Little Literacy Learners: Sight Words at Home

Do you agree that sight word instruction is a must when we are building the foundation for our little literacy learners? Sometimes skill and drill is necessary, but I believe that it is important to make your instruction with sight words enjoyable. I try to provide engaging activities that are hands-on to reinforce sight words in and out of connected text. Because I work with students who are below grade level expectations, it is important that they are getting the extra practice in school with me, but it is also very helpful when they get additional practice at home.

When I was writing up my report cards, I found that I was typing the same comment for many of my students :

"____ has made a small amount of progress with his ability to read sight words. He is able to read ___ out of the 50 sight words kindergarten students are expected to know at the end of the year. These are words that cannot be learned through pictures or by their sounds and appear frequently in all books. It is important he learn these words and become automatic in identifying them. Our goal is to have ____ read the sight words effortlessly. On the back I have highlighted the words he knows. Please practice the remaining words with ____ at home."

I think this is important information to share with parents, but I also wanted to provide suggestions of simple activities that parents could do at home with their children in case they didn't know how to practice the sight words at home. This will help provide the children with much needed practice. So I compiled a short list of activities I have come across throughout the years and will be sending it home with my report cards.

(Click on the picture below to grab your copy!)