Sight word activities can become mundane. Children must memorize sight words because they break the phonetic code. However, there are still so many variations on sight word activities. Add some pizz azz to the boring flashcards by making a few simple tweaks.
Get a Sight Word Mailbox for Sight Word Activities
Put the sight words in a mailbox. If you get a mailbox, treasure chest, or basket you can keep the sight words in one place. Kids are more excited to get out their “mailbox” than they are to get out a stack of flashcards that’s been shoved in some drawer. Get them out every day. Have the child read and spell each sight word out-loud. Below there are a variety of sight word activities that add some fun to the flashcards.
The Sight Word Train
Every time your student reads a sight word accurately, give him a magnetic train. Say, “Let’s see how long we can make this train.” Set the words they read inaccurately aside. Give the child a second and third chance to earn a train for the more difficult words.
If you don’t have magnetic trains, you can also just call the sight word flashcards “train cars.” No matter what you use, kids have fun seeing how many cars they can add to their train.
Sight Word Road
Lay out all the sight words. Have the student move the car down the road. Be sure the child reads and spells each sight word out-loud.
Collect Jewels
I had no idea fake jewels from JoAnns would be such a hit. Kids love them. Some of my students like to pretend they’re pirates collecting treasure. Others like to put them in the shape of a crown. Get a stack of jewels, and let the child earn one every time he reads and spells a sight word.
Spell Sight Words with Letter Cutouts
Write letters on construction paper. Ask the child to spell a sight word. Watch as he selects letters and assembles them in order. If he makes a mistake, get out the flashcard. Kids have fun making a colorful design out of the words.
If you found this post helpful, check out What are Sight Words?
Practice reading sight words in context with printable decodable books.
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