Sight Words, Why Do We Need to Know Them?
by Rhonda Carryer
September 02, 2008
Sight words are the most commonly used words in reading and writing. In fact, according to research, 60% to 85% of text in early reading material is considered to be sight words. Therefore, when students have mastered sight words, they know the majority of the words in any given text. To determine what the remaining words are students will need to use the meaning of the context, phonics or illustrations.
Many of the sight words do not follow rules established in phonics. That being the case, students will need to commit them to memory. In our Title 1 class we work on getting a good foundation in sight word vocabulary. We work on sight words both in isolation and in context. At the same time, students work on mastering phonics rules and other reading strategies that will help them build fluency with greater comprehension.
With our younger readers, sight word cards will come home almost weekly. These are words your student has just mastered in class. It is important that they review their cards at least two times a week, more if they start forgetting them. As their collection of cards increase, rotate through them in order to review each word at least once a week. As students read at home they will practice seeing the sight words in context. Please be sure to get extra reading practice at home daily.
HAPPY READING!
