Sight Words: The Little Big Words That Make a Big Difference - Teach Your Child to Read

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As parents and educators, we often hear about the importance of teaching children phonics and decoding skills. But what about sight words or tricky words or even common exception words? These high-frequency words play a crucial role in early reading development and are an essential part of a child's literacy journey. In this blog post, we'll explore the role of sight words in early reading and share tips on how to teach them effectively.

What are Sight Words?

Sight words, common exception words or tricky words are words that appear frequently in written text and do not follow regular phonetic patterns. These words are often difficult to sound out and must be recognised by sight. Examples of sight words include "the," "and," "you," "me," "was," and "are."

The Role of Sight Words in Early Reading:

Sight words are important for several reasons:

Reading Fluency: Recognising sight words quickly and automatically helps children read more fluently and with greater comprehension.

Vocabulary Development: Sight words are often high-frequency words that appear in many different texts. By learning sight words, children can build their vocabulary and understand more of what they read.

Reading Comprehension: Being able to recognise sight words allows children to focus on the meaning of the text, rather than spending time decoding individual words.

Confidence: Mastering sight words gives children confidence in their reading ability and encourages them to read more independently.


How to Teach Sight Words:

Here are some tips for teaching sight words effectively:

Start with High-Frequency Words: Begin with a list of high-frequency sight words that are commonly used in written text. You can find lists of sight words online or in educational resources.

Use Flashcards: Create flashcards with sight words on one side and a picture or sentence on the other side. Practice reading the sight words aloud and then using them in a sentence.

Make it Fun: Incorporate games and activities into your sight word practice. Play memory, bingo, or make a sight word scavenger hunt.

Practice, Practice, Practice: Repetition is key when it comes to learning sight words. Review the words regularly and provide plenty of opportunities for your child to read and write them.

Encourage Reading: Encourage your child to read books that contain sight words. Point out the words as you read and ask your child to find them in the text.

 

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