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High-frequency words are words that occur most frequently in written material and do not follow phonetic rules or, as we say in the EL Education curriculum, "don't play fair." Due to this fact, it is important that students are able to navigate these words with ease to improve their reading fluency and comprehension. While high-frequency words on their own don't carry much meaning, they are essential to sentences and help students gather meaning. Below you will find five activities for each day of the week that parents can do with their children at home as high-frequency words are being introduced cycle by cycle.
Read it, say it, write it, read it again
Use high-frequency words in sentences (oral and written)
Read a list of high-frequency words and time yourself on fluency (keep running list)
Search for high frequency words in sentences / poems and underline them
Fishing for high-frequency words (one person reads the word aloud, other students find the word in a stack of other high-frequency words)
Cycle 19:
Phonemes Introduced in this Cycle
r-controlled sounds: /ar/ and /or/
High-Frequency Words
“again,” “bye,” “could,” “would,” “does,” “knew,” “but,” “around” "or," "just"
Cycle Word List
In this cycle, students are introduced to the r-controlled syllable type by examining how "-r" alters the sound of the vowels "a" and "o." The cycle begins with one-syllable words and then moves to two-syllable words by pairing an r-controlled syllable with a closed (example: "gar-den") or with an open (example: "mo-tor") syllable type. Students continue to notice how suffixes can change the meaning of a word.
Cycle 20
Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle
r-controlled sounds: /ər / for “ir,” “ur,” and “er”
High-Frequency Words
"around,” “about,” “over,” “old”
Cycle Word List
In this cycle, students continue to build knowledge of the r-controlled syllable type by introducing "r" to the vowels "e," "i" and "u," altering their sound (/@r/). Students also work with "-er" as a "doer" suffix (example: "fixer" - a person who fixes). The cycle begins with one-syllable words and then moves to two-syllable words by pairing an r-controlled syllable with a closed or open syllable type.
Cycle 21
Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle
vowel teams “oa,” “ai,” and “ea”
High-Frequency Words
“good,” “only,” “very,” “would,” “should,” “eat,” “after”
Cycle Word List
In this cycle, students are introduced to another spelling pattern that can represent a long vowel sound: the vowel team syllable type. They examine the teams "oa" (as long o), "ai" (as long a), and "ea" (as long e). Instruction begins with one-syllable words, then moves to the Syllable Sleuth instructional practice with two-syllable words (example: "raincoat").
Cycle 22
Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle
vowel teams: /ā/ spelled “ay,” /ō/ spelled “ow”
High-Frequency Words
“always,” “today,” “laugh,” “both”
Cycle Word List
In this cycle, students are introduced to two more vowel teams that can represent the long "a" ("ay") and long "o" ("ow"). Days of the week words (example: "Sunday") are introduced for decoding (not encoding yet), and other two-syllable words are offered as an extension.
Cycle 23
Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle
Long vowel sounds: “oo,” “ee,” “y”
High-Frequency Words
“soon,” “under,” “little,” “every,” “really,” “one,” “anymore”
Cycle Word List
In this cycle, students are introduced to the "oo" pattern as well as two spelling patterns that both produce the long "e" sound ("-y" at the end of a two-syllable word and the vowel team "ee"). They continue to practice decoding two-syllable words using combinations of known syllable types.
Cycle 24
Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle
Vowel patterns “ie” and “igh”
High-Frequency Words
“have,” “sometimes,” “through”
Cycle Word List
In this cycle, students are introduced to two new spelling patterns that both produce the long "i" sound ("ie" and "igh"). They continue to practice decoding two-syllable words using combinations of known syllable types.
Cycle 25
Phonemes Introduced in This Cycle
Decoding two-syllable words using all known syllable types (closed, open, magic “e,” r-controlled, vowel teams)
High-Frequency Words
“himself,” “together,” "come"
Cycle Word List
In this cycle, students continue to practice decoding two-syllable words, using all of syllable types learned throughout the Grade 1 modules. These include closed (CVC), open (CV), magic "e" (CVCe), r-controlled, and vowel teams (examples: "ai," "ea," "oa," "ay," "ow," "ee," "-y," "igh," and "ie").
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