Sight Words: Tips for Parents

It's a new school year and your child comes home with a list of "must learn" sight words from the teacher. Don't panic. There are many things you can do to help your kids learn these essential words.

The 220 Dolch Words comprise from 60% to 85% of the text in children's early reading materials. Studies have shown if students do not have these words in their sight vocabulary, or cannot recognize them instantly, they cannot become fluent readers. And children who have problems with fluency tend to struggle and find reading to be hard work.

When working with sight words, it's better to teach five words at a time. When presenting each word, make sure your child is looking at the word, not at you. First, read the word, and use it in a sentence. Ask your child to repeat the word five times. Ask them to say it really loud. Then ask them to whisper it. Tell them to close their eyes and try to see the word in their mind. Ask them to spell the word. If they have difficulty, have them look at the word and try again. Always remember to be patient and give your child praise.

Try some of the activities listed below to help your child recognize basic sight words. Work for a few minutes each day. Award points for each activity. Make reward coupons to be redeemed when they earn a certain number of points. Have fun, because enthusiasm is contagious!

BLIND PICK Place several sight words on a large poster board and hang it on the wall at your child's eye level. Like "Pin the Tail on the Donkey," tie a scarf around the child's eyes and spin them in place three times. Have them place their finger on a sight word on the poster. Remove the scarf and have the child read the word.

WORD SCAVENGER HUNT Hide sight words around the room.

BEACH BALL WORDS Section off a ball into many squares with a marker. Each square houses a sight word. Toss the ball to your child, who recites the word under their right thumb.

GAMBLE FOR WORDS Roll the dice. Pick the same number of sight words as the number indicated on the dice. He/she must be able to read each word as they pick it up. Set a time limit and see how many points he/she can earn.

SIGHT WORD TOSS On a large foam board, cut several holes big enough for a small beanbag to fit through. Above each hole tape an index card with a sight word written in large letters. Being sure not to cover the holes, glue or staple the board to a large cardboard box. Your child tosses a beanbag into one of the holes and says the sight word.

SKIP JUMP WORDS Using lighter colored vinyl, cut out shapes, put a sight word on each one with a marker, and tape them to the floor. Your child can jump from word to word, saying each word as they land.

WORD WAR Write sight words on a stack of index cards. A parent or older sibling can play this game with the child. Each player takes turns flipping a card over and the first one to read the sight word wins that card. Parents should count to 10 slowly before telling their child the sight word.

STINKY CHEESE GAME Cut triangles out of yellow construction paper. On 20 triangles write sight words that you want to practice. On 5 triangles write "stinky cheese." Put the triangles in a sack and shake it up. Your child identifies the sight word on the cheese he pulls out of the bag. If he chooses "stinky cheese," he holds his nose and says, "Stinky cheese!" in a silly voice.

UNIFIX CUBES Practice reading sight words that are taped onto the cubes. Make a tower of correct and incorrect words. Try the incorrect words again. Try to make a giant tower with all the sight words correct.

PINECONE WORDS Place poster board pinecones on a small Christmas tree. On the back of each one write a sight word. The children take turns grabbing a pinecone and reading the sight word.

If your child prefers to learn on the computer, the following site is great! Try this fun interactive game where the visitor can be drilled on these words and hear any words he/she can't read. As each level is mastered, a certificate is awarded. The site covers 220 sight words. http://www.netrover.com/~jjrose/dolch/example.html

This is one of the most exciting times in your child's life, because they are learning so many new things. I hope that I have sparked your imagination, so that you will invent innovative and exciting games for your kids. Have fun! I know your kids will.