I won't drone on about the importance of sight words. I believe even the earliest learners can be taught to recognize sight words...even before they know the letters. I, personally, don't want them to think of the words as parts (l, o, o, k). I need them to think of the words as a whole.
Here are 4 ideas for making sight words (word wall words) meaningful and easy for all students.
1. Personal Word Walls
In a recent post on Virginia is for Teachers, I talked about personal word walls. This is a great tool for students. This personal word wall is Jamie's. He is a struggling reader and this personal word wall is focused on just the words he has been introduced to through his guided reading lessons.
2. Sight Word Phrases
Sight word phrases are an easy way to get students to use the words in context, not just in isolation. Having a phrase section on the word wall can help them practice the phrases as they read. They can use them in writing and in centers.
3. Sight Word Games
Sight word games are a fun way to help the students practice their words. The Roll-a-Word game can be played independently or as a team. Independently students can roll the dice and color a square to build a tower. When they roll one word enough times to make a tower touch the top, they are done. Adding a quick tally lesson, the class can tally which words make the tower each day. At the end of the week, you have have a sight word winner. If you want it to be a partner game, each student will need a different color crayon. Each student will roll the dice and color a square with their color. Whoever colors the square that reaches the top, will be the winner. The Fluency Races are especially fun. Students roll the dice and read the column as fast as they can. They have to start over if they mess up, but they think it's fun.
4. Sight Word Centers
Having a sight word component to centers makes the centers strategic, as well as independent. Each week the Art Center and Poetry Center are the poem of the week from the week before. The poems are familiar. They circle word wall words and color in yellow. The ABC Center above was an activity with in/on. The Dry Erase Center is set up with sight words and phrases. Students can practice writing.
CLICK HERE to get a FREEBIE set of Sight Word Activities.