Teachers are always on the hunt for great sight word activities. Sight words are any words readers recognize automatically “by sight”—for fluent readers, that’s almost all words! High-frequency words, the most commonly occurring words in written English like those on the Dolch list, are often thought of as the most crucial sight words.
It’s a myth that blindly memorizing every letter in a sight word is the only way to learn it. The science of reading tells us that linking sounds and letters is the most effective way for kids’ brains to learn any word. Many common words are easy to tackle using beginning phonics skills (like “at,” “can,” “him,” etc.), so staying true to a strong phonics curriculum is one way to support kids’ sight word learning. Even irregularly spelled words have decodable parts, e.g., kids can use the sounds of “s” and “d” to help with “said,” even if the “ai” is unexpected. Experts often call these words “heart words” to call out for kids that they should learn the unexpected word parts “by heart.” (If all this is unfamiliar to you, it can feel overwhelming, but you’ve got this! Check out teaching guru Jillian Starr’s explanation for more help.)
Check out these low-prep and engaging sight word activities for both teaching and practicing words.
Sight Word Activities for Introducing Words
1. Map it and drive it
This is a genius way to introduce words with appealing materials: Say the word, represent each sound with a LEGO brick, write letters for each sound, and “drive” to read it.
Source: @droppinknowledgewithheidi
2. Smush play dough for each sound
Set up a routine that works for any word. Play dough squishing for each sound is the ultimate multi-sensory component.
Source: @playdough2plato
3. Map words with a magnet wand
It is so super-satisfying to drag those magnetic dots around! Watch the video below for lots of tips on introducing a word using this process.
Source: @warriorsforliteracy
4. Make a mini book
Lots of handy info in one place for your little learners.
Source: @hughesheartforfirst
5. Tap it, pop it, learn it!
Hardwire those words in kids’ brains with this comprehensive word intro routine. (You had us with the pop its!)
Source: @hellojenjones
Sight Word Activities for Practicing Words
6. Find and swat words
An oldie but such a goodie. Find a word in an array and WHACK! Swat it with a fly swatter!
Source: @kids_play_learn_laugh
7. Flip word pancakes
Serve up sight word pancakes while practicing spelling them aloud.
Source: @bee_happy_teaching
8. Wear heart word bracelets
Make kids feel like sight word VIPs.
Source: @teachingmoore
9. Search for sight word balls
Write sight words on ball pit balls with a chalk marker or dry-erase marker. Kids can race around hunting for balls to read and toss in a basket, or hunt through a big tub of balls for a certain word.
Source: @preschoolforyou
10. Start a sight word band
Loud but oh-so-fun! Feel the rhythm while tapping and reading sight words stuck to homemade percussion instruments.
Source: @earlyyears_withmrsg
11. Drive on a sight word path
This is one of many fun ways to use magnetic tiles for learning! Kids love “knocking down” word tiles with a toy car as they read each one.
Source: @travisntyler
12. Use sticky notes to inspire sight word sentences
Have kids stick words on items that give them ideas for sentences. “My Mom said to wear a helmet!” = so good!
Source: @kinneypodlearning
13. Write words on a sensory bag
So easy: Fill a zip-top bag with a small amount of kid-safe paint, seal well, and have kids practice “writing” sight words with their finger or a cotton swab.
Source: @makeitmultisensory
14. Wear a sight word crown
Wear your word proudly and practice reading others’ words. Fun in person or virtually.
Source: @mrsjonescreationstation
15. Play a magnetic-tile board game
We love new ideas for ways to use magnetic tiles for sight word activities. Easy to set up and fun to play.
Source: @twotolove_bairantwins
16. Spell words to a familiar tune
Get sight words stuck in everyone’s head, in a good way. We’d add a line for chanting the sounds in the word!
Source: @saysbre
17. Feed a word monster
Nom, nom, nom.
Source: @ecplayandlearn
18. Search for the pom-pom under sight word cups
Read all the words as you try to find the cup that hides the prize.
Source: @la.la.learning
19. Play sight word KABOOM
This classroom classic is perfect for sight words. If you need a refresher on the rules, Jillian Starr covers them.
