How To Teach Sight Words: Best Games, Books For Kindergarten
When it comes to teaching sight words there are many different techniques. Here’s how I like to teach a sight word in 6 minutes for 5 days to kindergarten.We have included “How to teach sight words at home” and how to teach sight words to kindergarten children, kids, toddlers.you can learn and use these tips to improve your teaching sight words to kids. Let me share why, how, and what sight words we focused on – that way you get the entire picture.
TABLE OF CONTENT
- What are sight words?
- Why teach sight words to kids
- How to teach sight words at words at home?
- 6 Easy Mini-Lessons to Teach Sight Words
- 13 Books Help To Teach Kindergarten Sight Words
Sight terms are phrases that students are supposed to understand quickly. With the right help, students will become so comfortable with these words that they no longer need to stop and struggle. Most sight words are pronounced frequently, while others are written irregularly.
These words appear very often when kids read books or speak. It is particularly important that these frequently used words become visual words. Students can read more fluently when they recognize these words right away. By explicitly teaching visual words, you can help cement words into students’ memories. Use this three-part strategy, which starts with sound-letter mapping, then moves to a flashcard activity, and ends with other ways to keep reinforcing the sight words with repeated exposure.we will learn more about these strategies later in this article.
Why teach sight words to kindergarten kids ?
In kindergarten, we teach kids how to learn / recognize words simply by seeing them. Just as you see a face and recognize it with someone’s name attached to it. This is automatic. It’s an instant response.
Well, it may not be that automatic in kindergarten (or at least at the beginning, for sure) but that’s the goal of teaching eye words anyway.
Sight terms are typically phrases that our kindergarten students bump into again and again and may possibly see in print thousands of times a day. Sometimes people call it high-frequency words, popcorn words, or even star words. Teachers want to come up with a lot of names for things like that, don’t you know?
Teaching vision words allows them to learn more fluently, more fluent English, and to write more easily.
How to teach sight words at home?
Wondering how to teach sight words at home? Today’s post is for you! In the past few weeks, I’ve received a number of emails from my subscribers asking me how to teach sight words at home. So i thought i should write about this topic.
Recently I found a great teaching style in the (amazing) book, The Next Step Forward in Guided Reading. Jan Richardson suggests a simple way for teaching sight words to kids and kindergarten children.
I have used this teaching method with my Five year old son, who has rapidly added new sight words to his reading toolbox in the last few weeks. This method will work well in one-on-one or small group teaching.
I suggest these teaching materials:
- A dry erase board for each student
- A dry erase marker for each student.
- Magnetic lowercase letters – this teaching set is worthy, for school or home kids.
- A blank index card
- Famous Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers I suggest you should order for practice sight words.
Note: I have given all the teaching supplies links which will lead you to Amazon.com.
LET’S START
STEP 1: Write the word in full view of your learners. I like to use a small dry erase board.
STEP 2: Use an index card to cover up the word. Then reveal it one letter at a time. Have your learner name each letter as it is uncovered.
STEP 3: Write the word with a dry erase marker. Invite your learner to name the missing letter or fill it in with a magnetic letter (we LOVE this set!). Erase and repeat several times with different letters missing.
STEP 4: Give your learner the letters he needs to make the word. Then have him unscramble the letters to form the word. Have him mix up the letters and make the word once or twice more.
STEP 5: After he’s formed the word, have your learner name each letter, pushing them up one at a time.
STEP 6: Have your learner “finger write” the word while looking at it.
STEP 7: Cover the word with an index card. Then have your learner write it with a dry erase marker. He can take a peek at the word if he’s stuck on a letter.
STEP 8: Review on subsequent days as needed. We usually review the word in this way:
- I write it, and my Five reads it.
- My Five makes the word with magnetic letters.
- We review previously learned words on flash cards or with a game, such as Sight Word Memory.
Sight Words Award Winning Early Reading Game: Our Recommendation Get on Amazon
Teach Sight Words: With 6 Easy Mini Lessons
There are many teaching techniques When it comes to teaching sight words. First, we talk about How to teach sight words at home. Now I will talk about a different approach with 5 mini lessons for kindergarten kids. How do I teach my 5-year-old sight words? We have written the answer to this question as well. Just follow the instructions.
Best way to teach sight words?
My theory was – the more they use it, the easier they learn it.
I use this teaching strategy every day Monday to Friday only for 5 minutes for each lesson. These are my sight words games and you will love to play with your kids and kindergarten kids.
Can you sing the baby song like “the wheels on the bus” “Three Little Kittens” or you must have heard the famous song “baby shark”? Then you can totally use this strategy to teach sight words.
You have to replace the tune of these famous songs with your teaching sight words.
If you do not want to sing or face problems with rhythm then check out word songs. your kids or students will come away with words they can read and spell. Alternative way is to build a story in a way that submerges sight words into it. That story should be meaningful with sight words to the spelling. Or you can check these books:
First Little Readers Parent Pack: Guided Reading Level A: 25 Irresistible Books That Are Just the Right Level for Beginning Readers.
Watch this video from Literacy How of a teacher using sound-letter mapping to teach her students the high-frequency word lit.
Read complete sound mapping guide
Even because you’ve read a poem, a song, or a story to “teach” what the sight word looks like, or to know how it’s written out, that’s not enough.
You need to explore what it looks like by changing it and going back to the original. Delete your magnetic letters, playdough or letter tiles under your paper frame. Take a look at your song or story and get students to help build the word. Choose a letter (or letters) to switch it out. So, just take your word “the” and convert it into “tne.” Let students find out what’s wrong.
For examples see images
Your kids need to see the word. That means not just on a word wall card (though that’s good too) but in actual print. There are a couple of different ways to do this. You can do one or do them all. Use flashcard strategies that will help them to actively recall. Watch this video to learn how to use flashcards with babies and toddlers.watch video on youtube.
