Friday, December 2

Blog #5

November 28 - December 2

What is a Sight Word?

    It is any word that is recognized instantly and effortlessly, by sight whether it is spelled regularly or irregularly. These words help develop fluency and in turn develop comprehension when reading. Recent research has changed how we look at "high frequency" or "sight words". In the past, students were asked to learn, identify and spell both regular patterned and irregular words using rote memorization. However, the approach to word recognition is evolving. Students are now encouraged to look at letter-sound relationships and spelling patterns to help them spell and identify words.

    In our classroom we use direct instruction, word mapping and play to make connections to the sounds in words. In general, high frequency words are decodable (follow patterns) with the exception of some "rule breakers". Today's post will concentrate on regularly patterned high frequency words. Educators may refer to these regular patterned or decodable high frequency words as "Flash Words" with the intention students can read or spell them in a "flash."  

     The Alberta curriculum encourages grade 1-3 students to learn a list of specified high frequency words. If a student learns each recommended grade level list, by the end of grade three they will know 300 high frequency words. At conferences several parents asked for a copy of these 300 grade three words.

    The photos below are cumulative, you will notice different coloured sections. These colours indicate at which grade students are recommended to learn the given words. (Please feel free to send me an email if you would like a hard copy of these words.)

                                         Grade One - Blue (numbers 1-10)

                                         Grade Two - Green (numbers 11 -126)

                                         Grade Three - Pink (numbers 127-300)

    It is my hope that students will practice these words in manageable chunks throughout the year. I encourage students to choose a few unknown words off the list and look for sound patterns ex) "igh" makes the long "I" sound like in "high". During daily reading and when "out and about" look for those high frequency words. Students can also practice building or writing them using Scrabble tiles, white boards or even in the snow. 

Word play on a chilly Calgary day :)