Source: @essentiallykinder
20. Roll and write words
Roll, write, repeat.
Source: @mylittlepandamonium
21. Write words with rainbow colors
Bonus points for aromatic markers.
Source: @mylittlepandamonium
22. Trace words with flashlights
Stock up on batteries because kids never get tired of this!
Source: @giggleswithgerg
23. Find words in plastic eggs
Give kids a checklist of words to find as they open each egg.
Source: @blooming_tots1
24. Spy words around the classroom
Just add a magnifying glass and clipboard to make kids feel like supersleuths!
Source: @readingcorneronline
25. Find words in the morning message
Don’t forget about old standbys! This is one of our favorite ways to get kids to recognize sight words in connected text.
Source: @tales_of_a_kinder_classroom
26. Build words with bricks
Such a great use of extra building bricks!
Source: @raysinkinder
27. Write words in sand
Easy-peasy to set up and keep neat if you use plastic pencil boxes.
Source: @teacherhacks
28. Spell words on a construction site
Bulldozing over each word to read it is the best part!
Source: @planningplaytime
29. Spell words with toy cars
Drive on over!
Source: @lozlovesprep
30. Park in a sight word “parking lot”
This one is easy to modify based on whatever toys are available in the classroom or at home.
Source: @msbendersclassroom
31. “Plant” words in play dough
Watch those reading skills grow!
Source: @planningplaytime
32. Build words in a sensory tub
Because spelling is just more fun when your hands are covered in beans!
Source: @coffeeandspitup
33. Write words on a magnetic drawing board
That eraser track makes for a perfect word card holder!
Source: @moffattgirls
34. Or write words on the window!
Everyone wants a turn to write on the window!
Source: @kindergarten_matters
35. Shhh! Discover words written in invisible ink
Write words in white crayon and reveal them with watercolors on top!
Source: @teachstarter
36. Dot-paint words with a cotton swab
Calming and effective.
Source: @sightwordactivities
37. “Type” words on a keyboard
Busy day at the sight word office! Use a keyboard cover or any old keyboard.
Source: @lifebetweensummers
38. Read words before heading through the door
The line leader can double as the word pointer during transitions.
Source: @ms.rowekinder
39. Read the word the teacher’s wearing!
Wait, is there something on my shirt?
Source: @theprimarypartner
40. Take a sight word cakewalk
Choose a winning word when the music stops!
Source: @joyfulinkinder
41. Play sight word hopscotch
If you can’t get outdoors, tape on the floor works just as well.
Source: @wheretheliteracygrows
42. Play tic-tac-toe
I’ll be team “the.”
Source: @create_n_teach
43. Go sight word bowling
No bowling pins? Use half-filled plastic water bottles instead.
Source: @thecreativeteacher_
44. Ready, aim, read
Just throw a beanbag at a word target if foam darts are a no-go.
Source: @laurens_lil_learners
45. Play muffin tin ball toss
Toss and read. It’s easy to use colored muffin cups to prep different sets of words.
Source: @homeschooling_fun_with_lynda
46. DIY sentence flash cards
Authentic use of words in context for the win.
Source: @teachertipsandtales
47. Play sight word checkers
King me! If kids don’t have a partner available, they can “play” with a stuffed animal and get double practice.
Source: @sightwordactivities
48. Play sight word Guess Who?
Set up this game once and use it forever.
Source: @lessons_and_lattes
We’d love to hear—what are your favorite sight word activities? Share in the comments below.
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Plus, what are sight words?
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Sight Words Reading Practice | List 1
Alesia Netuk2022-12-23T16:52:02-05:00
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It is important for beginning readers to practice reading sight words. Sight words are word that are most frequently used and they appear on almost every page of text. These are also words that can’t necessarily be sounded out, so they need to be memorized. For example, if you sound out the word ‘the’ it would sound totally different than how it should be pronounced.
I wanted to help you as educators out, so I created sight word reader booklets for beginning readers. There are 42 altogether! They all are from the Pre-Primer Dolch Sight Word List (with 2 extra sight words added in). Each sight word contains 3 sets of printable booklets.
