Today I’m sharing a fun round up of sight word activities to try at home!
What are sight words?
Traditionally, when teachers say “sight words,” they are referring to high frequency words that children should know by sight.
We often define sight words as words that kids can’t sound out – words like the, for example.
However, reading researchers have a different definition of sight words.
A sight word is a word that is instantly and effortlessly recalled from memory, regardless of whether it is phonically regular or irregular. A sight-word vocabulary refers to the pool of words a student can effortlessly recognize.
David A. Kilpatrick, PhD
So should we get lists of sight words and get our students to memorize them using flash cards?
Not so fast.
This doesn’t fit with how the brain learns to read.
After teaching your students their sight words in a meaningful way (my sight word lessons and decodable books are perfect for this), try one of these simple ways to practice sight words.
These are all fun, creative ways to practice reading … with minimal set up. Have fun!
1. Create a Tic-Tac-Toe board. Write a word in each square. Take turns reading words and covering them with an X or O.
2. Here’s one of our favorites: write the words on sticky notes and read them aloud as you slap them with a flyswatter.
3. Play “Where’s the Bear?” with Dixie cups. (Sprinkles to Kindergarten)
4. Make a sight word parking lot! (Juggling with Kids)
5. Write sight words on sticky notes and use small toys as learning props. Brilliant! (Kids Activities Blog)
6. Get a free printable and play Roll a Sight Word. (I Can Teach My Child)
7. Play a sight word game with a muffin tin. (Growing Book by Book)
8. Circle sight words with bottle cap stamps. (Sugar Aunts)
9. Make popsicle stick sight words. (This Reading Mama)
10. Enter the words you want to practice, and print a set of free sight word dominoes! (Sight Words)
THE BEST SIGHT WORD WORKSHEETS
Sight Word Worksheets – Based on the science of reading!
$15.00
These sight word worksheets are the real deal. Kids will practice spelling the individual sounds of each word … which is exactly what they need to do to master their high frequency words!
Free Reading Printables for Pre-K-3rd Grade
Join our email list and get this sample pack of time-saving resources from our membership site! You'll get phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading comprehension resources ... all free!
Allisyn
I am so glad I found this page. I am a phonics teacher for K students, and it’s scheduled as a special so I try and make it fun any way I can! Thank you for fun ideas for my kiddos plus my ones at home!
Heather Groth, Customer Support
We’re thrilled to have you join us, Allisyn!
JoAnne Hight
Thank you for all the wonderful ways to help teach those pesky sight words
Brittany
I know you are super busy, and I want to thank you for all the free resources. You have literally been a life saver for me. I am currently teaching my daughter sight words and struggling with the best ways to teach them. I see so many resources here but need help finding the best way to teach them where she will remember them. If you could help that would be amazing.
Anna G
This is a method worth trying!
https://www.themeasuredmom.com/how-to-teach-sight-words/
Julia S.
What about teaching students to sound them out? Shouldn’t that be first on the list?
Anna Geiger
The challenge is that you can’t sound out many commonly used words, such as “where” and “the.” There are some words students simply have to memorize. But I definitely believe in teaching phonics as well. If you check my free printables page you’ll find many, many games and printables for teaching kids to sound out words.
Patti
I have been using your freebies faithfully, and my grandchildren are actually learning their numbers and sight words. Thank you so much for your games and manipulatives.
Anna Geiger
I’m so happy to hear this, Patti!
Mahogany
These are amazing activities to incorporate into my class. I have students in my class who are having difficulty with sight/high frequency words. I’ve been working and trying to help them but this would be great to add. Thank you for sharing these great activities and resources!
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome, Mahogany!
Adelita
Hi Anna,
Thanks so much for those brilliant ideas on sight words. I was so happy when i saw the Tic Tac Toe board game but unfortunately the page has been removed. Is there a possibility that i can get my hands on that game? that would be a plus for my kiddos..
Blessings..
Adelita (Belize)
Anna Geiger
Oops – the link was wrong. Fixed it!
Christina @There's Just One Mommy
So many fun ways to practice those sight words!
Can’t wait to try the domino one with the kids this week.
Anna Geiger
We like that one too!
Tanya
Thank you so much for including our Tic Tac Toe games. 🙂 This is a great resource. As I type, I am mentally planning the activities I want to try this week! Like that domino generator… so cool!