Word Family Dice: Idea #273

A fun way to practice reading words in word families is to read them off dice. Follow these simple steps that I found on this website, to play this educational game:

1. PREPARATION: Get/Buy two wooden cubes or some old dice You will also need some dot stickers.

2. On the yellow dot stickers write the letters: p, h, w, t, f, and r (for a total of 6 dots). Then on the pink dot stickers write the word families: op, at, ed, in, ug, it (for a total of 6 more dots).

3. On one of the die attach one of the yellow stickers to each side. On the other die, attach one of the pink stickers to each side.

4. TO PLAY: Student rolls both dice and sounds out the word that it makes. Student writes down all the words he makes (only the real ones). The first student to make ten words wins the game!

Have a great time playing!

To make, write the lowercase letters p, h, w, t, f, and r on a sheet of dot stickers.  Then, write the word families {op, at, ed, in, ug, it} on stickers. - See more at: http://www.playdoughtoplato.com/2012/03/19/3-of-my-favorite-ways-to-teach-word-families/#sthash.0KYvl3Hn.dpuf

To make, write the lowercase letters p, h, w, t, f, and r on a sheet of dot stickers.  Then, write the word families {op, at, ed, in, ug, it} on stickers. - See more at: http://www.playdoughtoplato.com/2012/03/19/3-of-my-favorite-ways-to-teach-word-families/#sthash.0KYvl3Hn.dpuf

To make, write the lowercase letters p, h, w, t, f, and r on a sheet of dot stickers.  Then, write the word families {op, at, ed, in, ug, it} on stickers. - See more at: http://www.playdoughtoplato.com/2012/03/19/3-of-my-favorite-ways-to-teach-word-families/#sthash.0KYvl3Hn.dpuf

To make, write the lowercase letters p, h, w, t, f, and r on a sheet of dot stickers.  Then, write the word families {op, at, ed, in, ug, it} on stickers. - See more at: http://www.playdoughtoplato.com/2012/03/19/3-of-my-favorite-ways-to-teach-word-families/#sthash.0KYvl3Hn.dpuf

To make, write the lowercase letters p, h, w, t, f, and r on a sheet of dot stickers.  Then, write the word families {op, at, ed, in, ug, it} on stickers. - See more at: http://www.playdoughtoplato.com/2012/03/19/3-of-my-favorite-ways-to-teach-word-families/#sthash.0KYvl3Hn.dpuf

Word Family Slam: Idea #272

Does your student love throwing balls? If so, they will love playing the Word Family Slam game. I found it on this website. This is how you play:

1. PREPARATION: Get 15-20 index cards. Choose two or three word families (or 15-20 sight words) you would like to work on. Write one word family word on each card. For example, if practicing -at, -og, and -et, make cards with these words: cat, mat, hat, pat, sat, fog, hog, log, dog, jog, let, pet, wet, yet, jet, get, set, vet, bet, net, met, etc.

2. Tape the cards to the wall.

3. TO PLAY: Say a word that is found on the wall. Student then finds the word and slams it using a ball (beach ball, or something soft). Continue playing by saying each word found on the wall.

4. To mix things up have your student choose the word he would like to hit. Have him find it on the wall and sound it out on his own. Then let him hit it with the ball. 

Play as long as you would like and of course have fun!

Sight Word Space Station: Idea #271

Looking for a fun sight word board game? You should try out the Sight Word Space Station Board Game. You can find it here. Here is some information about the game:

1. For ages: Kindergarten-2nd grade (and also ELL students).

2.  Game can be played with up to 8 players at a time.

3. As children match sight words, they are removed from the board and the alien space station is revealed on the game board!

4. This game is perfect for practicing reading and memory skills.

5. There are 96 game cards, a game board, and instructions included.

6. The game follows and supports basic educational standards.

Have fun trying out a new game!

