Welcome to the wonderful world of Word Work!
A child needs to encounter a word MANY, MANY times before it is committed to memory.
My hope is that through these fun activities, you can give your child lots of exposure to our sight words and trick words. Remember to keep the study session fun, use a manageable amount of words and
let your child direct the flow of the activity.
Trick Word Flash Cards
Click here to find another copy of the GREEN trick word cards that are send home for study. You can use them to play games like memory and Go Fish!
Dolch Sight Words
The Dolch Sight Word lists are full of the most commonly used words in literature. They are the sight words we are currently working with in class.
Click here to find an online site where you can print out word cards for at home use.
Dolch word free online games site 1
Dolch sight word free online games site 2
Dolch online free BINGO!
In our classroom, we have color coded rings for the different Dolch lists. If your child tells you what color ring s/he is working on, this list should help you know what list to work with at home:
Red = Pre Primer
Yellow = Primer
Green = 1st grade
Blue = 2nd grade
Vanilla = 3rd grade
Red = Pre Primer
Yellow = Primer
Green = 1st grade
Blue = 2nd grade
Vanilla = 3rd grade
Dolch Games
Bubble Pop Sight Word Game
2-6 players sitting in a circle
Game Cards
A container
To play: Put all of the game cards in the container. Pass the container around the circle to each player.
Each player takes out a card and reads it to the group. The other players either nod or shake their heads to let the player know if the card was read correctly. If the player read it correctly, the player keeps the card. If not, the card goes back into the container. If a player draws a bubble blowing card (pictured here), that player gets to go again. If the player draws a POP card, that player must put all of his/her cards back into the bucket. Play ends when all the cards are used or when the group's set time limit is up. The winner is the player with the most cards.
Game Cards
A container
To play: Put all of the game cards in the container. Pass the container around the circle to each player.
Each player takes out a card and reads it to the group. The other players either nod or shake their heads to let the player know if the card was read correctly. If the player read it correctly, the player keeps the card. If not, the card goes back into the container. If a player draws a bubble blowing card (pictured here), that player gets to go again. If the player draws a POP card, that player must put all of his/her cards back into the bucket. Play ends when all the cards are used or when the group's set time limit is up. The winner is the player with the most cards.
Pre-Primer Dolch Bubble Pop Game
Bubble Pop Game with Color and Number Sight Words
Bubble Pop Game with Theme 1 Words
Sight Word Flash Cards
Though through flipping flash cards with your child is not always the most productive way to study, playing games with them and giving them meaning is a fantastic way to help your child internalize them! Below are links to our sight word cards.
Hang Them Up!
In an effort to maximize your sight word study, you could hang the week's words up around your house on sticky notes. Place them in high frequency areas such as the bathroom, the kitchen, the outside door, so that your child sees and reads them often. Another way to make this fun might be to use our classroom Sight Word High 5 sign. Each time a child exits our room, s/he must "high 5" a sight or trick word while saying the word aloud. You could make multiple High 5 signs for your house and place them near door ways that are most traveled.
Sight Word High 5 Sign
Sight Word High 5 Sign
Quick Study Activities
Family life is busy!
Here are some fun activities that take only a few minutes.
I hope they make it easy to squeeze in word study at home!
Family life is busy!
Here are some fun activities that take only a few minutes.
I hope they make it easy to squeeze in word study at home!
Read My Back
Spread a set of 5-6 sight word cards out in front of your child. On his or her back, spell one of the sight words and see if s/he can figure out which word you spelled. Then have them do the same to you!
Jump On It
Spread the sight word cards out in a BIG circle. Ask your child to jump to a particular word. After 5 words, you get in the circle and have your child ask you to jump to words. Occasionally, jump on the wrong word to make sure s/he is paying attention!
Active Spelling!
Do jumping jacks! As you clap, say a letter to spell your words.
Number words
Write your words as many times as there are letters in the word. Say the word, say each letter as you write and then read the word.
Flower Spelling
Draw a picture of a big flower. Write each of your words on a petal of the flower. Say the word, say each letter as you write and then read the word.
Toe spelling
Lie on your back. Write your words in the air using your big toe!
Puzzlemaker
Go to www.puzzlemaker.com and create a word search using all of your words. Print it out and do it the next night. (Bring in a clean copy of it to Ms. B and she will give it to the whole class!)
