Egg Hunt: Idea #182

Did you know that hiding Easter eggs can be educational? Especially when your student is learning sight words. Just write a sight word on each plastic or real egg you hide. Then call out a sight word and have your student find the egg that has that sight word written on it. 

You could also try this activity using flash cards. Just hold up a sight word flash card and have your student read the card outloud. Then have your student find the egg with that sight word. To make it more fun for your student, let them eat the candy found in the egg! Happy Easter!

Easter Basket: Idea #181

I love finding new sight word activities on the web. I found the following sight word activity on the website Making Learning Fun. Check it out:
 
1. Get a paper plate and cut out a handle as shown below.

2. Get a second paper plate and cut it in half.

3. Decorate and color the two plates.

4. Staple the two plates together or punch holes around the edge and lace it with yarn.

5. Print off the sight word eggs found on this website. Color them and then cut them out.

6. Put all of the eggs in the basket.

 
7. Parent/Teacher calls out a sight word and student must find the word in the basket. 

This is a great way to see what sight words your student knows. Your student will love taking home their adorable Easter basket. Have fun!

Cracked Eggs Matching Game: Idea #180

Kids love fun Easter sight word games. Give the Cracked Eggs Matching Game a try! Here is what you do:

1. Draw some eggs. I actually found mine here.

2. Write one sight word on each egg, then color it and cut it out. I only made six eggs, but you can do as many as you want!

3. Cut each egg so that it looks like it cracked. Laminate the pieces so that you can use this game in the future.

4. Mix up all the cracked pieces for your student.

5. Have your student match the pieces back together. When they find a match, have them read the sight word to you.

Have a great time practicing with your student!

Little Bunny Sight Word Game: Idea #179

I found a fun Easter sight word game on this cute blog called A Special Kind of Class. It is great for sight word practice. This is how you play:

1. Click here and print off the Little Bunny Sight Word Game.

2. Cut out all of the cards, including the chocolate bunny.

3. Lay out all of the cards with the words facing up.

4. Hide the chocolate bunny under one of the cards.

 5. Students repeat this poem when they choose can egg: 
        Little bunny, little bunny,
        Please stop being so funny!
        Are you hiding behind the "sight word" egg?

6. When student picks the egg, they must read the sight word on the card in order to look under it and see if the bunny is there.

7. If the student doesn't find the chocolate bunny, they take the card and continue playing.

8. The person who finds the chocolate bunny in the end wins.

9. To make this a little more fun, give the winner a real chocolate bunny.

Have fun with this cute game!

Sight Word Spot It: Idea #178

Have you ever heard of the game Spot It? It is one of those speed games that keeps you on your toes. On The Art of Teaching blog they made Spot It into a sight word game. This is how you play:

1. Print off a deck of Easter Spot It cards here.

2. Give each player an Easter Spot It card. The rest of the cards go in a pile in the middle.

3. Each player looks at their card trying to find a word that matches one of the words on the card in the middle. 

4. Once a player finds a word on their card that matches one of the words on the card in the middle, the student reads the word and takes that card.

5. Then there is a new card on top and players begin looking for another match.

6. The player with the most cards at the end of the game wins.

Kids will love this game because it involves both reading and competition!

Sight Words in Sand: Idea #177

A fun way to practice sight words with your student is to write them in sand. You can use the sand on the playground or your classroom sandbox or even craft sand. You could try writing sight words in the sand a few different ways:

#1: Teacher/Parent writes sight words in the sand (with their finger or a stick) and then the student reads the words.

#2: Teacher/Parent says a sight word and then the student writes the word in the sand with their finger or a stick.
 
#3: Teacher/Parent hides each letter (written on cardboard or something similar) in the sand and says a sight word. Then the student must find the letters that make the word.

#4: Teacher/Parent  hides sight words in the sand (written on cardboard or something similar). Teacher/Parent then says a sight word and the student must find it in the sand.

This activity is great for reading and spelling sight words. Your student will love playing in the sand!

