Sight Words: The Complete Teaching Guide

What are Sight Words?

The first question you may have is, "What are sight words, and are they even important?" Sight words is a generic term for any word your child or student should be able to recognize instantly, or by sight. Typically sight words make up about 80% of words that your child will encounter. Quite a few sight words don't follow traditional language rules (non-decodable), which means if your child does not know them instantly they can really struggle.

An important note: often sight words are also referred to by other terms such as snap words, which is the same concept but different terms. The term high-frequency is also used interchangeably, but they are different things. However, it is important to distinguish the difference between the generic term, and our SnapWords®. While snap words, or sight words are generic terms for words that your child should recognize instantly, SnapWords® are our unique approach to sight word flash cards. SnapWords® are truly multisensory by design and work for many types of students, especially students who struggle with traditional teaching methods. 

Which Words Should You Teach?

The short answer is pick the list based on what words your school requires students to know. For homeschool parents, pick the list that fits with your curriculum.

What are lists, you may ask? There are three main lists: Fountas & Pinnell, Dolch, and Fry. These are the most common and what most standards are based on. Additionally there are some newer lists such as the story book list. Lastly our SnapWords® are a specifically curated selection that is organized into lists. If you want to see what words SnapWords® includes, and how it lines up with the other lists, check out this chart.

If you aren't tied to any specific words and want to know what to teach, consider reading this article, How do I Know Which Sight Words to Teach my Child?, which goes into greater depth on the subject. 

When Should You Introduce Sight Words?

Preschool is a great time to begin teaching your child sight words. Due to the nature of the school system, if they are not amply prepared for reading by kindergarten, then they may be slightly behind by the time they begin formal schooling .

It is important to de-emphasize testing. At this age children are naturally curious and want to learn when they are properly engaged with the material. Teaching at this age is best done when there is an emphasis on free play, exploration, and curiosity. If there is too much emphasis on performing or meeting standards, you can hurt your child's confidence and motivation.

To learn more about how to introduce sight words at this age and the importance of doing so, check out this article: 3 Reasons Why You Should Teach Sight Words to Preschoolers (Gasp!)

The Process

Assess Current Knowledge

It is critical to start by finding out what words they already know; you can download this word list to assess your child or student's current knowledge level. 

Once you have assessed what they know, you can pick the appropriate word list. Even if your child knows half of a certain level, start there, and do not move on until they have mastered every word. Even if most of it is review for them it will help them get rolling in the system as well as providing some confidence, which if the child is currently struggling, can be immensely helpful.

Introduce Words

Now you have figured out what words to work on, it's time to start teaching them. If you are using plain sight words, it will be simple repetition. However, we highly recommend that you use a multisensory flash card as it makes the process faster, more enjoyable, and surprisingly effective. 

How to Introduce SnapWords®:

1. Show the stylized side and tell them the word right away.  It is important to not let them guess what they word is; once a child has absorbed the image while hearing themselves say the wrong word, that incorrect word can become stuck in their memory. This can make it difficult later on to replace that first impression with the right word.
2. Flip the card over and then read the sentence while acting out the motions on the card. It is also highly encouraged that you ask them questions about the word, such as what part of the word was tied to which part of the illustration, as this will help to reinforce the image in their mind and solidify the context and meaning of the word.
3. After you have introduced a word you can move to the next word and follow the process for all the cards in the list!

Practice Words

Once the words have been initially introduced, it is time to master them! This will take repetition, but when you are using multisensory resources, you'll be surprised how little repetition it takes for most students. 

How to Practice SnapWords®:

1. For the next couple sessions, start by showing the stylized side (remember not to let your child guess). Then, simply flip the card and do the motion as outlined above.
2. Once your child is able to recognize the stylized side immediately, without your help, you can start skipping the stylized side, and simply showing them the plain side. 
3. Once your child is able to recognize all words in the list without needing any help or the pictures, then they have mastered the list! Woohoo!

Advance Up

Once your child has mastered a list, it's time to move up. If you are following a specific plan, then you should figure out which words to teach next.

If you bought our SnapWords®, then it couldn't be easier to figure out which list to teach next. Check out this resource to see which list comes next.

