We were in Danielle's kindergarten class in Waterville, Maine and observed her students practicing their sight words. We were struck with the independence they demonstrated during this activity.

After arriving at school, each child hung up their coat, ate breakfast and found their small plastic crayon box which contained their personalized sight word cards. The crayon boxes were stored on a shelf that provided easy access for them. The contents varied from letters in their names to lists of up to five words, based on their individual needs. Once children learned the words in order, they were cut apart, so they could practice reading the same five words in any order.

Children who weren't yet ready for the beginning word lists manipulated their letter cards until they spelled their name.

We have found, in every grade level we teach, that we have students who need specific high frequency word practice to boost Accuracy and Fluency. Kathy Gursky has done a lot of the work for us on her website. You can click on the different lists of words, cut them up into columns and you'll have five word lists which are ready to go.

We like the idea so much that we are going to be on the lookout for plastic crayon or travel soap boxes (even ziplock bags would work) that our students can store in their book boxes.

At the bottom of this page is another link which takes you to a site where children can listen to these sight words being read aloud. We think these are two great ways students can practice and learn these words.

List of sight words

http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/Dolch.html

Sight words read aloud

http://www.brentwood.k12.ca.us/brentwood/Links/DolchProject/index.html