Ø Making and Breaking
Going from the known to the unknown using onset & rime:
i.e., from at to cat and sat using magnetic letters
(also useful for prefix/suffix, medial vowel changes)
Ø Flexible Practice/Taking sight words to fluency:
Write several times on the practice page
Magnetic letters
Write on a dry erase board
Write in the air
Write on the carpet
Write on a Magna Doodle
Write on a chalkboard
Write words with a wet sponge or brushes on the sidewalk
Ø ABC Order:
Each child gets four or five cards to put in ABC order on the floor in front of them. They check with a partner, combine cards and put in ABC order. Add another pair, etc.
Ø Commercial Games/Activities: any games with cards to read or letters to manipulate:
Scrabble Go Fish Bingo Boggle
Lotto Chunks Word Search Hang Man
Ø I'm Thinking of a Word:
This is a good activity for developing scanning skills. You need to have many words available for it to be effective.
I'm thinking of a word. It rhymes with___, means the same thing as___, is the opposite of___, we use this word when___, etc.
When you know it, say it.
Ø Flash Card Activities: to engage all readers (including expert readers)
Whisper/Shout: teacher/parent directed using cards
As you go through the stack of cards, students read words in a whispery voice. After several words, "Say it louder." Students gradually move up to a gentle shout for the last few words.
Ø Making Sentences:
This is a good activity to use once a week. Start by giving your child 2 word cards. The child thinks of a sentence that uses those two words. The child says his/her sentence. Gradually move up to more words. Keep the activity oral – do not have the child write his/her sentences until later in the school year. Sentences can be silly or serious!
Ø Highlight high frequency words: Have children go through a poem, worksheets, math homework, etc. and highlight the sight words.
Ø Circle, Circle, Underline: Circle the prefix, circle the suffix, and underline the vowels in the root word. This makes multi-syllabic words more manageable, breaking them into chunks of meaning.
Beyond Just Reading Sight Words
Ø Match cards whose word begins with the same letter or syllable.
Ø Match cards whose word ends with the same letter or
syllable.
Ø Match cards whose word is the same.
Ø Match cards whose words rhyme.
Ø Arrange cards according to alphabetical order.
Ø Arrange cards according to the number of syllables in each word.
Ø Make up sentences using the words on the cards.
Ø Make up a story using all the words on the cards.
Ø Find synonyms, antonyms or homonyms.
Ø Find cards whose words have the same root or base word.
Ø Find cards whose words have prefixes or suffixes.
Ø Find cards with compound or derived words.
Ø Arrange cards by the stress on the words.
Ø Make up a story or poem using all or most of the words on the cards.
Activities by: C. Luckie