Games & Activities

While the standard implementation works great, there is no denying that turning this process into a game can make it even more exciting and engaging. This may not be possible if you are teaching a large classroom, but if you are teaching a small group of students, or just teaching your own child, games can be a blast. Games are also incredibly important for kinesthetic learners, who need movement.

Below are some fantastic ideas that make for great ways to teach sight words in fun and engaging ways!

Searchlight

This game will be played in the dark and you will need a good, strong flashlight. Post the group of words you are learning on a wall with word pictures showing. Now with the lights off, you will take turns (or let two children take turns) turning on the flashlight, beaming the light onto a word. The second person will read the word the light illuminates. Then the second person will have a turn with the searchlight. After the first time through all the words, ask the children if there is a word you can turn over to the back of the card. They should agree on a word they are both sure they will recognize without the picture. Play again. Repeat over time until all the words are turned to the back (plain word), the children can read the words instantly, and they feel it is time for a new group.

Word Hunt

This game is great for a rainy day. Put your words into zip lock baggies for an added level of protection. You will also need tape. When the children are not looking, hide the words around the house – you might tape one to the bathroom door, to the fridge, under the dining table, etc. (Make sure you know where they are yourself!) Turn the kiddos loose to find the words. This can be a joint effort or the children can fan out and look for words on their own. They will bring them back to you as they find each word and they must read the word to you before running off to find the next one. Give them extra points for being able to also say the sentence and do the body motion!

Match N' Snatch

For this game you will need to print the words on large index cards or pieces of cardboard. For each word, you will have a SnapWords® version and a plain, hand-lettered version. Spread the words out on a flat surface: floor, big table, pocket chart – whatever works for you. The children will take turns playing this game. When you say GO, your child will snatch up one word, say what it is, then snatch up the word that corresponds to it. They will continue like this until all the cards are matched with their SnapWords® counterparts. Again, give extra kudos for being able to say the related sentence and do the body motion.

Words-Line

Tie a length of string between two trees, on a fence, or anywhere you can in your yard. For this games, you will also need clothespins. The goal is to get every word pinned to the line as quickly as possible. Children will take turns doing the whole group of words. You may wish to put the cards in zip lock baggies for protection. Hold up one picture word and as soon as the child reads it, let them take it and run to the words-line and clip it to the line with a clothespin. They will then run back to you for another one. Continue until all the words are pinned to the words-line. Next time you play it, or when you feel your child is ready, play the same game, but show the plain word on the back. The goal is for your child to be able to instantly read the word, say the sentence, and do the body motion. Take a picture of the champion reader next to their line of words.

Words Relay

With your words still in baggies, affix the words around the yard in a loop so that your child can race around the loop and easily see each word. You will have the start and finish be the same spot. The game begins when you blow your whistle or yell GO. The child will start running and will stop at each word to retrieve it, yell out what it says, and then run to the next one. They will continue around the loop until they have retrieved all the words and yelled out what the words say. A variation on this will be to display the words with their backs showing so your child reads the plain words.

Toobaloo® Practice

The Toobaloo allows children to hear the words they say and reinforce phonics in a unique auditory aspect to help them master their sight words. The following instructions outline how to use one.

• Spread the cards your child has chosen to learn on a low table or the floor.
• Point to each word in turn and just say what the word is.
• Ask the child to hold the Toobaloo® to their ear.
• Ask the child to choose a word, pick it up with the not-busy hand, and tell you what it says.
• If they get it right, the card goes face-down on the table.
• Continue until all the words have been turned over.
• Next, instruct the child to choose any word they know for sure how to recognize, and while holding the Toobaloo® at their ear, read the word to you. Any words the child can read instantly and correctly become friends and go out of the “to learn” stack!

Word Wall Search

The purpose of this activity is to get the child past just finding the word to thinking about other characteristics and how to find words accurately. For this activity, you will say a word that rhymes with a word on the word wall and the children will need to find the correct word and write it. Have the children sit facing the word wall with whiteboards and markers or pencil and paper. Say, “Find and write the word KIND.” One clue that the children can learn to use at the beginning is listening for the initial sound in the word, which narrows the available choices down to one word in this example! If you call out a word such as BEGAN or NEVER, they will have to look past the initial sound to locate the correct word. Suggest they listen for the next consonant sound. If you say, “Find and write BEGAN,” the children will locate BEGAN and BETTER, as both start with the B sound. However, they would compare the G in BEGAN and the TT in BETTER with the word you called out. This way, they can use clues to find the right word.

