What are sight words?
Sight words are words like he, she, but, be, do, have, they, was, with, come, does, or who. These words do not follow the rules of spelling or the six types of syllables. Decoding these words can be very difficult for young learners. The common practice has been to teach students to memorize these words as a whole, By sight. So that they can recognize them immediately. And read them without having to use decoding skills
Sight words are essential to your kid’s language development. They’re also easy to teach, so they’ll stick with your child. Learning sight words is important. It allows your child to understand the meaning of words better. When you read a book to your child, you are using sight words to be able to communicate with them. If you don’t know the meaning of the word, then it can make it difficult for them to understand what you are saying. When they don’t know what a word means, they will have a hard time trying to figure out what it means.
Best Way To Teach Sight Words
The best way to teach sight words is to read books aloud and have your child listen. With each reading, point out the sight word that you come across. This is a great way to help your child learn to recognize the sounds that make up a word. Then, when they see the word in print, let them point it out on their own.
There are lots of ways that reading can be fun and engaging for kids. But the most important thing is making sure your child enjoys it. Reading aloud helps children learn sight words. This is because they hear the words over and over again. While reading books together, you can also ask questions. Questions about what is happening in the story and talk about what happens next. This will help your child understand what each word means and how it relates to the storyline.
The more you read with your child, the more familiar he or she will become with the sight word sounds. Also, reading together gives you a chance to explain things. This helps them to understand what words mean and how they relate to each other.
Tips on How To Read Together With Your Kid
Here are some tips on how to read together with your kid:
- Make reading a fun activity. You don’t need to read all the time or even every day, but make sure that you spend some time reading together.
- Read out loud! Reading books out loud is a great way for your children to hear their names. Learn about colors, shapes, and other things in the story. It also helps them understand what they are reading better than when they read by themselves.
- Use flashcards! If your child doesn’t know the word yet, use flashcards to help him learn it! You can find flashcards online. Or, you can make your own using construction paper or cardboard pieces. Cut out the paper or pieces with a scissor or knife (or whatever works best for you).
Books To Help Your Kids Learn Sight Words
These books are entertaining and engaging places to start looking for sight words. Have fun reading with your child by making a game out of finding the words they recognize.
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1. Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman
This is a simple book for kids who are beginning to read. The book has only 75 words, perfect for beginners. It features all kinds of dogs. Riding bicycles, scooters, skis, roller skates, and driving all sorts of vehicles. On their way to a party held on top of a tree! The book is fun, funny, and easy to read. The book encourages kids to read on their own, using simple words and illustrations.
Learn more: Amazon
2. Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers
The author of Once Upon an Alphabet has created a stunning collection of words. And artwork that is a storybook, Alphabet book, and gorgeously designed art book all in one. The book features an Astronaut who’s afraid of heights. To a Bridge that ends up burned between friends, to a Cup stuck in a cupboard and longing for freedom. Once Upon an Alphabet is a creative tour de force from A through Z.
Learn more: Amazon
3.I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
A bear has lost his hat, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across. The other forest animals say they don’t know where it is, but then the bear realizes he’s seen his hat somewhere… This delightfully funny story is simple, accessible, and full of sight words. It’s so much fun to read aloud as kids try to guess where the hat has gone.
Learn more: Amazon
4. Dr. Seuss’s First 100 Words by Dr. Seuss
This book introduces babies and toddlers to 100 essential first words. The sight words are in both English and Spanish. The book has a large format which is perfect for learning and for play, with plenty to look at and talk about on each page. Each word has art from some of Seuss’s most famous works. Combined with the sturdy pages, it’s an excellent beginner book for even babies and toddlers.
Learn more: Amazon
5. See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
See Max. Max is not a cat–Max is a dog. But much to Max’s dismay, the book keeps instructing readers to “see the cat.” How can Max get through to the book that he is a DOG? In a trio of stories for beginning readers. The author David introduces Max, who lets the book know that the text is not to his liking.
Learn more: Amazon
6. How to Catch a Unicorn by Adam Wallace
In this book, kids are trying to catch one of the world’s most elusive mythical creatures, the unicorn. If you spotted a unicorn at the zoo, would you know how to catch it? That’s what the kids in this story have to figure out! Follow along as they try to catch the unicorn and the unicorn tries to escape.
Learn more: Amazon
7. Where Do Ninjas Go On Vacation?
The ninja friends need a break and are ready to disappear! Will they go to the desert, the mountains, or stay close by? This is a short and simple yet cute story. It will get your little readers curious about where ninjas go on vacation. Kids will get a kick (pun intended) out of this cute story. It’s a mystery where ninjas go on vacation. The story wonders if they go to places such as the desert, a castle, and/ or a beautiful garden. There are lots of creative discussions deciding where kids think they actually go. The illustrations are also colorful and fun.
Learn more: Amazon
8. Llama Llama Back to School
Summer days are getting shorter and it’s almost time for the first day of school for Llama! But Llama Llama isn’t ready for summertime to end. It’s been full of backyard camping, family picnics, and ice cream with friends. All he wants is for summer to go on forever! He’s anxious about his first day back at school. But maybe, with some help from his friends and Mama Llama, going back to school will be fun after all!
Learn more: Amazon
9. I’ll Teach My Dog 100 Words by Michael Frith, illustrated by P.D. Eastman
This is a fun book for early readers. The book is about an owner that teaches his dog different words while also teaching him commands. Some of the words the owner teaches the dog are what you would expect a dog to do such as catch, bark, beg, walk and run. This book is a good tool to expand children’s vocabulary. The book refers to different objects. Some objects that children may not know, so this book can help them learn new words. The illustrations are fun and colorful. This makes it more appealing to young children.
Learn more: Amazon
10. Kindergarten Success with Sight Words Workbook by Sylvan Learning
A solid foundation of reading skills is essential for kindergartners. This helps them to become successful readers. Learning basic sight words is a critical step in building that foundation. This workbook has activities that will help your child catch up. Keep up. And get ahead. Best of all, to have lots of fun doing it! Here are some of the great features you’ll find inside. Spot the dots, start your crayons, poetry guy, meet in the middle and hide and speak.
Learn more: Amazon
For more free worksheets for kindergarten and preschoolers, try these
Letter Tracing Worksheets: Free Printable Preschool Worksheets
4 Easy Ways To Teach Sight Words To Kindergarten Kids – Download free sight words here
Tracing Alphabet Worksheets PDF for kids – Free Printables
Free printables for Kindergarten and Preschool kids