How to Make Sight Vocabulary Games
Sight words make up the building blocks for reading success. Typically introduced to students during late preschool through first grade, sight words are 220 of the most commonly seen words in the English language, making up 50 to 70 percent of most text. Sight words are also referred to as Dolch words, a word list developed by Edward William Dolch, Ph.D., in 1948. Dolch created this list of commonly used words to help children improve reading fluency. Teaching sight words is challenging, but games and activities can improve students' ability to read these words.
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Instructions
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Write one sight word per index card. Use your neatest printing for each word so the students can clearly read each letter. One set of Dolch words can be used for a variety of games, however create an additional set if you plan to use the sight words for a matching game.
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Divide the sight word cards into levels. Sight words are typically grouped into 12 levels with the first level being the easiest words to recognize. Before creating your games, create piles of cards for each level and use a rubber band to keep them in place. Organizing the index cards in groups allows you to play games for each level.
For example, the words, "can" and "in" are some of the first words the students should recognize. As students progress into the intermediate levels, words such as "around" and "shall" are introduced. The highest levels of sight words include words such as "laugh" and "myself."
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Create a variety of sight word games. Use the index cards as your launching pad for games. For example, play bingo. Create bingo sheets that contain sight words. Stand in front of the room and either verbally announce the word or hold an index card up in front of the students and have them match the word to words on the card.
Another game to get students recognizing words quickly is to play a rapid word recognition game. Partner two students together and arm the team with 10 to 15 cards each. Set the kitchen timer for 20 seconds and have one student show the other student one word. The other student must read the word as quickly as possible.
Play a sight word scavenger hunt. Hide clues and words throughout the room. Students must be able to read the word before receiving the next clue.
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Tips & Warnings
Offer incentives or prizes for successful sight word reading.
Work individually with students on sight words and record which words each student misses most---use those words in a game.
Master sight words in levels---be sure students can quickly recognize all words on one level before moving up to the next.
References
Resources
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