Tricky words

Here you will find some videos and activities to help your child with learning and recognising high frequency words. These are a mix of 'tricky red words' (common words that you cannot use your phonics to read or spell), and 'high frequency words' that can be sounded out, but are so common it is helpful to recognise them on sight. At the bottom of the page you will find the high frequency words organised into the different animals we have begun to send home earlier in the year.

High frequency word games

Below are some videos showing some games you can play to help recognition of high frequency words. The better our recognition of these high frequency words, the more fluent our reading is. Descriptions of some other games can be found below the videos.

I saw the most..?

Pick a selection of high frequency words to be your focus for the week - you might pick all of the dog words if these are the ones your child needs to focus on, or you might pick a random selection to ensure lots of the high frequency words are being reviewed. Make a chart that your child can use to record every time you see or hear the high frequency words in stories. You could use tally marks, stickers or writing out the word each time you find it. I wonder which high frequency word you saw the most this week..!

We're Going on a High Frequency Word Hunt

Write your high frequency words on pieces of paper and hide them around the house. The children have to see how quickly they can find them all and get back to where they started. Extend this activity by using each word in a sentence before they can find another one!

A Pirates Life For Me!

Write your high frequency words on pieces of paper and stick them around the walls or furniture where they can be seen. Use chalk or masking tape to add an 'X marks the spot' to the floor in a place where the children can see all of the words you have hidden around the room. This is their crows nest. From the crows nest, the children need to spot as many high frequency words as possible - these are the treasure! Your child might like to make binoculars or a telescope out of junk modelling especially for this game! You could extend this game by adding several 'X marks the spot's to the floor, with different words visible from each crows nest.

BAM!