5 Ways to Help Your Child Learn Sight Words

Sight words are words used repeatedly in children’s reading books. 

They are not meant to be sounded out phonetically, but are meant to be instantly recognisable, like a bank of words that are stored in your child’s memory for instant recall.  If they know these words instantly they will not have to slow down to pronounce them while reading.  Sight words are key words that once memorised enable a child to access up to 75% of words used in most children’s literary texts.

Here are some simple ways to help your child remember their sight words.  They will probably be very similar to some of the activities they are already doing at school.

1. Repetition

Have children point to and say the words aloud several times. If they are writing then they can write the word and then say it out loud.  Saying it and then spelling it out loud is even better.

2. Sight words in context

Say the sight word in an everyday sentence so they understand the meaning. Write the sight word in a simple sentence for your child to read, or if your child is writing get them to write the word in a sentence.

3. Time your child reading their sight words

Most kids like the challenge of beating their own score.

4. Games

I borrowed this great info from https://www.k12reader.com/sight-word-teaching-strategies/

Games are a fun, hands on way to help strengthen your child’s ability to remember their sight words. These games are easy to create at home and can be changed based on the sight words list your child is learning at the time.

• Wordo—Played just like the game Bingo, but this version uses sight words instead of numbers on a grid card.
• Concentration—Sight word concentration cards can easily be made using index cards. Simply write each word on two cards, shuffle and lay face down to play.
• Word Searches—Create word searches featuring sight words or use one of the many available on the Internet.
• Letter Magnet Spelling—To reinforce sight word spelling, provide the child with a set of letter magnets and a metal surface. Call out sight words and ask the child to use the magnets to spell the word.

5. Songs

Create a song that incorporates the sight words list. Rhythm and melody can be helpful for most children to remember words (our 5 year old already sings along to Adele so I’m sure she can remember some sight words in a song lol!).  Put the words into the melody of common nursery rhymes or bedtime songs and have them repeat or sing with you.

Most of all remember to make it as fun as possible so that you are both enjoying the process of learning together.

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