Ideas for Practicing Sight Words in Kindergarten
Sight words, sometimes called Dolch words or high frequency words, are common written words. In fact, they comprise about 50 to 75 percent of all written words. Edward William Dolch, PhD. published the first sight word list in 1948. Variations of this list are still used today. Kindergartners are encouraged to learn these words by "sight" instead of trying to figure them out. Recognizing sight words automatically improves fluency. The key is to practice regularly.
Other People Are Reading
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Learning Rings
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Use your child's list of sight words to make flashcards. Print each word on a small, square piece of card stock. As your child masters a word, punch a hole in the card and place it on a large ring or key chain. Even after your child has mastered all the words the ring can be used for review.
Hangman
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Use the flashcards from your child's learning ring to play hangman. Display five or more flashcards on the table for reference. Pick a word and draw a line for each letter of the word on a blank sheet of paper. Have your child begin guessing letters. If your child guesses a letter that occurs in the word, write it on the correct line. If the letter does not occur in the word, draw one element of the hangman diagram. Keep going until your child completes the word, guesses the word correctly or the hangman diagram is complete.
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Beanbag Toss
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Write your child's sight words or several Dolch words on sturdy paper. Place the words on the floor face up. Take turns tossing a beanbag onto a word and saying the word out loud. Identifying the word quickly and correctly earns a point. The first person to 25 points wins.
Dominoes
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Write your child's sight words on index cards. Deal the cards out equally to all players. Take turns placing the cards down, making sure the last letter of the word matches the first letter of another word. This is similar to a game of dominoes.
Swat The Word
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Print your child's sight words on sturdy paper and lay them out on a table or the floor. Give your child a flyswatter. Have her "swat" the words as you call them out. Allow three seconds to find the word. If the word is found, a point is given.
Go Fish
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Print two copies of each sight word on card stock or write the words on index cards. Use the cards to play "Go Fish" with your child.
Bingo
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Use your child's list of sight words to print customized Bingo cards. Play Bingo by calling out a sight word. Give your child a crayon to color the words as they are called. As an alternative, use pennies for markers. Words are marked only if they are identified without assistance. Once Bingo is called reward your child with a small prize. Dollar store trinkets or candy make good prizes.
Twister
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Create a "Twister" style game using sidewalk chalk outside or by coloring an old sheet for inside play. Place letters in the circles instead of colors. Players choose a flashcard with a sight word. Then, they spell out the word by placing their hands and feet on the correct letters.
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References
Resources
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