High Frequency/Sight Words
Often the terms High Frequency Words and Sight Words are used interchangeably, and are taught in the same fashion when working with young learners in early literacy instruction. The key difference is that High Frequency Words are the words that appear most often in print, and we want young learners to be able to recognize them automatically since they will encounter them over and over. Some High Frequency Words can be sounded out, and others can not.
Sight Words account for nearly 75% of the printed words that are seen in beginning children’s text. These are the words we want young learners to recognize right away, at first sight, so they don’t need to devote their energy to figuring out the word. These words do not follow the basic rules of spelling, and require memorizing since sounding them out is impossible. When children are able to recognize these words without trying to decode them, their fluency increases, and there is a direct impact on their reading comprehension.
*Young learners should have a strong understanding of alphabetic principle and letter names/sounds prior to working on high frequency words and sight words.
Recognizing High Frequency and Sight Words Helps Young Learners:
build confidence in reading
promote fluency which enhances comprehension of text
focus energy on unknown words in a text, rather than the most frequently used words
We believe children need to be exposed to a wide range of skills that fit together to build a strong literacy foundation. We also recognize that families and teachers have the never-ending challenge of limited time. Our strategies are organized by skill, and identified as 5, 10, or 15 Minute Moments. Whether it is five minutes, or twenty minutes, whatever time is available to help foster a young one’s learning will make a huge difference!
ENGAGING STRATEGIES
Parking Garage
Young learners love to build and use their imagination. We encourage you to teach through play and with activities that your child enjoys. Here we made a sight word parking garage out of blocks! The cars that enter have to park in the space (with a word written on it.) Kids can be the “parking attendant” and designate where to park, or you can be!
Shaving Cream
Shaving Cream is an excellent learning tool for letters and words. Kids love to use their fingers to write out high frequency words, then quickly erase them to write another! If you have a little one that isn’t into getting sticky, use a chop-stick or pencil eraser to create the letters or words.
Word Books
Young learners love to have their own place to record words. Individual word books are great for building confidence and ownership of new knowledge. Children can record new words they learn or see in the world around them. They can refer to their own word books when writing.
Rock Words
Some of the easiest learning tools to find are all around us. Rocks are a great learning tool that are easy to find. Using a permanent marker, write one sight word on each rock. Have fun playing “Find the Word” with young learners. The best thing is that you can leave your learning tool outside!
Hopscotch
Outdoor play is a wonderful way to engage young learners. We love to use chalk all the time when the weather permits! Create a simple hopscotch game, but instead of numbers use words!
READ THE RESEARCH
“Children must learn to identify words quickly and effortlessly so that they can focus on the meaning of what they are reading (Stanovich, 1986). As children learn to read more and more complex stories, effective word-identification strategies will permit them to figure out the pronunciations of words they have never seen before in print. ”