You can teach your child to read. Gab was an early reader. He started reading before he was 3 years old. One way to teach your child to read is by using Dolch Sight Words list.
Dolch Sight Words List are words that are used frequently in the English language. This was first complied by Edward William Dolch in 1936. The list contains 220 “service words” and 95 nouns. According to Wikipedia, 50% and 75% of all words used in schoolbooks, library books, newspapers, and magazines are a part of the Dolch basic sight word vocabulary.
Using Dolch Sight Words relies on memorization instead of phonics. These words are learned by sight, thus the term “Sight Words”. Since the words are short and common, the child would be able to read many words intended for their age.
Dolch Sight Words List by Levels
Below are the Dolch Sight Words listed by levels including the 95 nouns.
When to start using Sight Words
Before teaching sight words, the child must recognize lowercase letters of the alphabet already. The child is able to confidently and quickly name the letter when asked. But compared to using phonics, the child doesn’t need to learn the the letter sound.
How to teach reading using Sight Words
Here are some tips in teaching sight words to your child:
1. Flash Cards. This is a tried and test method. Write down each word and show it to your child. Ask your child to learn or memorize it by sight. You can start with a few words and gradually add new words to memorize. Start with the appropriate level like primary first and then kindergarten as the child gain more confidence in reading. You can make your own flashcards from the Dolch Words list above or you can buy this sight words flashcard set with pictures.
2. Read a book together. Find a simple book which uses a lot of the sight words. Dr. Seuss “Cat in the Hat” is a good one since it only uses sight words. But any book will do. Read it aloud together but take turns in reading the familiar word. You can pause at a particular sight word and let your child read it, then continue with the next words.
When Gab liked trains, we were given a Good Night, Thomas book that we read during bedtime. Watch one of our reading sessions below. He was 2 years old in the video.
3. Word for the Day. Assign one of the sight words as the “Word of the Day” and use it as often as you can for the day. You can make a simple sentence together or ask the child to write the word.
4. Build a Sentence. You can use the flashcards, line them up together and build a sentence using the sight words. Or try using these magnetic sight words you can stick on your ref.
5. Word Treasure Hunt. Print a set of sight words and hide them in a small room. Then ask the child to find the word that you are looking for. Or you can also just stick them on the wall and ask the child to pick the right word to bring to you.
6. Play Sight Words Games. There are plenty of sight word games that you can buy. There’s the Sight Words BINGO, Zingo Sight Words, and Sight Words Splat.
There are plenty of other fun and creative ways to learn sight words. The more words the child learns and memorize, the more prepared and confident the child will be in reading.
Finally, practice makes perfect. Practice a lot of reading at home. Read anything from books, food labels, road signs, billboard, nursery rhymes, song lyrics, restaurant menu and posters. Read anywhere like at home, in the mall, inside the supermarket, in the car, and bookstores. Take every opportunity to read.
Have fun learning!
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