Sight Word Practice
Sight words, often also called high frequency words, are commonly used words that young children are encouraged to memorize by sight, so that they can automatically recognize these words in print without having to use any strategies to decode.
Regular practice will help your child learn these words. Start on LIST 1 - if your child can read all the words, move on to the next list, and so forth. Stop on the list that your child misses 2 or more words. If you child can read all the words, continue to practice for speed and fluency.
Games to Play
Pick any games, any days, to practice sight words. Try to do at least 3 different activities a week
Tic-Tac-Toe
This game is the same as a traditional X’s and O’s game however instead of using x’s and o’s players will use a sight word. (see picture exampled below)
This would be a great game to choose if there were one or two words in a list that your student is having troubles memorizing.
Playing more than one game? Keep a tally of games won.
Memory
Option 1: Print off two sets of your child’s sight word list
Option 2: cut up 16 pieces of paper and write each sight word on two pieces of paper
To Play:
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Lay out word cards in a 4 by 4 grid face down
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Each player takes turns flipping over two cards and saying the words
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If the words on both cards match, the player wins those cards
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If the words do not match, flip them back over and it is the next players turn
To Win:
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The player with the most words at the end wins!
SPLAT!
Option 1: Print off two sets of your child’s sight word list
Option 2: cut up 16 pieces of paper and write each sight word on two pieces of paper
To play this game you will need a ‘swatter’. You could use a fly swatter or a spatula or wooden spoon from the kitchen would work too! Be creative 😊
To Play:
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Lay all your sight words face up on the floor
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With your swatter in hand, have an adult or sibling call out a word
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See how quickly you can swat the word
*You could turn this into a partner game by each player holding a swatter. Whoever swats the called word first, wins that word and keeps it in their pile. Whoever swats the most words wins!
Draw a Sight Word
Materials:
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You could use playdough, a plate of flour or sugar or salt, sand, etc.
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A toothpick or dull pencil – something to write in the with
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A cup
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Words
To Play:
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Put your sight words in a cup
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Spread out your material to write in
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Pull a word out of the cup
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Read the word
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Write the word in your playdough, salt, sand, etc.
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Continue until all the words are gone
