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How to Teach Kindergarteners to Read From Sight Words

Prepared in 1936 by the scholar E. W. Dolch, sight words are considered the most common words in children's literature. Including words like 'at,' 'she,' 'yes' and 'will,' the idea behind sight words is that once memorized, reading fluency becomes easier for kindergarteners. Many sight words, such as 'like' or 'are' don't follow conventional reading rules; therefore, according to the Dolch Reading website, "students who learn sight words have a good base for beginning reading,"

Instructions

  1. Break into Small Groups

    • 1

      Break words into small groups: there are 220 sight words. That is too much information for a child of kindergarten age to process at once. Teachers should set goals of perhaps 25 words for a 10-week grading period. Parents should also have a goal, but can increase or decrease expectancy based on the individual needs of the child.

    • 2
      Word cards help young children improve speed and accuracy of recognizing common words.

      Make word cards: flash cards are a great way for children to practice sight words daily. The words can be hand-printed on note cards, printed using a home computer and printer or downloaded from a free website such as Dolch Learning. Repetition is key for kindergarten learning, so the words should be practiced almost daily.

    • 3

      Use a word wall: teachers, and parents, can devote a small amount of space to a 'word wall.' Place a duplicate of some of the flash cards on the wall and practice them daily. The word wall can have a theme, such as words that start with the letter 'a' or two-lettered words. Change the word wall at regular intervals or when all the words are mastered.

    • 4
      Ask willing participants to help your kindergartener with her sight words.

      Enlist the help of others: again, repetition helps children. If a child is practicing sight words in school, a copy of those words can be sent home for parents to use. Parents can enlist the aid of others. Helping a younger sibling with sight words can be a chore for an older child. A parent can also make it a task for a babysitter or other caregiver. Children are motivated by rewards, so it may help to have a child earn a prize, even something small like a sticker, for every 10 words the kindergartener perfects.

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