Seven “Good to Know” Sight Words for Pre-K!

Seven “Good to Know” Sight Words for Pre-K!

School districts do not expect kids entering Kindergarten to know any sight words.  However, if your child knows how to write their name, knows all the sounds letters makes, and can sound out simple three letter words with or without assistance; I feel that they are ready to learn a few sight words over the summer.

Sight words are words that appear frequently in most of the text kids read, but can't easily be sounded out.  Sight words appear in 50% of text.  Students who instantly recognize sight words have an easier time reading.   Learning them helps children become more confident readers. 

You can view the complete Pre-Primer list here http://www.kidzone.ws/dolch/preschool.htm.  Most Pre-K kids may become frustrated trying to learn all of these words.  I suggest you focus on mastery of seven words.  I have seven favorites that I always teach first.  My magic seven are:   I, like, am, she (or he), on, the, is.  The reason why I choose these seven words is because they are most often seen in early readers.  Plus these seven words can easily be strung together to form a sentence.   

I am 5.

I like her.

I like ______.  (children draw the last word.)

She is L !

The cat is big.

I am on.

She is on the bug.

Once the words are mastered and memorized you can write sentences and allow your kiddos to read them.    You can also write a sentence and have your child illustrate the sentence.  Furthermore, you may wish to have your child practice writing sentences and these words make a great start to sentence writing. 

I would start with three of the seven words…  Write them on pieces of paper and stick them to your fridge and have FUN with them…

Play coin toss - words on floor - children take turns to toss a coin onto a word and say that word.

Flashlight words turn off lights flash a light on words on display.  Have child say the word that they have put the light on.

Sidewalk Chalk – write the words on a sidewalk and have the child jump on the word and say it when they land on it.

Beach Ball – Write the words on a beach ball and when they catch the ball, have them tell you what word their hand is on.

Play Dough – Make the words with it.

Make words using alphabet stamps.

Once your child has mastered three, add another word and repeat activities. 

Knowing these seven words before entering Kindergarten will give your child a little boost and get them ready to read! 

Pre-K Pages shares some tips of working with Pre-K students on sight words.http://www.pre-kpages.com/sight_words/

Mrs. Kilburn’s Kiddos shares some ideas and printables to help.http://mrskilburnkiddos.wordpress.com/reading/sight-words/

Check out Mom’s Town for a very creative way to teach sight words…http://momstown-artsandcrafts.momstown.ca/node/266

Getting Ready For Kindergarten!

The internet is a full of fun and educational things you can do with your children to encourage kindergarten readiness! Below are some free sites that I use with my kiddos.

FREE Worksheets and Extra Practice:

1.) http://www.handwritingforkids.com/handwrite/manuscript/javascripts/_my8linestext.htm – Handwriting for Kids site. This free site is great for practicing printing your child’s name. Just type in his or her name and press enter and lined paper with your text will appear.

2.) http://www.tlsbooks.com/preschoolworksheets.htm - Free Preschool Worksheets

3.) http://www.senteacher.org/Worksheet/10/Literacy.xhtml - Make Flash Cards at this site. Stick the cards on items around your house. For example: put a card on your TV that says TV. Put a card on your computer that says computer…

4.) http://www.kidzone.ws/prek_wrksht/index.htm - Many free preschool worksheets.

5.) http://www.momsminivan.com/printables.html - If you are going on a trip this summer, be sure to check out this site. It is filled with awesome ideas for trips.

6.) http://familyfun.go.com/printables/games/specialfeature/mazes-matching-games/ - Printable puzzles and games!

FREE Online Books Read Aloud To Your Child:These are all very cool. Virtual Story times online.
1.) http://www.frankasch.com/animatedbooks.html - Frank Ash Books Read Aloud to your child with text and pictures from the stories.

2.) http://pbskids.org/clifford/stories/index.html - Clifford Books Read Aloud

3.) http://www.lil-fingers.com/storybooks/index.html - More Online Storybooks

4.) http://www.storylineonline.net/ - Storytime Online is brought to you by the Screen Actors Guild. SAG members read stories to online.

5.) http://www.myfriendmagazine.com/games/emyebooks.html - Two Christian EBooks

GREAT Interactive Websites for Extra Practice:

1.) http://www.starfall.com/ - Filled with fun Phonics Based Activities

2.) http://pbskids.org/superwhy/ - Click on games and play some phonics games based on the PBS show SUPER WHY!

3.) http://pbskids.org/lions/games/ - Great Educational Preschool Games

4.) http://www.funbrain.com/

5.) http://www.thekidzpage.com/learninggames/put-it-on-the-shelf/ontheshelf005.html - Match Words to Pictures

6.) http://www.dositey.com/homek2.htm%20-%20K-2 Games for all subjects.

7.) http://www.primarygames.com/games.htm

MISC:
1.) http://www.teachingheart.net/backtoschoolreading.html - Suggested read alouds for introducing school and kindergarten to your child.

2.) http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=701 – Scholastic shares what preschoolers need for next year.

3.) http://www.dltk-kids.com/type/printable_chorecharts.htm - Make chore charts for your kids.

4.) http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/preschool-outdoor.htm - Outdoor Preschool Activities

5.) http://www.dltk-holidays.com/summer/index.html - Summer Craft Ideas

6.) http://makingfriends.com/precrafts.htm - Preschool Printable Crafts

Off to Kindergarten

My little man starts Kindergarten tomorrow. It's hard to believe this day is already here & he really was THAT little. I wish his little start to becoming a big guy goes smoothly. May God be by his side and watch him when I am not around. May he remember all the things we have taught him about being kind and polite. May he find a special friend. May his little start to big boy life be a good one!!!

To Zachary:

I wonder what you will be doing on your first day

and if everyone will treat you kind.

I hope there is a special person,

a nice friend that you can find.

I wonder if the teacher will know just

how special you are to Daddy & me.

And if the brightness of your heart is something she will be able to see.

I wonder if you will think about me

and if you will need my hug.

I know I will miss the sound of your voice

and how you often give my leg a tug.

I wonder if you could possibly understand

how hard it is for me to let you grow.

On this day know that my heart breaks

for this is the first step in letting my baby go.

Love, Mommy!