Play Dough Sight Words: Idea #176

Most kids love hands on activities. A great way to practice sight words is to write them in play dough.You could do this a few different ways:

OPTION #1: Teacher/Parent forms letters out of play dough to make different sight words and then the student reads the words.

OPTION #2: Teacher/Parent flattens play dough and writes sight words in dough with a pencil. Then student reads the words.

OPTION #3: Teacher/Parent says a sight word and then the student forms letters out of play dough to make that sight word.

OPTION #4: Teacher/Parent says a sight word and the student flattens the play dough and writes the word in the dough with a pencil.

OPTION #5: Teacher/Parent prints off each sight word in large font on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper and laminates them. Then teacher/parent holds up one of the papers, student reads the word outloud and traces it using play dough. 

This activity is great for reading and spelling sight words. You could also try using letter cookie cutters and spring colored play dough to make it a little more fun!

Word Family Pancakes: Idea #175

Kids love pancakes! Why not try practicing word families by flipping some pancakes? Here is what you do:

1. Decide on the word family you would like your student to practice reading. I chose the -at family.

2. Make a list of the words in that word family. The words should be simple enough for your student to read. My list had these words: bat, cat, hat, sat, fat, pat, rat, mat.

3. Count the number of words you wrote and then cut out that many circles. Color the circles yellow to look like a pancake.

4. Write each word on a different circle.

5. Then draw or tape a picture of the word on the back of the circle.

I got my pictures from www.clipart.com.

6. Draw or print a frying pan for your pancakes.

I found these printable frying pans here.

7. When you are done making your pancakes, you should have about 8-12.

8. Your student is to look at the side of the pancake with the word on it first. Once they read the word, they flip the pancake. When your student sees the picture on the back of the pancake, they will know if they read the word correctly.

This is a great game for your student to do independently or during center time. You could even give your student a real frying pan and spatula to make it more fun!

Sticker Sight Words: Idea #174

Kids love stickers! A fun sight word activity is covering the letters found in the words with stickers. This activity can help with not only reading but also spelling. This is what you do:

1. Write the word or words you would like your student to practice in bubble letters.

2. Give a copy of the word to your student.

3. Give your student stickers to cover the word. You can have them cut the stickers to make them fit into the letters.

OR you could just have them fit the stickers the best they can inside the letters.

Your student will love making these and they turn out really cute. Have fun!

Sight Word Tree: Idea #173

With Easter just around the corner, it is the perfect time for egg sight word trees. They are easy to make and kids love them. Here is what you do:

1. Draw or print a tree. I printed a tree using this website and then colored it.

2. Make some cute Easter eggs with sight words on them. I printed mine from this website, wrote the sight words, and then colored them.

3. Cut out the tree and the Easter eggs.

4. Laminate them.

5. Tape the Easter eggs on the tree.

6. Display the tree in your classroom by taping it on the wall.

7. Have students come up and choose an Easter egg. 

8. After reading the word on the egg, the student must find that sight word in books that are in the classroom.

9. Once the student has found that particular sight word ten times, let them choose a different egg.

You can all do this with an actual tree and plastic eggs too. Have fun!

Sight Word Ball: Idea #172

It's starting to get warmer, so kids are going to want to be outside in the sunshine. Most kids enjoy throwing a ball, so you may want to try playing sight word ball. I found out about this great game on the Kids Activities Blog. This is how you play it:

1. Get a beach ball and write a bunch of sight words on it with a permanent marker.

2. Throw the ball to your student. Your student must read all of the words on whatever color they catch.

OR 

When they catch the ball, call out a sight word and your student must find that word on the ball.

OR 

When your student catches the ball, have them put their nose on a word and read the word that their nose is touching.

OR

Have your student catch the ball, touch a word, read it, and then spell it to you (without looking).

This is the perfect game to play when you don't have a ton of time to practice and best of all, kids LOVE it! Have fun in the sun!

Spring Fun with Sight Words: Idea #171

Did you know that today is the first day of spring? In order to motivate your student to learn more sight words this spring, you should use this fun bunny rabbit page. Here is what you do:

1. Print off this page found on the following website: http://www.speechtherapyideas.com/2011/04/18/easter-bunny-activity-with-free-printable/

2. Write in a different sight word on each bunny (or have your student write in the words). 

3. Have your student read the sight words to you. Each time your student can read a sight word, let them color the rabbit.

