January 26, 2012

What Are Sight Words?

If you have a new reader in your house, chances are you've heard the term "sight words." But what are sight words?

Sight words are common words that cannot be sounded out. These high-frequency words make up 50 to 75 percent of the vocabulary in the texts your child reads. Knowing them increases reading fluency. What is the best way to teach these tricky words? Practice, practice, practice.

Below are fifty common sight words. Begin by writing each of these simple words on an index card. Make drilling these words a game. Set a kitchen timer and see how quickly your child can read all fifty cards. If a word is missed, set the card aside and then re-drill those words. Doing this simple activity every night will quickly increase your child's familiarity with these basic words.

a
all
am
and
away
be
big
blue
but
can
come
did
down
find
for
funny
go
good
he
help
here
I
in
is
it
like
little
look
make
me
my
no
not
on
one
play
ran
red
run
said
see
so
that
the
three
to
two
up
was
we
what
where
yellow
yes
you

For more fun and practice, try Flash Kids' Complete Book of Sight Word and our Sight Words Flashcards. 

Happy Reading!