Cookie Cutter Spelling
Trace around a cookie cutter. Completely fill up the inside of the shape with your words. Write small!
Bubble Spelling
Write your words in bubble letters!
Timer Spelling
Using a timer, write each word as many times as you can in one minute.
Sidewalk Chalk
Write your words outside using sidewalk chalk.
Outside In Spelling
Write your words around the outside of a paper. Keep going until you get to the middle.
Paint Brush Spelling
On the driveway, use a paintbrush and water to write your words on the driveway.
www.spellingcity.com
Visit www.spellingcity.com Type in your words and choose and activity to complete.
Magic Spelling
Write your words with a white crayon on white paper. Color over them with a marker to make them magically appear!
Jump Rope Spelling
Jump rope while spelling your words aloud. How many times can you spell a word before you miss the rope?
Basketball Spelling
Dribble a basketball as you spell your words aloud. Then shoot it in the hoop as you say the word.
Ipad Spelling
Record yourself spelling your words aloud. Then watch it and see if you spelled them correctly!
Spread a set of 5-6 sight word cards out in front of your child. On his or her back, spell one of the sight words and see if s/he can figure out which word you spelled. Then have them do the same to you!
Jump On It
Spread the sight word cards out in a BIG circle. Ask your child to jump to a particular word. After 5 words, you get in the circle and have your child ask you to jump to words. Occasionally, jump on the wrong word to make sure s/he is paying attention!
Active Spelling!
Do jumping jacks! As you clap, say a letter to spell your words.
Number words
Write your words as many times as there are letters in the word. Say the word, say each letter as you write and then read the word.
Flower Spelling
Draw a picture of a big flower. Write each of your words on a petal of the flower. Say the word, say each letter as you write and then read the word.
Toe spelling
Lie on your back. Write your words in the air using your big toe!
Puzzlemaker
Go to www.puzzlemaker.com and create a word search using all of your words. Print it out and do it the next night. (Bring in a clean copy of it to Ms. B and she will give it to the whole class!)
Cookie Cutter Spelling
Trace around a cookie cutter. Completely fill up the inside of the shape with your words. Write small!
Bubble Spelling
Write your words in bubble letters!
Timer Spelling
Using a timer, write each word as many times as you can in one minute.
Sidewalk Chalk
Write your words outside using sidewalk chalk.
Outside In Spelling
Write your words around the outside of a paper. Keep going until you get to the middle.
Paint Brush Spelling
On the driveway, use a paintbrush and water to write your words on the driveway.
www.spellingcity.com
Visit www.spellingcity.com Type in your words and choose and activity to complete.
Magic Spelling
Write your words with a white crayon on white paper. Color over them with a marker to make them magically appear!
Jump Rope Spelling
Jump rope while spelling your words aloud. How many times can you spell a word before you miss the rope?
Basketball Spelling
Dribble a basketball as you spell your words aloud. Then shoot it in the hoop as you say the word.
Ipad Spelling
Record yourself spelling your words aloud. Then watch it and see if you spelled them correctly!
Clue
Have the words spread out in front of your child. Give a clue or definition of one of the words. Your child then points to and reads the answer.
(For example: blue – the color of your eyes)
Scrambled Words
Write each word on an index card. Cut each word apart letter by letter. Your child scrambles the letters and then arranges them to correctly spell the word. Your child reads the word.
Switch
Place 3-4 sight word cards in front of your child. Help your child read the words. Rearrange the word cards and have your child read them again. Once s/he is familiar with the words, tell him or her in which order to place the words. Your child then reads the words aloud as s/he places them in that order. Repeat several times.
Sing a Song of Sight Words
Practice sight words by singing them to a familiar tune or making up your own. Be sure your child is reading the cards in the order of your song as s/he is singing. Try Row, Row Your Boat or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Shaving Cream Words
On a counter top or cookie sheet, squirt a little shaving cream and have your child spread it out a bit. Near by, spread a set of sight word cards out so your child can see them (5-6 cards). Ask your child to look at a sight word card and then write the word in the shaving cream. Then s/he must ask you “Is this the word ______?” to confirm s/he is reading it correctly. You can also play and occasionally say the wrong word and have your child correct you! (you can also use bathtub finger paints!)
White Board Wipe Out
An adult writes the words on the white board and then calls them out, one at a time, in random order.
As the first grader finds them and reads them aloud, s/he can erase them.
