Some people think that learning to read sight words is too easy and a waste of time, but they are wrong. Reading sight words helps children learn how to speak better and improves their reading skills.
Children use four different types of strategies when they are learning how to read. They try sounding out the word, recognising rhymes or patterns, guessing at the word by looking at the beginning or middle letter, and decoding by identifying a custom in the word that is consistent with other words in the sentence. Sight words make it easier for them because they don’t have those other three steps they need to do before they can figure out what they are reading, speeding up their progress considerably.
What are Sight Words?
Sight words are the most common words in the English language; sight words are high-frequency and account for about 50% of all written text.
Sight word sentence reading is a great way to teach children how to read. because it helps them learn sight words and it helps them learn how to sound out new words.
Sight words comprise a significant part of the word group most commonly used in reading text. Seeing sight words printed is a valuable way of helping young children identify the parts of speech they visit most often.
What is the best way to teach children sight words?
Typically, sight words have been taught to children in literacy exercises before they go on to learn more difficult, phonetically-based phonics lessons that teach the child how letters correspond with sounds. Including a wide range of sight words will support ‘basic language skills,’ alert pupils to many grammar concepts and sustain vocabulary growth because students become more advanced readers and writers.
How do I use sentences to teach my child sight words?
The ‘Sight Words Sentence Game – Boom Cards‘ provides extensive exposure to suggested sight words.
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