Racing Game: Idea #270

Is your student competitive? Do they like a challenge? Try playing the Sight Word Racing Game. It's a great way to keep them on their toes and become more familiar with sight words. I found this idea here. Here is what you do:

1. PREPARATION: Get/Print/Buy sight word cards. You will also need paper and a pencil.

2. TO PLAY: Get 12 sight word cards and lay them out face up.

3. Choose one of the sight words shown without telling the student.

4. Begin to write the sight word you chose on a piece of paper VEEERRRYYY slowly.

5. The student tries to figure out what the sight word is before you're done writing it.

6. If the student calls out the word before you finish writing it, they get a point. If the you finish writing the word before the student says what it is, then you get a point. 

7. The first player to get to ten points wins.

Have a great time!

Popcorn Sight Words: Idea #269

Does your student love to eat popcorn? If so, you should introduce them to the Popcorn Sight Words Game. It is simple and fun to play. I found the idea here. This is what you do:

1. PREPARATION: Pop some popcorn!

2. Print off Popcorn Sight Words Worksheet here and  the Word Cards here. Make sure to cut out the Word Cards.

3. TO PLAY: Put all of the Word Cards face down in a pile.

4. Student draws a card from the Word Card pile and reads the word.

5. Then student gets a piece of popcorn and covers that word on their worksheet with a piece of popcorn.

6. Once all of the popcorn pieces are covered on the worksheet, the game is over.

When your student has read all of the sight words, reward them by letting them eat the popcorn. Have fun!

Lineup Game: Idea #268

Time for another fun sight word game! Try playing the Lineup Game with your students to practice those tough words. I found the idea here. This is what you do:

1. Get about 20 small slips of paper. Write a different sight word on each slip. 

2. Fold each slip and put them in a cup.

3. Have each student pick a slip of paper out of the cup.

4. Teacher/Parent says a sight word. The student who has that sight word on their slip of paper, lines up.

5. Students line up as they hear their sight word called.

Have fun!

Sight Word Safari: Idea #267

A great way to practice sight words is to look for them in our every day lives: in the grocery store, at our house, at school, on the road, etc. Kids love going on word hunts. Try the following activity with your student that I found on this website:

1.  Review all the sight words your students have learned so far.

2. Give each student a clipboard with paper and pencil. Have students write down sight words that they find during their walk around the school.

3. Once you have completed the walk around the school, review the sight words that your students found on their walk.

What a fun way to show your students that sight words are everywhere!

Sight Word Soup: Idea #266

Everyone loves practicing sight words using food. Why not try some sight word soup? I found the idea here. This is what you do:

1. Get some large noodles. Write a different sight word (using a permanent marker) on each one.

2. Put all of the noodles you wrote sight words on in a pot. You will also need a ladle.

3. Give each student a bowl.

4. Have students come up to the pot in pairs. Have student 1 scoop up noodles for student 2. Have student 2 scoop up noodles for student 1.

5. Have students return to their seats and read the words in their bowl to their partner. You could also have your students write the words they got on a piece of paper to help with spelling.

Have fun making sight word soup!

Free Sight Word Worksheets: Idea #265

Are you looking for a good sight word worksheet? Try out this website. The worksheets are free and simple, but great for practice. Each worksheet has a spot to trace the sight word and then write it 5-6 times. Lines are provided for your student to write a sentence using the sight word. At the bottom of the page is a box for your student to draw a picture of what they wrote about in their sentence. Have fun checking it out!

Word Wheels: Idea #264

Have you ever seen a word wheel? Word wheels are a great way to help students learn how to read. Each word wheel focuses on a different word family (like -ad, -it, and -ed). All you do is turn the wheel to make different words in the particular word family. Since all of the words end the same, the only difference is what letter(s) are found in the beginning.

Check out this website to find free printable word wheels. Once your student has been introduced to word wheels, you will see how effective they are in helping your student learn how to read. Enjoy!

Sight Word Writing: Idea #263

Practice sight words with your student by writing the words in the air or on your student's back. Once you finish writing a word, see if your student can tell you the sight word you wrote. Then switch places so your student has a turn writing. This is a fun way to get your student to concentrate and focus on learning words! I found this idea here. Have fun!

Beep!: Idea #262

Kids love to be read to. The next time you read to your student,try this simple activity:

1. Have your student choose a picture book for you to read aloud.

2. Let your student know that when you say the word Beep! it means that you forgot to read a word in the book. 

3. The student is to figure out what the word is that you left out by following along in the story.

4. Try reading the story again and have your student read the sight words they know.

Have fun reading together! I found this fun idea here.

