The Science of Reading shows that children learn words best by linking sounds to letters, rather than memorizing whole words as visual shapes. Most of our 78 kindergarten high frequency words can be decoded (sounded out), but 33 of them have a tricky part that we need to know "by heart." Some of these tricky parts are explained by spelling patterns in older grades, but for now these are heart words.
Feel free to practice reading these words at home!
Suggested Activities to practice with your child
Use yarn or string to form your words.
Read a story. See how many times you can find your words.
Print your words with your fingers five or more times in flour, salt, or sugar.
See how many times you can write your words in one minute.
Write three or more sentences using each word.
Use coins to form your words.
Use your favorite snack to reshape your words and then eat them.
Tape-record yourself saying and spelling your words.
Print the words on someone’s back using your fingers. Have the person guess your words.
Use colored chalk to write your words on the sidewalk.
Spread peanut butter on bread. Add raisins to form your words.
Use cooked spaghetti to form your words.
Stamp your words using assorted stamps and colors.
Form your words out of alphabet cereal.
Use crayons or markers to copy your words in as many different colors as possible.
Draw your favorite character saying your words.
Paint your words using watercolors or finger paint.
Find the letters of your words in a newspaper or magazine. Cut out the letters and spell your words.
Use bread and cookie dough to shape your words and bake them.
Use beans, pasta, or rice to form your words. Glue them to the construction paper.
Write three or more words that rhyme with each of your words.
Word Find- Give your child a page from a newspaper or magazine. Challenge your child to find and circle the sight words he or she is learning.
House Hunt- Post sight words around the house (on doors, the refrigerator, mirrors, etc.) and have your child read them each time he or she passes by them.
Messy Spellers- To practice both reading and spelling words, fill a cookie sheet with sand, shaving cream, or whipped cream. Help your child to trace out words with a finger and then read them aloud. Wipe them away and start again with new words!