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Sight Word Practice At Home
Dear Families,
Each week this year (except for review weeks), we will introduce 5 new sight words for your
child to master. The goal is to have your child be able to recognize the words quickly when
reading and then be able to write the words.
There are MANY different ways you can help your first grader practice his/her words at home.
We’ve listed a few ideas here to get you started, and there are LOTS more to be found online.
Some of the best activities are those that parents and kids invent themselves!
Whatever activities you choose, here are some tips to keep in mind:
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Be sure to repeat the word out loud often while practicing. While it is helpful to write
the word in various ways, it is important that your child hear the word while seeing it.
Find some ways to practice the words that are not simply in isolation—locating them in
text (while reading a book, etc.) and/or using them in sentences makes practice more
meaningful.
Use lowercase letters when practicing. Your child will almost never encounter these
words in all capital letters, and often the word will look quite different when written in all
caps (for example: HERE/here). Having said that…it’s not a bad idea to practice
occasionally with the initial letter capitalized, since the word might occur at the
beginning of a sentence (a child who learns to recognize “here” might become stuck on
“Here”).
It’s a good idea to include a few “already known” words into your practice activities, along
with new words—not only for review, but so that your child can feel successful.
Make it fun! Tailor your practice to your child’s favorite activities. Think about ways to
tie art, music, active movement, and/or technology to word practice—whatever “clicks”
with your young learner!
If your child can already easily read all or some of the week’s words, don’t feel you have
to practice just for the sake of practicing. Feel free to “kick it up a notch” and work on
learning to spell the words correctly from memory.
We highly encourage at-home practice, and know that children who work regularly with their
families on sight words usually master them without much trouble. We are not requiring this
practice as homework to be turned in to your child’s teacher. However, it will likely take more
than just the practice we do here at school for your child to keep up with the number of words
that need to be mastered in first grade. Remember, the more words your child knows easily and
automatically, the easier reading and writing will be!
30 Sight Word Practice Ideas…
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Read a story. See how many times you can find your words.
Print your words with your fingers five or more times in sand, salt, flour, sugar, or shaving cream.
Write each consonant letter in red and each vowel in blue. Do this 3 times.
Make up a silly sentence for each word. Write it.
Play a guessing game (I’m thinking of a word that starts with a “c” and ends with “n”.)
Use your favorite snack to shape your words and then eat them.
Tape-record yourself saying and spelling your words.
Print the words on someone’s back using your fingers. Have the person guess the words.
Form your words out of small objects such as coins or buttons; write alphabet letters on small pebbles and
use them to spell out your words. Don’t forget good old refrigerator magnets!
Use colored chalk to write your words on the sidewalk.
Spread peanut butter on bread. Add raisins to form your words.
Stamp your words using assorted stamps and colors.
Use crayons or markers to copy the words in as many different color combinations as possible.
Draw your favorite character saying your words.
Paint your words using watercolors or finger paint.
Read a letter from the mail. Look for your words and list them.
Write three or more words that rhyme with each of your words.
Write a story using all five words.
Write each word in a rainbow of colors. First, write the words with one color. Trace over the words with
another color. Finally, trace the words again with a third color.
Have a parent or sibling scramble your words. Unscramble the words.
Write your words on cards (make two sets) and play "Memory Match" with them against a sibling or parent.
Make and complete a word search using www.puzzlemaker.com
Write a message or letter to a friend/relative using your words. Underline each word.
Cut out letters from newspapers or magazines to spell your words. Paste the letters on a piece of paper.
Write a song using all of your words.
Make four copies of each word on cards. Play a game of “Go Fish” for sight words.
Go on a “Word Hunt”: Make several copies of each word on cards/paper, have a parent hide them around
the house. A parent calls out one word at a time. Go find all of the cards with that word. Repeat with the
other words.
“Paint” your words on the driveway/sidewalk with water. Watch them disappear.
Write the words with sidewalk chalk hopscotch style—hop and read.
Post word cards up on doorways or other high-traffic areas in your home—read them every time you pass.
…and here are some web sites to explore for other ideas:
http://www.sightwords.com/sight-words/games/
http://www.thejennyevolution.com/fun-ways-practice-sight-words/
http://childhood101.com/2013/09/sight-words-activity-ideas/
https://www.pinterest.com/pragmaticmom/sight-word-fun/
went
play
be
she
are
You may use these
cards to practice your
words. 