Sight Word Stars: Idea #261

Kids love things that glow-in-the-dark. Especially if they are afraid of the dark!Try making some glow-in-the-dark sight word stars that I found on this website. Here is what you do:

1. Have students cut out stars that you have drawn or printed out. Make sure that the stars are large enough to write a word that can be seen from far away. 

2.  Have students write one sight word on each star using glow-in-the-dark markers.

3. You can either hang each star with yarn from the ceiling or just tape the stars flat to the ceiling.

4. Once you turn the lights off, shine a flashlight near a star to see if your students can read the sight word. 


Students will love seeing their sight words when it's dark! Have fun!

Sight Word Snake: Idea #260

Celebrate the sight words your students know by making a classroom snake. This game can be a great way to practice and motivate students to learn their sight words. This is what you do:

1. PREPARATION: Buy or make a set of sight word cards. 

2. TO PLAY: Show a student a sight word card from the deck and have them read it to you.

3. After the student has read the card, have them pick a new card from the deck and ask a different student in the room to read it.

4. Once the student has read the card, the child holds on to the first student's hand.

5. Keep playing the game with each student holding up a sight word card and inviting another student to come and read it. After each student has read the word, have them connect to the snake by holding on to another student's hand. I found this great game here.

Have fun making a human snake!

The ABC Song: Idea #259

Looking for fun ways to practice sight words? Try singing some of those sight words to the tune of The ABC's. I found the clever idea on this website. Here is what you do:

1. Choose 26 sight words you would like your student to practice reading.

2. Write each sight word neatly on a separate index card. Then place the cards in a pocket chart. You could also put magnets on the back of the index cards and hang them up on the white board.

3. Get out your favorite pointer stick to help lead the students in the song. Point to each word as you all sing it to the tune of The ABC's.

4. If your students really enjoy singing their sight words, you might try reading the words to another tune like BINGO or Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

Have fun making music!

Leaping Lilypads: Idea #258

Looking for an educational and active game? Try playing Leaping Lilypads. I found the game here. This is how you play:

1. PREPARATION: Choose about 10-12 sight words and write each one on an index card. Then get another  10-12 index cards and write those same words again. 

2. Tape/glue the first set of index cards to tagboard cut into lilypad shapes. Make sure the lilypads are large enough for students to jump on!

3. Arrange the lilypads with the index card side faceup on the floor. Tape them to the floor. Put the other set of index cards face down in a pile.

4. TO PLAY: Student picks a card from the pile of index cards and must read what it says. Then the student is to jump to the lilypad that says the same word.

5. Have the student continue to pick cards until they have picked every card in the pile and jumped on every lilypad. Be sure to help your student with the jumping if they need it and have fun!

Simon Says: Idea #257

Simon Says is a fun game for all ages. Make it even more fun and educational by using sight words. I found the idea here. This is what you do:

1. Give every student participating in the game a sight word on an index card. You can punch two holes at the top and string yard to make them into necklaces or just tape a card on each student.

2. Have the children sit in a circle or at their desks.

3. In this version of Simon Says you will call out some sight words and then give a command. The students who wear the sight word called are to do the command. For example, "Simon says and, like, the jump up." or "Simon says she, look, said spin around."

4. Make sure every student is able to participate in the game and of course, have fun!

Treasure Hunt: Idea #256

Treasure hunts are not only fun, they can be totally educational. When writing the treasure hunt clues, use mostly sight words. I found this idea here. Make sure that the treasure at the end is something your student will be excited about (like a book, candy, pencil, etc). Here is a sample list of clues you could use on your treasure hunt, (bold words are sight words):

1. Are you ready for some fun? Look under the teacher's chair.

2. Go to the teacher's desk.

3. See the poster up on the wall? Can you see the note?

4. Look at the top of the bookshelf. Do you see the note?

5. Have you eaten your lunch yet? Look in your lunch box.

6. Do you like to play? Look on the slide.

7. It is time to end our game. Look in my bag and you will see the treasure!

Have fun playing!