You can download the readers for free on the colored buttons below, or you can save time and buy them in a bundle HERE.
Printing Directions:
Print the pages on paper. (Page 1 is my Terms of Use.) You can also print the pages front and back. If you have troubles printing, make sure Adobe is up to date. You can download the most current version here.
After printing, cut out the pages and staple them together. Enjoy reading!
Click on the pictures below to take you to the sight word readers!
Pre-Primer-
Primer
Free Sight word worksheets get your students to recognise, read, and write tricky words. Help students become fluent readers by starting off strong with fun and engaging sight word games and worksheets. Use these sight word worksheets pdf free ideas to build vocabulary too.
Sight word printable worksheets are the number one way to help students learn common words and common high frequency words.
This is a growing collection of Free Sight word worksheets, designed for ages approximately between 4 & 6 years old. You can also browse through our preschool printables and toddler printables.
Sight word practice worksheets for kindergarten
Repetition and practice are key to build proper sight word recognition skills. Kids learn to read, write and spell their sight words by exposure.
These fun Free Sight Word Worksheets include so many ways in which you could incorporate sight word practice in your class or homeschool.
What are sight words?
Sight words are the most common words in the English language. They are often taught to children in kindergarten, elementary school, and even sometimes in high school.
Sight words are important because they have a high frequency of use in everyday life.
They can be used to teach children how to read and write more quickly.
And they can also be used as a list of words to help people improve their reading comprehension skills.
Are high frequency words the same as sight words?
Sight words are the most common words in written English. They are often the first words that children learn to read and write.
Sight words are typically considered high-frequency word, which means they appear more often in text than other words.
Sight words can be difficult for children to learn because they do not follow a predictable pattern of letter combinations that is found in most English language texts.
Here’s a list of hands-on free sight word worksheets to get even the most reluctant kids reading, writing and spelling their sight words!
They have been tested in the classroom and to motivate your kids to learn their sight words.
Click the blue links to get your copy of some fun printable sight word games and activities. We will add printable games and activities often so keep this page bookmarked and come back often!
Teachers can prepare these activity sheets very quickly and easily. You only need to print, then leave!
The addition of these worksheets to your morning work routine, literacy instruction, or private practise sessions is ideal. Additionally, they adhere to the same guidelines for each term, ensuring that kids always know what to do.
Sight Word Sentence Worksheets
Help students read and understand their sight words by using these fun and engaging high frequency words posters. They can be used in so many ways, place each High Frequency Words Poster in small groups and have the kids read and work on the word mats.
These High Frequency Sight Word Sentence Posters do just that. An added bonus in these include printable worksheets to read, trace and color their posters.
Christmas Sight Word Worksheets
These printable Christmas Sight Word Games are almost NO PREP! Kids will read the word on the ‘Christmas tree card’ and then find the word on the printable, trace it and then colour the ornament on the tree.
Christmas Free Sight Word Worksheets. Looking for some fun seasonal worksheets? Kids will read, identify the sight word and trace it on the Christmas tree.
Dot Marker Sight Word Worksheets
Dot Marker Reading Sight Words for ESL Students – Fun FREE Dab a Dot Worksheet. These worksheets are perfect for ESL students.
Cut and paste sight words for kindergarten
Sight Word Build a Burger Word Differentiation activities. These sight word cut and paste activities will engage and motivate your kids as they build ‘burgers’ by identifying the identical sight words on each part, cutting and pasting it on their worksheets.
Kindergarten sight words
There are so many different ways to learn letters of the sight words.
If you want to encourage kindergarten kids to learn their sight words in a fun way, here is a list of super fun printable activities to add to your planning.
These printables include fry sight words, Dolch sight word list up to second grade level.
If you prefer to navigate the posts in a list, here they are right here.
These kindergarten sight word worksheets are fun activities to add to your English language lesson planning or mainstream teaching.
Some of these activities can be used as flash cards, adding important words with different activities like a word search, or sight word practice pages, these would be certain to help develop more literacy skills.
Sight Word Practice Pages
When you want to practice sight words with an early reader, adding a fun worksheet like a mystery puzzle within a literacy center will make all the difference! The little learner will respond to these activities with such enthusiasm.
