Strategies and Hands-on Activities for Teaching Sight Words

Clarion University of Pennsylvania Presented by Dr. Deborah Ellermeyer Clarion University of Pennsylvania dellermeyer@clarion.edu Dr. Kay Chick Penn State Altoona kxc19@psu.edu

What are sight words? Sight words are words that are recognized instantly and without any analysis.

Many sight words can’t be sounded out because they don’t follow decoding rules.

Sight words are high frequency words – the words most frequently occurring in reading materials.

Why do we teach sight words? Students who learn sight words have a good base for beginning reading instruction.

When do we teach sight words? Sight word instruction usually begins in kindergarten and continues into first and second grade, although struggling readers continue learning sight words beyond second grade.

Two Sight Word Lists Used by Teachers The Dolch Basic Word List The Fry Instant Word List

The Dolch Basic Word List Consists of 220 high frequency words "a" "and" "away" "big" "blue" "can" "come" "down" "find"

The Dolch Basic Word List Comprise approximately 50% - 75% of all the words found in reading materials

The Fry Instant Word List Consists of 1000 words which are divided into 10 groups of 100 words

The Fry Instant Word List First 300 words make up approximately 60% of the words found in reading material

Common Sight Word Practices Flashcard drills Word list drills Word walls

How do I teach sight words?

Drill and Practice Do I always teach sight words the same way?

Do I enjoy teaching sight words?

Do my students enjoy sight words routines?

How can I make sight word practice more enjoyable? Presenting words within an enjoyable context Engaging students in fun, hands-on activities that teach sight words & other skills

Use the poems and lessons to: Introduce new sight words

Use the poems and lessons to: Reinforce learned sight words and provide reading practice

Use the poems and lessons to: Assess sight word retention

Use the poems and lessons to: Integrate language skills Antonyms Synonyms Homophones Parts of speech Same double consonant words Word family words Beginning sounds and vowel sounds

Benefits Easy to Use Lessons Minimal preparation Few outside resources required Sight words are identified in boldface type in poems Enjoyable, hands-on activities

Benefits Versatility of Use Can be used to introduce, practice, review and/or assess Can be used for whole-class or small-group instruction

Benefits Poems Engaging Enjoyable Provide authentic context Controlled vocabulary with emphasis on sight words

Benefits Repetition and Multiple Exposures to Sight Words

Benefits Patterned and Predictable Text is Perfect for Emergent and Beginning Readers

Benefits Enjoyable Activities Foster Sight Word Acquisition

We Are Opposites We are opposites, And I’ll tell you more! I say after, And you say before. I look up, And you look down. I like to walk, You run to tow

I think it’s hot, You think it’s cold. I say it’s new, You say it’s old. I come in, And you go out. We are opposites, Let’s give a shout! We are opposites It’s like I said before. Think of your own. If you want any more!

Opposites Pyramid Objective to identify and read the antonym of a given sight word

Activity #2 We Are Opposites Setup One copy of Opposites Pyramid page per child

Write sight words on the board: Setup Write sight words on the board: black on start to good after give yes up all out new under hot first little bring come do full run always long light sit full far clean right fast

Activity #2 We Are Opposites Setup Write opposites on index cards and place in a paper bag.

Using the Poems Familiarize yourself with the poems in advance.

Using the Poems Print the poems on chart paper and highlight the sight words.

Using the Poems Point to the words as you read the poems aloud.

Using the Poems Read the poems aloud several times and invite students to read with you.

Using the Poems Print the sight words on flashcards for practice in isolation. Hang poems on chart paper around the room and take poetry walks for practice in context.

Using the Poems Have children print sight words on index cards and create individual sight word banks.

Using the Poems Hang the poems around the room to keep them visible for student practice.

Using the Poems Create a word wall and USE it!

Scholastic Teaching Resources by Deborah Ellermeyer

Resource Books by the Presenters Activities for Standards-based, Integrated Language Arts Instruction by: Deborah Ellermeyer & Kay Chick Holcomb Hathaway Publishers (Grades K-6) The many activities in Activities for Standards-Based, Integrated Language Arts Instruction were designed to meet the instructional needs of teacher educators, pre- and in-service teachers, and students in grades K–6. Designed for versatility, the book can serve as a companion text for existing language arts textbooks in university-level language arts methods courses, or it can be used independently as a valuable teacher-resource book.

Resource Books by the Presenters Multicultural American History through Children’s Literature by: Deborah Ellermeyer & Kay Chick Teacher Ideas Press (Grades 3-6) This integrated teacher resource provides lesson ideas for the instruction of social studies and history concepts within the context of quality multicultural children's books and picture books. Each chapter focuses on three picture books related to various multicultural themes in American history. Chapters are organized chronologically, and by theme, and include book summaries, materials lists, student-centered activities, related books and poetry, and links to national history standards. Multicultural themes include: the Old West, American Revolution, Slavery, Civil War, World War II and the Holocaust.

Resource Books by the Presenters Ancient Civilizations Reader’s Theater by: Deborah Ellermeyer & Judy Rowell Creative Teaching Press (Grades 5 – 6) This book features fun reader’s theater scripts that foster reading fluency, improve text comprehension, build vocabulary, and help students understand ancient civilizations that include: the Aztecs, Inca, Maya, Etruscans, Minoans, Romans, Chinese Han, Indus River Valley culture, and the Mesopotamians.

Resource Books by the Presenters All About the Weather by: Deborah Ellermeyer & Judy Rowell Evan-Moor (Grades PreK – K) This 208 page, full color, thematic resource book features colorful storybooks with flannel board pieces and ready-to-use activities to teach skills and concepts across the whole early childhood curriculum. Activities center around reading, math, art, dramatic play, cooking, music, outdoor fun and movement.

Resource Books by the Presenters All About My World by: Deborah Ellermeyer & Judy Rowell Evan-Moor (Grades PreK – K) This 208 page, full color, thematic resource book features colorful storybooks with flannel board pieces and ready-to-use activities to teach skills and concepts across the whole early childhood curriculum. Activities center around reading, math, art, dramatic play, cooking, music, outdoor fun and movement.

Resource Books Available at: Scholastic, Inc. http://shop.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchResultDisplayView?query=Ellermeyer&NEW_QUERY_PARAM=true&storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10002&viewParam=Search&submit2.x=16&submit2.y=7

Resource Books Available at: Evan Moor Educational Publishers http://www.edumart.com/sui/edumart/e_search.cgi/evanmoor?cart_id=evanmoor.68.162.143.177&textonly=&query=&grade=PreK&go_manu.x=53&go_manu.y=9

Resource Books Available at: Creative Teaching Press http://www.creativeteaching.com/c/@7K0R9._xq2Z7k/Pages/list.html?curList@3

Resource Books Available at: Teacher Ideas Press http://www.teacherideaspress.com/catalog/LU9556.aspx

Resource Books Available at Holcomb Hathaway Publishers http://www.hh-pub.com/book.php3?book=HH1765