Strategies and Hands-on Activities for Teaching Sight Words

Strategies and Hands-on Activities for Teaching Sight

Words

Presented by

Dr. Deborah EllermeyerClarion University of Pennsylvania

dellermeyer@clarion.edu

Dr. Kay ChickPenn State Altoona

kxc19@psu.edu

What are sight words?

•Sight words are words that are recognized instantly and without any analysis.

•Many sight words can’t be sounded out because they don’t follow decoding rules.

•Sight words are high frequency words – the words most frequently occurring in reading materials.

Why do we teach sight words?

•Students who learn sight words have a good base for beginning reading instruction.

When do we teach sight words?

• Sight word instruction usually begins in kindergarten and continues into first and second grade, although struggling readers continue learning sight words beyond second grade.

Two Sight Word Lists Used by Teachers

•The Dolch Basic Word List

•The Fry Instant Word List

The Dolch Basic Word List

•Consists of 220 high frequency words

The Dolch Basic Word List

•Comprise approximately 50% - 75% of all the words found in reading materials

The Fry Instant Word List

•Consists of 1000 words which are divided into 10 groups of 100 words

The Fry Instant Word List

•First 300 words make up approximately 60% of the words found in reading material

Common Sight Word Practices

•Flashcard drills

•Word list drills

•Word walls

How do I teach sight words?

Drill and Practice

Do I always teach sight words the same way?

Do I enjoy teaching sight words?

Do my studentsenjoy sight words routines?

How can I make sight word practice more

enjoyable?• Presenting words

within an enjoyable context

• Engaging students in fun, hands-on activities that teach sight words & other skills

Use the poems and lessons to:

•Introduce new sight words

Use the poems and lessons to:

•Reinforce learned sight words and provide reading practice

Use the poems and lessons to:

•Assess sight word retention

Use the poems and lessons to:

• Integrate language skills Antonyms Synonyms Homophones Parts of speech Same double consonant words Word family words Beginning sounds and vowel sounds

Benefits 1. Easy to Use Lessons

Minimal preparation Few outside resources required Sight words are identified in boldface

type in poems Enjoyable, hands-on activities

Benefits2. Versatility of Use

Can be used to introduce, practice, review and/or assess

Can be used for whole-class or small-group instruction

Benefits 3. Poems

Engaging Enjoyable Provide authentic context Controlled vocabulary with emphasis

on sight words

Benefits 4. Repetition and Multiple

Exposures to Sight Words

Benefits 5. Patterned and Predictable Text is Perfect for Emergent and Beginning Readers

Benefits6. Enjoyable Activities Foster Sight Word Acquisition

We Are OppositesWe are opposites,And I’ll tell you more!I say after, And you say before.

I look up,And you look down.I like to walk,You run to tow

I think it’s hot,You think it’s cold.I say it’s new,You say it’s old.

I come in,And you go out.We are opposites,Let’s give a shout!

We are oppositesIt’s like I said before.Think of your own.If you want any more!

Opposites Pyramid

Objective

to identify and read the antonym of a given sight word

Activity #2We Are Opposites

Setup

1. One copy of Opposites Pyramid page

per child

Setup

2. Write sight words on the board:

black on start to good

after give yes up allout new under hot firstlittle bring come do fullrun always long light sitfull far clean right fast

Activity #2We Are Opposites

Setup

3. Write opposites on index cards and place in a paper bag.

Using the Poems

Familiarize yourself with the poems in advance.

Using the Poems

Print the poems on chart paper and highlight the sight words.

Using the Poems

Point to the words as you read the poems aloud.

Using the Poems

Read the poems aloud several times and invite students to read with you.

Using the PoemsPrint the sight words on

flashcards for practice in isolation. Hang poems on chart paper around the room and take poetry walks for practice in context.

Using the Poems

Have children print sight words on index cards and create individual sight word banks.

Using the Poems

Hang the poems around the room to keep them visible for student practice.

Using the Poems

Create a word wall and USE it!

Scholastic Teaching Resources

byDeborah Ellermeyer

Resource Books by the Presenters

Activities for Standards-based, Integrated Language Arts Instruction

by: Deborah Ellermeyer & Kay ChickHolcomb Hathaway Publishers (Grades K-6)

The many activities in Activities for Standards-Based, Integrated Language Arts Instruction were designed to meet the instructional needs of teacher educators, pre- and in-service teachers, and students in grades K–6. Designed for versatility, the book can serve as a companion text for existing language arts textbooks in university-level language arts methods courses, or it can be used independently as a valuable teacher-resource book.

Resource Books by the Presenters

Multicultural American History through Children’s Literature

by: Deborah Ellermeyer & Kay ChickTeacher Ideas Press (Grades 3-6)

This integrated teacher resource provides lesson ideas for the instruction of social studies and history concepts within the context of quality multicultural children's books and picture books. Each chapter focuses on three picture books related to various multicultural themes in American history. Chapters are organized chronologically, and by theme, and include book summaries, materials lists, student-centered activities, related books and poetry, and links to national history standards. Multicultural themes include: the Old West, American Revolution, Slavery, Civil War, World War II and the Holocaust.

Resource Books by the Presenters

Ancient Civilizations Reader’s Theater

by: Deborah Ellermeyer & Judy Rowell

Creative Teaching Press (Grades 5 – 6)

This book features fun reader’s theater scripts that foster reading fluency, improve text comprehension, build vocabulary, and help students understand ancient civilizations that include: the Aztecs, Inca, Maya, Etruscans, Minoans, Romans, Chinese Han, Indus River Valley culture, and the Mesopotamians.

Resource Books by the Presenters

All About the Weatherby: Deborah Ellermeyer & Judy

RowellEvan-Moor (Grades PreK – K)

This 208 page, full color, thematic resource book features colorful storybooks with flannel board pieces and ready-to-use activities to teach skills and concepts across the whole early childhood curriculum. Activities center around reading, math, art, dramatic play, cooking, music, outdoor fun and movement.

Resource Books by the Presenters

All About My Worldby: Deborah Ellermeyer & Judy

RowellEvan-Moor (Grades PreK – K)

This 208 page, full color, thematic resource book features colorful storybooks with flannel board pieces and ready-to-use activities to teach skills and concepts across the whole early childhood curriculum. Activities center around reading, math, art, dramatic play, cooking, music, outdoor fun and movement.

Resource Books Available at:

Scholastic, Inc.

• http://shop.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchResultDisplayView?query=Ellermeyer&NEW_QUERY_PARAM=true&storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10002&viewParam=Search&submit2.x=16&submit2.y=7

Resource Books Available at:

Evan Moor Educational Publishers

• http://www.edumart.com/sui/edumart/e_search.cgi/evanmoor?cart_id=evanmoor.68.162.143.177&textonly=&query=&grade=PreK&go_manu.x=53&go_manu.y=9

Resource Books Available at:

Creative Teaching Press

• http://www.creativeteaching.com/c/@7K0R9._xq2Z7k/Pages/list.html?curList@3

Resource Books Available at:

Teacher Ideas Press

http://www.teacherideaspress.com/catalog/LU9556.aspx

Resource Books Available at

Holcomb Hathaway Publishers

• http://www.hh-pub.com/book.php3?book=HH1765