Using flash cards of high-frequency words regularly reinforces the learning. Link the words to visuals and put a picture on the back. Use different colors to help visual learners. Children can read the words on the cards, either individually or in small groups. To make it more interesting, make two sets of flash cards and get children to play a memory game. Mix the cards up and spread them on a table. Each child, in turn, flips over two cards. The goal is to match a pair by memorizing the position of the cards. The child with the most "pairs" at the end is the winner.
Another game to teach high-frequency words is Bingo. Write a list of 40 or so high-frequency words for the children then have them construct their own Bingo cards with room for 15 or 18 words. The children can select the words they want and write them on the grid. The teacher is the Bingo caller and reads out a selection of words. The child crosses off each word he has, and the winner is the first to call out "Bingo!"
Children do not have to write high-frequency words on paper. Have young children write the words in the air with their fingers or write the words in sand or with dough or letter magnets. The goal is to make the writing an enjoyable activity. Give children letters cut from cardboard, then call out a high-frequency word and see if the children can form words with the letters.
Keep a bulletin board of high-frequency words on the classroom wall and refer to it frequently. Discuss new words with the children and put them up on the board. Each week cover the words and ask the children to write as many words as they can remember from the wall. Alternatively, have children close their eyes then choose students individually to say and spell as many words as possible in a minute.