High Frequency Words (Sight Words)

Throughout the year, our kindergarten curriculum requires periodic assessments to determine a kindergartener’s knowledge of high frequency words (sight words). Children enter school at various levels so identifying a child’s ability to quickly recognize high frequency words assists in instructional planning.

The Montgomery County School System identified 25 sight words (List 1) that students should master by the end of kindergarten. In addition, they provided 50 additional sight words (List 2 and List 3) for those students who are beginning to read at higher levels. Some students will master all 75 high frequency words; they are encouraged to learn an additional 100 sight words which are assessed in first grade.

Mastering the high frequency words on list 1 is the first goal. These 25 words are slowly introduced throughout the school year and reinforced at home via homework. Parents should assist their child in knowing the words as they are introduced. The ability to quickly recognize these 25 words will greatly assist a child when reading.

Playing games is an entertaining way to expose a child to sight words. Another great activity is playing an educational, award winning board game called Er-u-di-tion .

List 1: High Frequency Words (Sight Words)

I	at	is	to	like
me	it	am	come	and
a	this	in	here	up
go	see	my	you	look
the	said	we	on	can

List 2: High Frequency Words (Sight Words)

one	going	got	his	with
she	for	have	went	he
will	they	yes	run	was
big	not	where	day	out
down	of	are	from	little

List 3: High Frequency Words (Sight Words)

who	her	then	get	away
came	home	could	why	again
first	do	eat	mother	saw
what	after	there	make	did
because	father	want	has	night

Directional and Positional Words

Directions provide assistance in pointing out the proper route. Position defines placement or arrangement in an order (e.g. first, second, third). Knowledge about directional or positional words enhances a child’s ability to give and follow directions as well as to speak precisely. One of the skills a child should master in kindergarten is the ability to describe the location of an object using positional or directional words.

The following are examples of positional or directional words:

above after around before beginning behind below beside

between bottom down end far finish front in inside

left middle near next to off on out outside over

right start through top under up upside down

Many of the these words are sight words. 60% or 20 of the above words are incorporated in our sight words game. Click here for a worksheet that focuses on positional words.

Kindergarten Interview for Parent Conferences

Our daughter’s teacher gave us the answers to her interview with her our daughter at the parent teacher conference.

Her teacher asked her the following questions:

What do you like about school?
Anything else?
What don’t you like about school?
Do you have friends at school?
Who are they?
What books have you read that you liked?
What have you learned so far in kindergarten?
What are you good at?
What are you still trying to learn?

Both my husband and I enjoyed reading the answers to her interview. It’s a great way for her to communicate with us as well as her teacher about her school year. Where as, our second grade son wrote a letter. She currently does not possess the skills needed to write a detail letter about her school days as well as progression. This is a great activity that teachers, students and parents should all enjoy. Click here for a PDF of the questions.

Soaring with Sight Words

Clearly, I am a huge proponent of sight words. Our school district identified the first key to college readiness is advanced reading in kindergarten through second grade. Teaching a child to read is critical to their success in school as well as in life. A child needs to develop skills to enable them to be a strong and confident reader.

While there are many different approaches to teaching a child to read, sight word instruction combined with phonics has worked well with our children. In fact, over the past two years our family has been diligently working on designing, manufacturing, and marketing a game called Er-u-di-tion, which teaches basic phonics and helps children learn to read, spell and comprehend the most common English words. Sight words instruction provides the following benefits:

Sight words promote confidence.

Confidence can be defined as trust or reliance in oneself. To possess self- assurance; to remove all doubts. The ability to identify sight words when reading a book provides a child with confidence in their ability to read. The 100 most frequently used words represents over 50% of all English text. When a child can easily recognize over half of a sentence, they typically possess the confidence to attempt to read it. Opening a book filled with many words can be overwhelming to a child. If a child can instantly recognize more than half, he is not overwhelmed but rather challenged. The French philosopher, Rene’ Descartes wrote “Cogito, ergo sum”, which translates into English as “I think, therefore I am.” While this pertains to the proof of one’s existence, I think it can be extended to a more inspirational mantra.

I think _____, therefore I am _____.

I think I can read, therefore I am a reader.

If a child possesses the cogito, ergo sum mantra about reading, they will likely become a strong, confident reader.

Sight words assist in the decoding process.

When a child can open a book and recognize over half of the text, they can shift their focus to decoding the more challenging words. When a child needs to decode each word in a sentence, they become easily frustrated. In addition, they quickly lose the meaning of the text. The challenge shifts to the individual words and not on the sentence as a whole. As a result, the ability to recognize sight words improves reading comprehension.

Sights words can pose pronunciation problems.

Phonics’ strategies are not applicable to all words. Some words are phonetically irregular; they do not follow regular phonics or spelling rules. The English language has many of these words. In addition, our language is filled with many confusing homophones (words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings). A great example are the words two, to and too. These words are both phonetically irregular and homophones . A child needs to memorize how to read, spell and use these words. The following eleven words are examples of the more frequently used phonetically irregular sight words:

the of a to you was on are they have from

These phonetically irregular words are part of the list of 25 words that represent approximately one third of printed material. That’s right, a mere twenty-five words represent about one third of English text, almost half of which are phonetically irregular.

Sight words assist ESL students.

English as second language students can greatly benefit from learning sight words. ESL students are at an advantage if they can recognize sight words. Fry’s list represents the most common English words.
The first 25 words represent approximate one third of printed material.
The first 100 words represent approximately 50% of printed material.
The first 300 words represent about 65% of printed material.

Sight words are “service” words.

Sight words include “service” words like articles, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions and common verbs. Knowledge of these words greatly assists in understanding the meaning of a sentence. For example, the ability to quickly read and understand the meaning of the pronouns “I” and “you” is essential to comprehending many sentences.

Source: The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists 5th Edition
Edward B Fry, PH.D
Jacqueline E Kress, ED.D

Using Peaceful Words

Please
Thank you
You’re welcome
I’m sorry
Excuse me

These five words were prominently displayed in my daughter’s kindergarten classroom. In my opinion, it is extremely important for my children to speak appropriately. This job is shared equally between my husband and me and ranks pretty high. Peaceful or polite words should automatically flow from my children’s mouth when appropriate.

Have you ever been around a child that lacks manners? I had a child over for a play date; she clearly lacked manners. She failed to say thank you after I gave her a drink. In addition, she said give me a drink. It is amazing what the word, please, can do when a child is speaking to an adult. I am not inclined to invite her back to my home for fear my child will begin conversing like her friend. Having manners is extremely important and it starts in the home so teach your children early to use the five phrases above!