One of my favorite subjects to teach in Kindergarten is reading. The reading improvement that you see as a kindergarten teacher is just amazing! Our reading program focuses on decoding, high frequency words and sight words. I use the terms high-frequency words and sight words interchangeably, but I recently discovered that there is a difference! {It takes me a little while sometimes! lol} High-frequency words are words that you see frequently in text {makes sense!}. They're not necessarily difficult to decode, but they should be automatic since they are seen so often. Sight words are words that children need to know by sight because they don't match the phonics rules. There's usually a "tricky part" in these words. The kinder team at my first school also referred to them as brain words which I think is just so cute!
I created some fun sight word {and high frequency word} writing practice to use with the 18 words introduced in Houghton Mifflin. Each week I would introduce a new word and we study the tricky remembering part of the word. Here is a sample of the cards I use with the "tricky part" highlighted.
I present our new sight word on my handy dandy sign on the first day I teach it:
Graphics by 3am Teacher {love her!}
Another one of my teaching partners would teach the sight words by giving verbal clues for each words. For example, for the word "I" the tricky part is that it's always a capital, so she would say something like "I have to remember its a capital I" or for the word "see", "I have to remember the extra e". It was quick and catchy and the kiddos really got it! We then would review the flashcards several times on day one.
Graphics by 3am Teacher {love her!}
Another one of my teaching partners would teach the sight words by giving verbal clues for each words. For example, for the word "I" the tricky part is that it's always a capital, so she would say something like "I have to remember its a capital I" or for the word "see", "I have to remember the extra e". It was quick and catchy and the kiddos really got it! We then would review the flashcards several times on day one.
On day two, we review the new word and the tricky parts and then practice writing them:
On the third day we use the word in a scrambled sentence.
The students cut on the blue line and then cut the words apart. Then they unscramble the words and put them in the correct order using the capital letter and periods as clues. Once it's in the correct order, they read the sentence.
Then they make a silly sentence by scrambling the words again. They read their silly sentence and point to each word as they read it. This is a great way to practice reading the actual words and not relying on the clues from the sentence to help decode.
Then they unscramble the sentence again, this time gluing it on the bottom of the page in order.
Finally, they would write the sentence on the line and draw a picture to match.
So much learning in one little sheet!
My favorite thing about Houghton Mifflin is that they teach the sight words so that they build on each other. So when we're teaching the word "my" we're also practicing using "I" and "see". Love it!
So much learning in one little sheet!
My favorite thing about Houghton Mifflin is that they teach the sight words so that they build on each other. So when we're teaching the word "my" we're also practicing using "I" and "see". Love it!
We also use our sight words in journal writing on Thursdays and usually review all of our sight words on Fridays.
I recently updated the sight word pack to add my more practice pages. It now includes read it , find it, write it, stamp it and spin & write. If you've already purchased the sight word packs, you can go back and download the file to get the updates for free!
You can find all of these activities in the sight word packs below!
I recently updated the sight word pack to add my more practice pages. It now includes read it , find it, write it, stamp it and spin & write. If you've already purchased the sight word packs, you can go back and download the file to get the updates for free!
You can find all of these activities in the sight word packs below!
Pin It







































27 comments:
How much easier would our lives be if kids knew all the tricky words??...wait, then we might not have a job!! lol
Jennifer
First Grade Blue SKies
Thank you for responding.. I will be emailing you soon. I gave you an award, come see!
~Steph
http://beanutwithmrsmcnutt.blogspot.com/2012/03/lovely-blog-award.html
Hi! I gave you a little award...come and get it!
Natalie
TeacheryTidbits
this is great!! thank you for making it!!
Kelli
www.talesfromatravelingteacher.blogspot.com
This is a great idea! Even in 2nd, we have tricky word parts to remember! I could totally use an advanced version of this with my kiddos :)
❤Teri
A Cupcake for the Teacher
I love your day 2 review sheet. What a great way for them to write and see it and put it to context. I also like the highlighted hard parts.
Thanks for sharing!
Laura
Kinder Kraziness
Your blog is so cute and you have such good ideas! I am your newest follower!
-Megan
First Grade Magic
Love it. I do something similar to this... but we introduce 9 words a week. Some of them are not too tricky, though - so it makes it a little easier.
I like the way you highlight the tricky parts.
❤ Dragonflies in First ❤
I really love the what's missing worksheet. We play a game during guided reading called "What's Missing." Same concept, but I just write the word on my board and they have to tell me what's missing. I really like the concept of them doing it as practice.
Tara
Hadar, I don't think it's possible that you wouldn't have already received all of the awards that are going through blogland. My guess is that you just don't post them. Just in case, though, I awarded you the Top 10 Blog Award. You can see my post about it here: Tales From Outside the Classroom and you can read more about the award here: TBA's Top 10 Blog Award
Congrats!
Love these! We have 57 sight words, plus color words and number words we have to teach for mastery (for a total of 76 words). This is such a great system! Definitely adding it to my wish list! :)
Crayons and Curls
I will have to check out your packet! Some of my friends are still trying to learn kindergarten sight words!! Ugh! It is so frustrating for me and them!
Love it! i have a center for my students to practice their sight words called Rainbow write. They practice the weeks sight words by writing the words over and over again in different colors. They love it!
Thanks for the info. I have taught for almost 9 years now and I just learned the difference.
Ms. M
Ms.M's Blog
A Teacher's Plan
I have nominated YOU, your awesomeness, for an AWARD! Swing by to check it out. =)
Hee hee. I also use high frequency words and sight words interchangeably. Thanks for the clarification!
I left you an award on my blog. Please come by and pick it up when you get a sec.
Kim
http://smartkindercookies.blogspot.com
Perfect! Thank you for sharing!
I always thought sight words, high frequency words or even high utility words were all one of the same.Thanks for the information.
I just printed this to practice today! :)
Michelle
Love this!!!!
I love writing/stamping activities! I work with one ELL student on this and it really helped him to get his memory words down!
I am your newest follower! Come check me out over at www.AisforAfterschool.blogspot.com
Cute Hadar! I think sight word packs are in the air lately. I made one a few weeks ago. All you need now is the pinterest lanyard with the sight word of the day/week on it like I wear each day. :o)
Vicky
Love it, I do use both terms interchangeably even though I know there is a difference. I always forget it though.
M
I am so glad that you were able to link up. I love your units! Those darn tricky words. I wish we could sound all of them out!
Did I mention that I think your blog is stunning!
It is stuh-uh-ning!
Katie
Teacher to the Core
Oh! Amazing job with the article. I come across few helps over here related by this post to do my task nicely. I highly recommend this. Thanks a lot………
To talk the fact this is a pleasant post concerning this topic. I got an unadulterated solution from here. Also I can refer to you all Cash for Gold Las Vegas here to get educational helps. Yet will wait for more posts from the blogger. Thanks a lot…….
Post a Comment