4. Have your student read the words to you a second time. As your student reads each sight word to you, give them a cotton ball.

5. Have your student read the words to you a third time. As your student reads the sight words to you, have them glue each cotton ball on the bunny's tail.

This is a great way to motivate your student to practice and master their sight words. Have fun and happy spring!

Sight Word Watches: Idea #170

I just found these AWESOME sight word watches online. They are perfect for helping your student learn those especially difficult words. If you go to the following website: http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MoffattGirls/time-for-sight-words-the-bundle you can find a book full of these watches.

On each page of the book you will find a page similar to the one below. At the beginning of the week, when you introduce a new sight word to your student, give them a watch with the corresponding word to decorate and wear. There are four watches on the page so that each day of the week (M-Th) you can give your student a new watch to decorate and wear. By Friday, your student should have the new sight word mastered!

http://kindercraze.blogspot.com/2012/10/time-for-sight-word-watches-giveaway.html

 I hope your student has a great time learning sight words!

Sight Word Footprints: Idea #169

I really wanted to post this idea yesterday, but our printer wasn't working so well. So, here is another St. Patrick's Day sight word activity to try (even though it's one day late!)

1. Make some leprechaun footprints. You can draw them, paint them, or print them off the internet.

I found this page here.

2. On each footprint write a different sight word or word you would like your student to practice reading.

I colored mine green for St. Patrick's Day.

3. Place your leprechaun footprints on the floor.  As your student follows the leprechaun's footprints, they must read each word.

4. At the end of the footprints, have a picture of a leprechaun there waiting. You could even have him there with his pot of gold (a black cup with Rolos inside). Then let your student enjoy the candy. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day (yesterday)!

Teachers' Notebook: Idea #168

Looking for a great reading website that is on your student's level? You should check out: http://www.teachersnotebook.com/. It is a wonderful resource that includes teaching tips and teaching resources. Just pick your grade level and subject on the website and you're good to go. Some of the things found on the website cost money, but there is a substantial amount of items that are totally free. You will love this website. Give it a look!

Holiday Words Dictionary: Idea #167

Holidays are an excellent time to teach your student some new words. For example, during the Christmas season you can introduce words like: tree and star and angel. Or for Thanksgiving: turkey and football and pilgrim. Students then are able to identify and read some more difficult words. To help them remember these holiday words, make a simple holiday words dictionary. It's pretty simple, here is what you do:

1. Choose the words you would like your student to learn for the holiday. For example: green, leprechaun, rainbow, shamrock, and pot of gold. 

2. Make a simple book by stapling some pages together, making sure that there are enough for the words you chose.

3. On the front page of the book have your student write: 'My St. Patrick's Day Dictionary' (or whatever holiday you choose).

4. Then have your student write one holiday word on each page, along with a short definition. Then your student can draw a picture of the word.

5. When it is completed, have your student read the dictionary to you. 

What a fun way to learn some new words!

Grouchy Leprechaun: Idea #166

It's so fun to put holidays into your teaching. St. Patrick's Day has a lot of fun aspects to it: clovers, green, luck, pot of gold, and my personal favorite: leprechauns. Leprechauns are supposed to be so grouchy. I loved watching my students draw an angry leprechaun's face for St. Patrick's Day. Here is how you can make it into a reading practice activity:

1. Print off a picture of a leprechaun that does not have a face.

I found this worksheet here.

2. Get out your sight word flash cards, or any special words that your student needs practice with.

3. Show student a card, if your student can read the word on the card, your student can draw one thing on the leprechaun's face (a mouth, an eye, an eyebrow, etc).

4. By the time your student has read about ten words, the leprechaun's face will be almost finished. Let your student be as detailed as they wish. 

5. When the leprechaun's face is completely drawn, you can continue showing your student flash cards and allow them to color in one thing on the leprechaun's face each time they read a card. If you don't have the time, just let your student color the entire leprechaun face.

