word twice. Use cool markers, lots of colors, whatever makes it more fun and interesting. Set up a game board by turning six words at a time (12 cards) upside down in three rows - make sure they're mixed up! Focusing on a few words at a time, looking for matches, will help your child get fluent in reading these words. When they're ready, add more to make it more challenging :)
If you're looking for a shortcut to making cards, there are copy ready cards at http://www.spelling-words-well.com/support-files/first-grade-sight-words-cards.pdf
Letter tiles: Use your old Scrabble letters or pick some up at an office supply or teacher supply store. Play with them by making cards up (or using the ones from your Memory game), and challenging your child to find all the letters that make up that word, placing them in the correct order. After they get the visual matching, take away the cards … have one player read the word out loud and the other find the letters, without a visual guide. Great practice!
There are also many apps available for iPads and iPhones to practice sight words. Just search for sight words and look at the variety that come up. I like a version called K-3 Sight Words, because it has an audio self-check, after your child reads what is basically an electronic flash card. You can work up from Kindergarten words and see them in alphabetical or random order. I'm also a big fan of interactive white board apps that allow your child to write (with their finger) and audio record words and then play them back. Exciting!
Have fun! (More sight word fun to come in future posts …)
No comments:
Post a Comment