Sight words are those most common and frequent words used in our everyday reading and writing. Learning these words by sight helps readers to maintain speed and fluency by not getting caught up on meaning.

Sight words often are those tricky words that defy rules and must be recognised through sight only.

Practice, practice, practice is key.

In the classroom or at home try;

• Writing the words with water and paint brush on the path outside

• Writing with chalk on the brick walls or concentrate path

• Writing with whiteboard markers on the windows - kids love this one particalury

• Provide copies of words and students can cut each letter out and paste them in the correct order

• Provide a game sheet with six words, one for each number on the dice. Children roll and must write the word which corresponds with that number. We call this Roll and Write

• Reading them out loud

• Turn off lights at night, falsh a torch on a sight word for them to read

• Spell out the words using magnetic letters

• Race to see how many times a word can be written in one minute

• Put words into sentences, orally and written

• Write them on flash cards twice and play memory or snap

Reading and writing reading sight words at home provides additional practice. Provide parents with a record of the words you are currently teaching in class and child success rate.

Children should have immediate recall of sight words so it is said a child can successfully read a sight word if they can say it within two seconds. If they attempt to work or stretch a word they will not have success, as these words are not designed to be decoded, except visually.

Do not be tempted to teach your students all their words at once. This can make the children feel overwhelmed and frustrated and may result in the development of a negative attitude towards reading or low self esteem. Just choose a couple of words to focus on at a time.

Over learning the words by repeated practice is the only way to ensure the words are well learnt and help them remain in the memory.

How do you teach sight words to your class? We would love it if you joined the conversation and shared below.