I hope this gets you excited for St. Patrick's Day!

Lucky!: Idea #165

When practicing sight words with your student, try playing this fun game called Lucky. With St. Patrick's Day coming up, it is the perfect game to play. Here is what you do:

1. Get out your sight word flash cards. The more cards you have, the more fun the game is.

2. Make about five Lucky cards. I put a four leaf clover on my Lucky cards.

3. Mix the Lucky cards in the stack of sight word flash cards. 

4. You can play this game on the floor, at the table, in a circle, or in a line standing. All that you do is you show one of the cards to your student, if it is read correctly, the student keeps the card. If the student is unable to read it, it is placed at the bottom of the stack of cards. Then go to the next student and show the next card in the stack and so on. When a student gets a Lucky card, the student gets to keep their cards, but all of the other players must give their cards back to the teacher.

5. The person with the most cards at the end of the game wins. Have fun playing this lucky game!

Sight Word Bracelets: Idea #164

Kids love bracelets. Especially the rubber ones that say things like: "WWJD" or "Just say no". Kids love to admire the beautiful bracelet on their wrist and show it to everyone. So, why not make something that your student will look at all time and help them learn sight words? Try to making a sight word bracelet. Here is what you do:

1. Cut out a strip of paper. I used white paper, but you can use whatever color you would like.

2. Make several boxes on your strip of paper. There should be enough boxes to write the sight words your student needs to practice. 

3. Write a different sight word in each box.

4. Color the strip of paper the way you desire. I drew shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day.

5. Staple or tape the ends of the strip together to make the bracelet. Make sure that the bracelet is not too tight or loose on your student's wrist.

Your student will love showing off the bracelet. Encourage people to ask your student to read a word on the bracelet. Your student will see the words all day and will practice reading them. What an excellent way to help with sight word reading!

Snowball Fight: Idea #163

I didn't really like snowball fights as a kid. It just seemed like someone always got hurt. However, I was recently introduced to a paper snowball fight a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Here is what you do:

1. Get about 20 pieces of white paper.

2. Write a different sight word on each piece of paper.

It is better to use a full sheet of paper. I just pulled this piece out of the recycling bin!

3. Crumple each piece of paper into a ball.

 
4. When finished, put the crumpled balls all over the room.

5. Tell your students they can throw the paper snowballs until you ring the bell. When they hear the bell, they must pick a snowball up. Then each student takes a turn reading their word. If they can read the sight word, they receive points according to the point scale below:
                        4 letter sight word: 4 points
                        3 letter sight word: 3 points
                        2 letter sight word: 2 points
                        1 letter sight word: 1 point
                        Student can't read word: 0 points

6. Continue having a snowball fight as long as you wish, ring the bell periodically to give students points and see what words they know. For the last round you may want to double the points, just for fun! 

7. The student with the most points at the end of the snowball fight wins!

This would be a fun activity for a rainy day or just to get your student moving!

Parking Lot Game: Idea #162

A great way to practice sight words with your struggling reader is to play the game Parking Lot. It is simple to make and easy to play. Most importantly it is an excellent way to see which sight words your student has mastered and which sight words your student needs more practice with. Here is what you do: 

1. Draw a parking lot on a piece of white paper, or a manila folder, or even poster board. I used a manila folder (mostly because it was what I had). If you would like your student to practice ten sight words, then make ten parking spaces. If you would like your student to practice six sight words, then make six parking spaces. Make sure that the spaces are big enough that a toy car can fit in each parking space.

 
2. In each parking space write a different sight word. 

3. To play the game, give your student the parking lot paper and some toy cars.

 
4. The teacher/parent says a sight word and then the student puts the toy car in the correct parking spot. For example, teacher says, "has." The student then puts the toy car in the has parking spot.

Check out a larger Sight Word Parking Lot on the following blog: http://www.jugglingwithkids.com/2011/10/sight-word-parking-lot.html?showComment=1319571243034

Have fun discovering what sight words your struggling reader already knows!