When the board is all clear, the student can write the words, call them out and make the adult find them!
Have the words spread out in front of your child. Give a clue or definition of one of the words. Your child then points to and reads the answer.
(For example: blue – the color of your eyes)
Scrambled Words
Write each word on an index card. Cut each word apart letter by letter. Your child scrambles the letters and then arranges them to correctly spell the word. Your child reads the word.
Switch
Place 3-4 sight word cards in front of your child. Help your child read the words. Rearrange the word cards and have your child read them again. Once s/he is familiar with the words, tell him or her in which order to place the words. Your child then reads the words aloud as s/he places them in that order. Repeat several times.
Sing a Song of Sight Words
Practice sight words by singing them to a familiar tune or making up your own. Be sure your child is reading the cards in the order of your song as s/he is singing. Try Row, Row Your Boat or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Shaving Cream Words
On a counter top or cookie sheet, squirt a little shaving cream and have your child spread it out a bit. Near by, spread a set of sight word cards out so your child can see them (5-6 cards). Ask your child to look at a sight word card and then write the word in the shaving cream. Then s/he must ask you “Is this the word ______?” to confirm s/he is reading it correctly. You can also play and occasionally say the wrong word and have your child correct you! (you can also use bathtub finger paints!)
White Board Wipe Out
An adult writes the words on the white board and then calls them out, one at a time, in random order.
As the first grader finds them and reads them aloud, s/he can erase them.
When the board is all clear, the student can write the words, call them out and make the adult find them!
I have... Who has...
This is a game we play whole class, but it is easy to play in a small group. When we play whole class, each child gets one card. In a small group, each player gets more than one card so that the whole deck is used. Cards are delt out randomly to all players.
The player with the first card (which has a star on the top line) reads his/her card aloud. The player with the card that answers the first card reads his/her card next. Play continues until the last card (with the star on the last line) is read.
The player with the first card (which has a star on the top line) reads his/her card aloud. The player with the card that answers the first card reads his/her card next. Play continues until the last card (with the star on the last line) is read.
Games
Swami!
2 players
A set of sight word cards
To play:
Review all the words in the pile before playing.
Pick up a card.
Don’t read it.
Put it on your forehead so the other player can see it.
Have your friend give you clues to help you figure out what the word could be.
Guess it!
Keep the card if you get it right!
Put the card back in the pile if it is not right!
Bingo!
Click on the link titled Bingo Card below to find a bingo form you can print out to play. Use this form to make game sheets with our sight words and trick words. Have your first grader make the game boards by writing the words from the sight word and trick word cards that s/he was asked to study. Be sure s/he puts them in different places on each board so all the game boards are different. You can use anything for bingo markers... pennies, Cheerios, MnMs, etc! Take turns calling out words. The first person to mark 5 in a row has BINGO and wins!
Bingo Card
2 players
A set of sight word cards
To play:
Review all the words in the pile before playing.
Pick up a card.
Don’t read it.
Put it on your forehead so the other player can see it.
Have your friend give you clues to help you figure out what the word could be.
Guess it!
Keep the card if you get it right!
Put the card back in the pile if it is not right!
Bingo!
Click on the link titled Bingo Card below to find a bingo form you can print out to play. Use this form to make game sheets with our sight words and trick words. Have your first grader make the game boards by writing the words from the sight word and trick word cards that s/he was asked to study. Be sure s/he puts them in different places on each board so all the game boards are different. You can use anything for bingo markers... pennies, Cheerios, MnMs, etc! Take turns calling out words. The first person to mark 5 in a row has BINGO and wins!
Bingo Card
Oh No!
Oh No!
3-6 Players
Sight Word Cards
4-6 Oh No! Cards
Container for cards
There should be 3-4 times as many cards in the jar as there are players. During the early weeks of a new set of sight words, you may want to use only 8 words, but have duplicate cards for each word. Towards the end of a unit, you could use many more words and not need as many duplicates.
To play:
Remind players that all games are played for fun. Sometimes you win because of your skills and other times you win because you are lucky (lucky because… you rolled the right number on the dice or because you were the last one with cards left, etc.). Explain that this is a game of both skill and luck. You have to show how well you know your sight words, but you also have to be lucky not to get an Oh No! card.
Introduce the set of sight words that will be worked with during the game. Go over the words with the group quickly as a review.
