Red Words

What are Red Words?

Red Words are words that have irregular spellings or they contain concepts that haven’t been taught.

For example, “done” is a Red Word because we would expect it to be spelled “dun” based on how it sounds.

Some words are only Red because a child hasn’t learned a spelling rule yet. For example, “will” is a Red Word for a kindergartner, but not for a 1st grader who has learned the 1-1-1 Rule (Sammy Rule).

Your child will be learning Red Words throughout the year. Below you will find links to Red Word lists by grade level. These lists are in the order in which the Red Words are introduced. Students will be expected to correctly read and spell each of these words after they are taught/introduced in class.

Kindergarten Red Words

1st Grade Red Words

2nd Grade Red Words

Ways to Practice Red Words at Home

Play Tic-Tac-Toe with Red Words

Use materials your child loves to build Red Words...like cars!

Write Red Words in Shaving Cream

Build Red Words with Playdoh

Red Word Games

Build Red Words with different materials - cereal, playdoh, cars, blocks, gummy bears, etc.
Spray shaving cream on a table or cookie tray and practicing writing Red Words in the shaving cream.
Assign a Red Word to yourself and a different Red Word to your child. Play Tic-Tac-Toe by writing your Red Word in a space. First to get 3 in a row wins!
Write Red Words on index cards. Have your child hold a fly swatter or plastic spatula. When you say a Red Word, they slap the card with that Red Word.
Play Memory with Red Words. Write some Red Words on cards. Be sure to write each word on 2 different cards. Place cards face down and mix them up. Take turns flipping two cards and reading the words. If they are a match - you get to keep the cards! Whoever ends up with the most cards wins!
Use letter stamps to practice stamping Red Words.
Build Red Words with magnet letters.
Write your Red Words with different mediums - crayons, markers, colored pencils, paint!
Rainbow write your Red Words. Write a Red Word with one color (crayon). Then, choose a different color. Trace over the Red Word you already wrote with the new color. Continue with 5 different colors. This will create layers and will make the word look "rainbow."
Lay on your back and "sky write" your Red Words. Use your arm to make BIG motions to "write" the word in the air.
Practice "writing" your Red Words on someone's back with your finger.
Play Red Word Hop. Write Red Words on separate pieces of paper and spread them out. Call out a Red Word and have your child hop to the Red Word and say the word as they hop onto the paper.
Make it a scavenger hunt! Hide cards with Red Words around the house. Send your child to find them. As they find words, they must read the word aloud.
Come up with your own game! Think of creative ways to have your child practice reading and writing their Red Words!

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