Halloween Free Sight Word Worksheets
Grab these super fun sight word tracing printables to get students working on their sight word reading and letter tracing skills in one activity. This is a Halloween themed resource!
Laminate these mats and use them with kids in preschool by getting the students to highlight or cover the word instead of trace over it.
Having a sight word game on hand, like one with missing letters would also help entice children to learn more sight words.
Look no further, these super cute printables are easy to use and practically no prep perfect for preschoolers and kinders.
Owl Free Sight Word Worksheets These Owl Free Sight Word Worksheets are the easiest way to engage and encourage kids to practice reading and recognising their sight words!
Grab these fun and free 10 printables to teach Sight Words for ESL students.
3 of the best common core kindergarten sight word activities from this post here, pick up these cut picture puzzles:
Winter Sight Word Worksheets
Winter Free Sight Word Activities. These Hands-on Winter Free Sight Word Worksheets will engage ALL your kids no matter their level.
They will read, search for and trace the matching sight word all with a fun hot cocoa theme!
Sight Word Playdough Worksheets
Sight Word Dough Mats Need a fun, tactile and engaging method to help little learners develop reading their sight words?
These Sight Word Play Dough Mats will do just that!
Kids will work on building each letter in their sight word, tracing and reading the sight word in context and writing the word independently all on one dry erase mat!
Sight Word Readers Interactive Tab Books. Are you looking for some new sight word readers?
These activity booklets include sight word fluency intervention that is FUN for kids! Each booklet includes activities to get the students reading, tracing, and finally writing the word independently.
Sight Words Worksheets PDF free
Of course, it all depends on reading skills, so use the activity printables for sight words that your kindergarten students can complete.
Sight Word Cut and Paste Worksheets
Sight Word cut and paste worksheets are perfect for when you need quick printables and activities to help your students learn sight word reading fluency.
Penguin Sight Word Spin and Color
Free Sight Word Spin Read and Color Penguin Themed Blog Post: looking for some new ways to to get students reading their sight words? These fun printable pages offer some variety in their daily sight word practice!
They spin the words on the penguin using a paper clip and a pencil and then read the word the clip is pointing to, they finally color the word.
One of the most important skills beginning readers need to learn is reading sight words quickly. Sight words are not only words that are difficult to phonetically sound out, but also words that they will see SO often. Our goal is for them to be able to recognize these words and read them without needing to sound them out at all! These free sight word practice worksheets will help your students practice reading sight word sentences with fluency!
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Sight Word Practice
Reading sight words in context improves reading fluency! Use these teacher-tested and student-approved activities. Sign up below and get this sight word practice sent straight to your inbox!
HOW TO TEACH SIGHT WORDS
Color words are the perfect way to introduce reading sight words to your students. These are words they have seen and will continue to see in the real world around them.
One thing that I see often with my kindergarten students is their ability to read sight words in isolation, but having a tougher time making the connections when they see these words in text. I knew I needed to help guide them in reading the sight words in sentences and provide them with repeated practice to ensure success. These free sight word pages really helped my students practice reading the color words in context.
Sight word practice for kindergarten
These sight word pages are great for scaffolding because we start with their strength- reading each sight word in isolation. Then we use the skills we’ve learned to read each word in a sentence. Your students will
- Touch and read each word in isolation
- Highlight the focus word in each sentence
- Use the picture clues to help read the sentence
- Read each sentence 3 times for fluency
How to use these fluency pages
During our guided reading time, we work together to read the sight word sentences. First, we touch and read the sight word at the top chorally. Then we search and highlight the word in each sentence. We read the sentences altogether.
Then each students takes a turn reading a sentence aloud. This helps build confidence in a safe setting. The other students follow along with their finger as one students read.
For the last read, each students points and reads in their minds. I go around the table and have them read each sentence to me out loud. This is a great way for me to assess their reading fluency. If they finish reading before I get to them, they rewrite a sentence and illustrate the picture at the bottom of the page.
These sight word fluency pages have been a game changer in our classroom! They have truly build confidence in my readers!
You can download the color words for your students to practice reading and improve their reading fluency as well.