Horse: Idea #255

Want to play more outside sight word games with your students? Try playing the game Horse with a sight word twist. This is what you do:

1. Choose one sight word that you would like your students to practice. For example: like.

2. Line up your students.

3. Player 1 attempts to make a basket. If Player 1 makes it, Player 2 must make the same basket, at the exact same spot. If Player 2 makes the basket, then Player 3 and the rest of the players attempt to make the basket as well. 

4. If Player 2 does not make the basket, Player 3 gets to be the "leader". 

5. Every time a player misses a shot, they add a letter to their score. The first person to get all the letters in the sight word (l-i-k-e) looses the game.

6. The last person still in the game wins!

Have fun playing in the sun!

Same or Different: Idea #254

Looking for a sight word activity that doesn't involve very much preparation? Well try playing Same or Different. Just go to this website and print off the worksheet. Use your sight word flashcards to show your student the two words listed in each row on the worksheet. Then ask your student if the words are the same or different. After your student gives a response, have him/her read the two words to you. 

On each row in the worksheet, you will see two slices of cheese. Your student is to color the cheese under the 'yes' column or the 'no' column. This means that yes, the two words are the same or no, the two words are different. Kids will love coloring in what they have found. Have fun introducing these similar words to your student!

Sight Word Baseball: Idea #253

Do your students enjoy playing sports? If they do, try playing Sight Word Baseball. I found the idea on this website. Here is how you play:

1. PREPARATION: Get four levels of sight word flashcards. Each level should be on a different piece of colored paper (for example: level 1- blue cards, level 2- green cards, etc). Each color/level also represents a type of hit in the game. Make sure you make a poster that includes that information that is clear for the players to see. 

2. Mark the four following spots in the room: 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base, and homeplate. 

2. TO PLAY: Divide students into two different teams. Let them choose a team name.

3. One team is home and the other are visitors. Mix up the flashcards.

4. One student draws a flashcard and goes to homeplate. Make sure to match the color with the kind of hit they are trying for.

5. If the student reads the flashcard correctly, they play according to the kind of hit on the card. (A single- move 1 base, a double- move 2 bases, a  triple- move 3 bases, and a homerun- go homeplate). Be sure to have strike out cards in with the sight word flashcards.

6. If the student can't read the sight word, it is an out.

7. Once a team gets 3 outs, the other team gets a turn to "bat".

8. Play to whatever score you wish. 

May the best team win!

Loving2Learn: Idea #252

Time to check out another awesome educational website. Type in http://loving2learn.com/ into your computer and you will find the following:

1. Early Learning links for colors, days of the week, animals, shapes, etc.
2. Learning to Read links for Pre-Reading strategies, reading levels 1-10, leveled book lists, and printable books!
3. Reading links for vocabulary, book lists, comprehension, and favorite stories.
4. Learning to Write links to the alphabet, word families, sight words, and much more.
5. The Writing Craft links to grammar, spelling, and more.
6. Math, Science, Geography, History, and Special Areas are also found on this website.

You will love finding all the wonderful things this website has to offer. Have fun sharing it with your student!

Internet4classrooms: Idea #251

I enjoy finding great sight word resources on the computer. Check out the website called internet4classrooms.com. You will find a list of websites that include language arts skills. You will also find a brief description of each website listed. This way you will know if it could benefit your student or not. 

When you get to the website, just click on the grade your student is in. Then click on literacy or math skills. Here is the link to Kindergarten Language Arts Skill Building. You will love this website. Have fun!

Sight Word Guess Who: Idea #250

Have you ever played the game Guess Who? I loved playing it as a little kid. Try playing it with your student by putting a sight word twist to it. Just follow these simple instructions:

1. PREP: Go to this website to print off Sight Word Guess Who game boards.
2. Put each game board in a manila folder. This way players won't be tempted to cheat during the game.
3. TO PLAY: The two players draw a card to figure out what their sight word is.
4. Player 1 starts the game and asks Player 2 about their sight word, trying to guess what it is. Maybe Player 1 asks, "Does your sight word have the letter e in it?" or "Does your sight word rhyme with key?"
5. As the each player asks a question when it is their turn, they cross the words out that it couldn't be on their game board. Players can only answer yes or no questions.
6. The person who figures out their opponent's sight word first, wins the game!