Check This Out On Amazon: Best Flash Card Teaching Product I Found For You. Here
This will teach kids: Learning Alphabet & Number Efficiently, Fun Illustration.
Another way of teaching sight words: watch this video. watch video on youtube
Now let’s move to the next strategy. This time we use ourselves to present as sight words. Just give some letters to kids they would magically become letters. Invite two kids to share how they would form a word with their bodies. Or just show pictures to them and ask how could you make letters with your body?
We’d sing the song or spell out the word slowly, morphing from one letter into another and giggling the entire time.
How to make alphabets letters with the human body: sight words for kids learning watch this video for references
Sight Words Handwriting Activity Book
Skywriting
Writing the letters of the sight word in the air using GIANT letter strokes is what I like to call skywriting. It’s another kinesthetic way of teaching how a sight word looks in print. We skywrite the word while singing or spelling the word out slowly.
Just call one kid and ask him to write a word with his hand in the open air. Watch this video for example:
My Sight Words Workbook: 101 High-Frequency Words Plus Games & Activities! (My Workbooks)
13 Books Help To Teach Kindergarten Sight Words
We have brought the Top books that will teach kids sight words. These books include 40 Creative and Simple Sight Word Activities for the Classroom and how to teach sight words: tips for kindergarten teachers.
Ant and Bee Count 1 2 3 (Ant & Bee)
Ant and Bee Count 123: by Angela Banner: first published in 1950, this lovely book continues to help children learn to read 65 years later! This focuses on word recognition and promotes exchange of stories. Poor Ant has injured his head and needs to lie in bed until he’s better off; thankfully, there’s a lot of good things to consider when he’s not feeling well. Look at the words and count in one book – score!
Mr. Boddington’s Studio: NYC ABCs(Mr. Boddington’s Studio)
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With stunning drawings based on the sketches of Mr. Boddington ‘s Studio, this ABC board book takes children on a tour of New York City. Each image is defined in a single line of simple text. Children are likely to gravitate to their favorite scenes, a perfect way to practice the words on the screen.
Dr. Seuss’s First 100 Words (by Dr. Seuss)
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This oversized board book is ideal for children willing to read books on their own. There is no script to pursue when children learn 100 important words. Each term is combined with the art of some of Seuss’ most popular works. Combined with sturdy pages, this is an excellent beginner’s book for infants and toddlers alike.
Me I Am!
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Me I Am, : by Jack Prelutsky & Christine Davenier: This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of three personalities who follow their own path and remain true to themselves. A great book to teach children to be themselves while reinforcing key words of vision throughout.
We love a book that can use clever verses to keep kids happy while teaching them a valuable lesson.
The Cat in the Hat (by Dr. Seuss)
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Clear sentences, a catchy beat, and a convincing main character. If you want to understand why Dr. Seuss is one of the most popular children’s writers of all time, you’ve got it there. His most famous novel, The Cat in the Hat, is trapped in children’s minds, making it easier for them to deduce the simple words on the paper.
Animalphabet ( by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Sharon King Chai)
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The author of the child-favorite The Gruffalo wrote this fresh approach to the alphabet. With the guessing game and the peekaboo pages moving small readers from animal to animal, children should be able to decide the word is associated with the animal depicted. Simple sentences and riddles have common vision terms within.
I Need a Hug
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I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey: the best-selling author, Aaron Blabey, has repeatedly used sight words across all of his latest books, I Need a Hug. His clever use of rhyme helps children make comparisons with the way similar words sound while keeping them amused throughout.
Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever (by Richard Scarry
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King of children’s easy readers, Richard Scarry guides his fans through Busytown, taking them from the airport to the grocery store. Kids love colorful artwork and can grow their vocabulary with hundreds of labeled objects throughout the pages.
I’ll Teach My Dog 100 Words (by Michael Frith, illustrated by P.D. Eastman)
Looking to add a stupid dimension to a word-learning game? Check out this book about a pet owner who aims to teach 100 new words and commands to his remarkably smart dog. Incorporating rhymes and rhythms, as well as contrasting print colors, this one is sure to be a repeat read – the secret to the identification of words within.
LEGO City Busy Word Book (by DK)
LEGO fanatics are going to love this vibrant book of informative block-built scenes. Despite labels all over the place, early readers will find familiar terms in the city scenes — firefighters practicing at the station, hot dog vendors serving fans, and streets lined despite busy LEGO Minifigures.
Once Upon an Alphabet (by Oliver Jeffers)
The description will fit better for a little more experienced learners. Featuring a surreal short story for each letter of the alphabet, Jeffers pulls out all the stops in this considerable volume of art and word-mithing. Full of rhyme and wordplay, this captivating time will inspire careful study of eager readers.
Kindergarten Success with Sight Words Workbook (by Sylvan Learning)
This hands-on workbook is perfect for kindergarteners. Instead of relying on traditional flashcard-type exercises, game-based workbook activities provide a fun way to involve readers-to-be. Display words cover species, patterns, action words, and more.
Bob Books Sight Words: Kindergarten
You just can’t have too many books for beginning readers! Developed by an early childhood teacher who knew the value of successful experiences in the early stages of reading, Bob Books® has been a favorite in classrooms for years.
Known for their subtle humor, simple line drawing illustrations, and appealing small size (5¼” x 4¼”) these stories provide a fun challenge for the new reader. Simplicity and consistency make these books a dependable way of perfecting mechanical reading skills and increasing comprehension.
This set introduces important sight words using repetition and fun stories. Each book features three new sight words, repeated several times in the story. Sight words, as defined here, are words that appear frequently in early reading. Some can be sounded out phonetically.