Try finding the word with the opposite meaning.

Use clues to have your child find the correct word. This one helps to reinforce the meaning of the words.

All these activities are from Beyond Sight Word Activities; get it for a complete collection of curated, pre-planned activities such as these!

Tips & Tricks

The plan outlined above is more of a framework than a complete plan. We encourage you to work with your children or students to develop a plan that works specifically for you and them in your unique situation. However, here are some handy tips and tricks to use in the classroom or at home.

Utilize Independent Centers

Individual attention is awesome, however not always practical if you are teaching a large classroom. Implementing a buddy system is a great way to make sure that kids don't fall behind. Pair one child with another (one child who knows more words with another who knows less). Give them a set of SnapWords® and have the kids talk through the list of words together and have them take turns quizzing each other. If they both get stuck, they can talk with other classmates, or if really necessary, talk with you. Doing this basically multiplies the individual attention that students receive, and allows you to step in when really necessary. 

Engage Their Hands

Don’t ever, ever expect a very active child to just listen to you. Can they listen? Probably; maybe. But that is one doomed approach! Try instead putting something in their hands that relates to the thing you want them to learn. For instance, give them cards to match up (such as plain sight words with stylized sight words), or give them a set of cards that make a short phrase that they need to put in order. Maybe give them a whiteboard and a colorful dry erase marker and ask them to give themselves a check mark when they can accurately and instantly read a card you hold up for them. Engage their hands if you want to engage their attention and focus. 

Use Images and Color

One reason our sight word pictures are so successful with many kinds of learners is because of the colorful image embedded in the word. This colorful pictures attract and hold the attention of an active child long enough to let that image carry the word into visual memory, as it only takes a quick glance. The same thing does not happen with plain-font words. There is no visual hook that will capture their attention and there is no visual component that will take the word and store it in visual memory. A word embedded in an image will get transferred to the brain and will be stored like a picture, and when the child sees that word later, the image will still hover around the word in their memory. Images are powerful vehicles for learning!  

Offer Choice

For children who are super active and those who have also experienced failure in school, offering them the choice of what they want to tackle will remove their attention from the fact that they have to tackle anything at all! Instead of saying, “We are going to work on your sight words now,” consider asking (as you spread out the colorful images on the table), “Which of these words do you want to play with first?” Also offer the choice of how many words they want to work with. Let the child decide! 

Amplify Their Voice

Something we have found to be very helpful is to use a tool to amplify the child’s own voice. Toobaloos® are a great resources because they offer multiple benefits at one time for the children who have access to them. A Toob® will automatically focus the child’s attention on learning because their hand is actually pressing the Toob® to the ear, they are hearing their own voice focused, amplified, and blocking out other ambient noise, and the novelty of using a Toob® will make learning fun for the child. 

 

Conclusion

While this complete guide is not a step-by-step guide, it does cover the entire framework, which is more potent. You know your children or students better than anyone, so it is essential to tailor these concepts to their unique needs. Using your understanding of them, you can implement these strategies effectively. When you build your teaching with the child at the heart of the experience, the results tend to be drastically better! 

Important Takeaways:

• Let your child be a child, especially at the young ages. You can expose them to words and allow them to explore, but too much structure too soon can have negative consequences.

• Each child will interact and engage with material differently, so consider emphasizing what engages your student the most: body movements, visuals, audio, etc.

• Emphasize the context and meaning behind words; children need to understand that words are by nature attached to certain meanings, they symbolize something. 

• Do not make your child guess a word as guessing is a bad habit that can lead to problems later. Make sure you child is recognizing the word and it's meaning. 

We hope this article helped to guide you in enabling and developing your young students.

Get some of our wonderful multisensory resources to help your students flourish, if you have questions about which products fit your needs, contact us today!

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