If you found my instructions difficult to understand, look here. Have fun playing and I hope you win!

Spelling City: Idea #249

Are you looking for a new website to help your student learn more sight words? Well, try out http://www.spellingcity.com/. Check out the list below to discover the things you can find on the website:

1. Spelling Tests- You choose the level or category 

you would like your student to be tested on

2. Teach Me- The Spelling list you choose will 
be read to you and each word will be sounded out 

3. Play a Game- TONS of educational games to 
help your student learn to read more words

4. Flash Cards- the words you select will come 
up on the screen or you can print them off

5. Vocab Test- Student is tested on vocabulary 
skills, focusing on what you choose

6. Training Videos

7. Free printable worksheets

8. Free lesson plans

9. Free newsletters

It is a wonderful resource to help our students become more confident readers. Have fun checking out the website!

Kerplunk: Idea #248

Does your student love to play games? If so, you should introduce them to the game Kerplunk. All you do is set up the game with the sticks on bottom and marbles on top. Then show your student a sight word flash card. If they read it correctly, they can pull out a stick. If your student reads the sight word incorrectly, then you get a turn! When the marbles fall, just start over!

You can also practice sight words while setting the game up. Have your student buy a stick and ball each time they read a sight word correctly. Once the game is all set up, they can continue practicing as they pull the sticks out. I got this idea here.

I have fun practicing sight words with this enjoyable game!

Phonics Chants: Idea #247

Are you looking for an engaging way to practice sight words with your students? Well, you should try Phonics Chants. On the I Love 2 Teach website there is a free printable of sixteen chant cards. Some of the chants include: Read each word in your baby voice, cheer each word like you're cheering on your favorite team, read each word in your best British accent, sing each word like an opera singer, do a jumping jack as you read each word, and more!

All you need to do is write the sight words on a poster or chalkboard. Then print off these chant cards. Have students take turns drawing a chant card and reading the sight words the way the card says. If your student is particularly shy, try doing the chants together as a class.

Have fun getting your students out of their comfort zone!

Bob Books: Idea #246

Are you looking for a good series for your beginning reader? You should try Bob Books. The books are designed to help kids "take their first steps into reading." The books begin very simple with My First Bob Books that help with pre-reading skills. The books get more difficult as your student goes up the levels in the book sets. Your student's confidence will grow as they read each book.

On the Bob Books website they provide a Bookfinder Quiz to help you figure out your student's reading level and which set of Bob Books you should start with. If you prefer not to use the Bookfinder Quiz, the Bob Book series focus on different literacy concepts you can choose from, such as the following: compound words, word families, long vowels, complex words, the alphabet, sight words, advanced beginner readers, and pre-reading skills. Find what is ideal for your student.

I like that Bob books are short and have fun illustrations. Kids love them. Sometimes the book sets come with activities and printables for your student. There are even Bob Apps now! Check out this website to see all that Bob Books have to offer. Looks like your student won't be bored this summer!

Sight Word Stomp: Idea #245

Looking for an active sight word game? Try playing the Sight Word Stomp found on this website. Just put some sight words on the floor, face up. Then yell out a word and have your student stomp on it. Kids love playing!

To make the game easier for kids, write the sight words on 8.5x11 pieces of paper so a student can easily fit their foot on it. If more than one kid is playing, the first one who stomps on the right sight word, wins.

This game can get intense. Do you think you're ready for it?

Flashlight Sight Word Game: Idea #244

To help your student master sight words, try playing the Flashlight Sight Word Game. All you need is your classroom word wall and a flashlight. Here is what you do:

1. Turn off the lights in your classroom.

2. Shine your flashlight on a sight word on the word wall. 

3. Have your student read the sight word to you. If there is more than one student playing, you can give whoever reads the word the fastest a point or a turn with the flashlight. 

4. To motivate your student to read quicker, it could be fun to time how fast they can identify each word.

I found this fun idea here. Have fun!