Sight Words

There has been debate over spelling test and whether they are effective or not. Whatever I may believe on the subject, I believe that above all, students really need to see the words in action, make words fun, have them jump off the page so the kiddo can say, "Hey! I've seen that word before and I know it!"

In order to make sight words fun in our classroom I decided to go with the high five method. Allow me to explain....


There are words, that are very common when reading and we come across them often, these are sight words. Sight words do not always follow phonetic rules and can confuse the kindergartner when trying to teach. In order to have the kiddos I teach still focus on the phonetic rules and yet learn every day sight words, I made it a game.

Before we leave the classroom to go to music, lunch, home, etc., the kiddos are required to high five the sight words by the door before we head out and they love it!

 

As an alternative, I call out a sight word and they have to high five it as fast as they are able. Sometimes we also have two players with fly swatters to work on the quickness of our word recognition.

 

I also made  Reading Center "Sight Word Slap" folders that are easy for the kiddos to play together.

 

 

It is the same principle as "Slap Time" however using sight words.

 

The kiddos enjoy the challenge and the healthy competition. I adore when they get so excited when they connect a sight word in a book they are reading and the same sight word on the wall. They are incredibly proud for reading all by themselves and I feel that I have done my job!