Focus on practicing a few new words at a time, and reviewing previously learned words that could use more practice.  

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Keep track of words your child already knows, and words they are just learning using a sight word list.

Watch this video and check out this list of Dolch sight words organized by basic phonetic structure and spelling rules, from All About Reading.

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Once you’ve chosen one or two words, write them clearly, in large, thick lowercase letters on a piece of paper or notecard. 

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Write only one word per piece of paper or notecard. Have your child color the paper to give it a blue background. Or use color paper or notecards. Using any color will help the word stand out visually and in your child’s memory. 

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Use these as flashcards for your child to go over their practice words each day. It will only take a few minutes and kids will feel proud to master their words!

All children benefit from acting out words. Bring a new word to life by creating a movement or gesture to help them build an association to the word. 

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For example, for the word “my,” kids can wrap their arms around themselves and say “my” while looking at the word. For “you,” they can point both their hands at you while repeating the word “you” they read from the card.

Create two sets of word cards and play a game of “Memory.” Lay the cards face down on the floor or the table. Take turns trying to match identical words. The person with the most pairs wins.

Look at magazines, newspapers, cereal boxes, etc. and highlight and read the high-frequency words.

Post sight words or letters on the walls or floor, or around the room.  Give students a flashlight and have them hunt for words. As they shine their light on the words, ask them to read them.

Set up a waste-paper basket 3 or 4 feet from a table. On scrap paper, write the high-frequency words you are practicing. Have the student say the word and if correct crumple the paper and toss it for a basket.