Sight Words

Why sight words?

Word recognition plays an important role in learning to read. Although not a substitute for the critical skill of being able to decode unfamiliar words, recognizing some words automatically contributes to reading effortlessly and with understanding. Words that can be recognized this way by a reader are known as sight words. Learning certain kinds of sight words enables children to devote their energy to decoding words that are more difficult.

Games to Play at home to learn sight words:

Go Fish

Cut a set of index cards in half.

Make two cards with each word your child still needs to work on.

Each player gets five cards, and the rest go in a pile.

Each player takes turns asking if opponents have one of the words in their hand, trying to make a match. If a match is made, the player sets them down and those cards are out of play.

If the card asked for was not in possession of the other player(s), then the words, “Go Fish” are said, and a card is drawn from the pile.

The player with the most matches is the winner.

I Have Who Has

Make game cards by cutting index cards in half. In large handwriting, write one snapword in one color at the top. In smaller handwriting in a different color write the next snapword on the list on the bottom of the same card.

The first player picks a card and says, “I have __________ (reading the word on the top of the card) who has ____________ (reading the word at the bottom of the card).

Each player looks for the word. The player has the card with the word written at the top takes a turn.

Game is over when all the words have been found.

Here is an example of a game you could purchase from Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Have-Who-Has-Fry-Sight-Words-1-100-1966668

Memory

Using the same cards for go fish, all cards are placed on the table face-down.

Players take turns picking two cards to turn over, saying each word out loud. If a match is made, the player gets to take the cards out of play.

Once all the matches are found, the player with the most sets is the winner.

Rainbow Words

Pick a color for each number on a die.

The child rolls the die and whatever number they roll, they write all the snap words in one color after they read each word out loud.

They roll over and over for all the different colors.

Read each word, then make it in/with:

alphabet stamps

playdough

salt or sand

magnetic letters

a dry-erase board

legos

wiki sticks

scrabble tiles

colored pens

shaving cream

Snap Game

You put the sight words you want them to practice on flash cards and put the flashcards into a jar. Also, you write the word SNAP on a few flash cards and put them into the jar.

The kids can play in partners or in a groups of 3 or 4 with siblings. They take turns pulling a card out of the jar. If they can say the word on the card automatically with no struggle, they get to keep the card.

If they struggle, they have to put it back.

If they pull out one of the cards that says SNAP, they have to put all of the card they’ve drawn back.

The first person to 5 cards (or 10) wins!

Tic Tac Toe

Write words in tic tac toe board.

Take turns selecting a square to read.

If read correctly, an X or O is placed on the square until someone wins.

Who Has More?

Using a set of flashcards, you show each word to your child for only 3 seconds.

If the child knows the word, they keep the card.

If they don’t, the parent keeps the card.

The player with the most cards is the winner. ​