Introducing Sight Words to Children

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Recognition of sight words constitutes a huge part in children's reading progress. Sight words make up about 75% of the words in most children’s books. This means that once children can recognise sight words, they can read about 75% of most children’s books. These words also go into their 'vocabulary bank', becoming words that they can read and use. Hence, knowing sight words can help children read fluently and write efficiently.

However, it can be challenging for children to learn how to read and spell sight words. This is because most of the sight words don’t follow the traditional rules of spelling or can’t be sounded out phonetically. Children are encouraged to memorise them by "sight" and the main objective is for children to be able to recognise and read the words. Let's look at some engaging and effective ways to introduce sight words to children!

1. Word card games
There are word card sets in the market available for purchase. However, if you want a personal touch to your child's word cards, a cost-effective way is to make them together with your child! To start off, go through the word cards one at a time while reading the words to your child.

Adult and child to have one set of word cards each.
Level 1: Adult shows the word card and reads the sight word. The child will find the word card and read it out.
Level 2: Adult shows the word card. The child will find the word card and read it out.
Level 3: Adult reads the sight word. The child will find the word card and read it out.
Level 4: The child shows the word card and reads the sight word. Adult to find the card.

Ensure that the child is able to complete each level consistently across all the sight words in the batch before moving onto the next level. Don't rush it - take time. The process of learning sight words requires consistency and repetition.

2. Making meaning
Besides recognising and reading sight words, it is important for the children to make meaning with them so that they know how to use them in sentences! This knowledge comes into good use when they are practising writing.

Invite your child to fill in the sentence by providing a sentence (incomplete, with a blank for the missing sight word) and the option of two possible sight words. Read the sentence together with your child and try to put each sight word into the blank to see if the sentence make sense. For example, "I am to school every day." VS "I go to school every day." Invite your child to choose the most appropriate sight word for the sentence. Once they are familiar with this activity, they can make their own sentences using the sight words!

3. Treasure-hunting sight words!
To ensure that the children are consistent in their recognition of sight words, we must introduce sight words in different print because the same word might look different when presented in a different print or font.

Go on a "Treasure Hunt" for sight words in a book while reading! Children need to see sight words, surrounded by other words and separated by spaces. This exposure allows them to understand that words remain the same regardless of where they see it, what size is it, or whether the word stands in the middle of many other words.

To bring the "Treasure Hunt" up a notch, you can also hide word cards around your space (house/room/classroom) and get your child to look for them! Every time they find a card, they will read it to you. Here, the children practise recognising and reading sight words while engaging in kinesthetic experiences!

4. Let children see these words frequently
Consistency is key when it comes to learning sight words. Make learning easily accessible and practise daily. It could be as simple as setting up a sight word wall so that your child can see the words every day, or simply pointing out a familiar sight word from a print (road signs, posters, TV advertisement, etc.).

TIP 1: Start with two-letter sight words. It's easier for children to remember and it helps to build their confidence level.
TIP 2: Before learning sight words, the child must be able to recognise and name all lower- and upper-case letters in the alphabet.
TIP 3: Divide the sight word cards into batches, with each batch consisting no more than 20 cards. Learning the whole set at once can be overwhelming for the children.

Learning takes place anywhere, at any time. It's not desk-bound work, go have fun!