Here are more ideas on different activities that can help your children decode, read and write words and/or improve reading fluency by quickly reading sight words.

I printed all the sight words we study in Kindergarten and made these “fried eggs”. Kids use spatulas to “serve” the eggs. They must read the word out loud and then they get to keep it.

There are two different ways to play this/use this, based on your students’ skill level.

If you place the eggs “yolk up”, kids get a chance to decide what words they want to “serve”. This is a good choice for kids who are still working on learning the words but who also need to feel successful and confident in their skill level. They might choose easier words first and that is OK. It is critical that all kids feel successful!

It makes it easier for them to approach a learning task or activity if they feel confident!

If you place the eggs “yolk down”, kids can’t really choose easier words and have to try to read whatever word they get. Once all the words were “served", kids write their own words.

Another center that I use is simply a pocket chart with lots of different picture cards. (I change the pictures periodically)

Here is how I use it:

I provide sticky notes and have pairs work on it. Depending on what specific skills I want the kids to work on, I ask that they label the pictures, label the initial letter, label the ending letter, clap the syllables and/or use the words in complete sentences (after they wrote them on sticky notes).

Another idea is to have them talk about the picture, start with a word and create a sentence.

Start with a simple sentence and create a complex one. I call it “painting pictures in the listener’s brain” by using descriptive words. For example:

“cat” - “I see a cat.” - “ I see a gray and white cat.” - “I see a gray and white cat lying in the grass.”

"Word Work" is so much fun and can be done so many ways. It is especially important for our kinesthetic learners to actually be involved in making words, not just using paper and pencil type of activities.

Here is another idea:

Earlier in the year, I gave the kids a large piece of construction paper, pasta letters (alphabet noodles) and foam alphabet stickers. They had to write the sight word and build it. Many also wrote sentences using the sight words.

MAJOR PET PEEVE

Here is a pet peeve of mine! Baby talk or simplistic talk in lower grade levels, especially in Kindergarten. My kids know, understand and use various difficult terms such as: “descriptive”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “perimeter”, “columns”, “rows”, etc, etc (not just new vocabulary terms dictated by the curricula used, but real life terms!). Kids are little sponges who absorb everything taught. They love words and are fascinated by new and difficult words. The KEY is to ALWAYS help them make connections and REALLY understand the words. We define them, use them ALL THE TIME, give examples, use our own experiences to give examples, etc. Of course, I keep it appropriate and relevant to them. Once they understand the words, they LOVE using them by themselves again and again! It is soooo cute to watch/listen to them. Don't be afraid to use "big words"!

This is how we help them enrich their vocabulary!

Thanks for letting me vent :-)

Check back soon for LOTS more ideas and pictures!

Enjoy the rest of the week! :-)

I recently posted the second product all focused on all the sight words on Dolch's Primer Word List. It works great with my first product which covers all sight words on Dolch's Pre-Primer Word List. Click on the title to go directly to the product page!