Place all of the game cards in the container. Add the extra Oh No! word cards.
Have one player start by reaching into the container and pulling out a card. Have that player read it aloud and show it to the group. The group will say “That’s right!” or “I am sorry, that isn’t the word”. (Manners count!) If the player gets it correct, that player can keep the card. If not, it goes back into the container. The player then passes the container to the left to the next player.
If a child gets an Oh No! card, then that student must put all of his or her cards back into the container and begin to collect again on his or her next turn. Play continues until there are no words left in the container. At the end, the player with the most cards is the lucky winner!
3-6 Players
Sight Word Cards
4-6 Oh No! Cards
Container for cards
There should be 3-4 times as many cards in the jar as there are players. During the early weeks of a new set of sight words, you may want to use only 8 words, but have duplicate cards for each word. Towards the end of a unit, you could use many more words and not need as many duplicates.
To play:
Remind players that all games are played for fun. Sometimes you win because of your skills and other times you win because you are lucky (lucky because… you rolled the right number on the dice or because you were the last one with cards left, etc.). Explain that this is a game of both skill and luck. You have to show how well you know your sight words, but you also have to be lucky not to get an Oh No! card.
Introduce the set of sight words that will be worked with during the game. Go over the words with the group quickly as a review.
Place all of the game cards in the container. Add the extra Oh No! word cards.
Have one player start by reaching into the container and pulling out a card. Have that player read it aloud and show it to the group. The group will say “That’s right!” or “I am sorry, that isn’t the word”. (Manners count!) If the player gets it correct, that player can keep the card. If not, it goes back into the container. The player then passes the container to the left to the next player.
If a child gets an Oh No! card, then that student must put all of his or her cards back into the container and begin to collect again on his or her next turn. Play continues until there are no words left in the container. At the end, the player with the most cards is the lucky winner!
Rotten Apples!
Put all of the word cards in a container.
Each player takes turns pulling a word card out of the container.
Each card has a picture on it that tells what happens for that player’s turn.
The player with the most cards at the end of the game WINS!
Cards with APPLES: If the player can read the card, the player can keep it.
Cards with BASKETS OF APPLES: If the player can read the card, the player can keep it and take another turn.
Cards with A WORM IN AN APPLE: The player must place all of his or her cards back in the container.
Click here for a print out of the Rotten Apples Game directions
Click here for Theme 2 Rotten Apple playing cards
Each player takes turns pulling a word card out of the container.
Each card has a picture on it that tells what happens for that player’s turn.
The player with the most cards at the end of the game WINS!
Cards with APPLES: If the player can read the card, the player can keep it.
Cards with BASKETS OF APPLES: If the player can read the card, the player can keep it and take another turn.
Cards with A WORM IN AN APPLE: The player must place all of his or her cards back in the container.
Click here for a print out of the Rotten Apples Game directions
Click here for Theme 2 Rotten Apple playing cards
Mystery Man Game
You are probably familiar with the game Hangman. This is the same game, just in a different format.
You need a list of words in front of you to play. You also need to print out the game sheet from the link below. The first player chooses a word from the list and makes lines at the bottom of the page, below the magnifying glass, to represent each letter in the word. The second player then tries to guess what letters are in the word. If the player gets the letter correct, it is filled in on the appropriate space(s). If the letter is not part of the word, it is crossed off at the top and a part to the mystery man is drawn inside the magnifying glass. The game is over when the word is guessed OR the mystery man is complete. To be complete, he needs: a body, legs, feet, arms, hands, head, eyes, mouth, and a hat.
You need a list of words in front of you to play. You also need to print out the game sheet from the link below. The first player chooses a word from the list and makes lines at the bottom of the page, below the magnifying glass, to represent each letter in the word. The second player then tries to guess what letters are in the word. If the player gets the letter correct, it is filled in on the appropriate space(s). If the letter is not part of the word, it is crossed off at the top and a part to the mystery man is drawn inside the magnifying glass. The game is over when the word is guessed OR the mystery man is complete. To be complete, he needs: a body, legs, feet, arms, hands, head, eyes, mouth, and a hat.
Sight Word Ring Toss
Addie shows how you can play ring toss with your words! Toss a ring onto a word and read it aloud.
If you get it right, you can pick up and keep the word! Play until you have all the words.
If you get it right, you can pick up and keep the word! Play until you have all the words.