How to Teach Sight Words to a Kindergartener

1Start with only a few words

A list of fifty words at once is too many. Pick three to five words for the week, such as the, and, is, said and was. Most early readers see these words on every page of a beginner book.

When those words are easy, add the next few. Keep the old words in every practice session, so they stay.

2Sound out what you can

Most sight words are not pure memory. In the word and, every sound follows the letters. In said, only the middle part is unusual. Point to the letters that make the usual sounds, then show the one part to remember.

This is called mapping the word. It helps the word stick, because your child links the letters to the sounds instead of trying to remember a shape.

3A few minutes, every day

Five minutes a day works better than one long session a week. Read the week’s words on cards, then find them in a short sentence or a book.

Mix the cards each time, so your child reads the word and does not just remember the order.

4Use the words in sentences

A word read alone on a card is only half the job. Write two or three short sentences that use the week’s words and words your child can sound out: I can see the cat. The dog is big.

Reading the words inside sentences is what makes reading a book easier.

Practice this in the free reading appReading games your child can play on a phone, tablet or computer. Every word can be sounded out. No sign-up.Open the app

Quick tips

• Teach three to five words a week, not a whole list.
• Show which letters make their usual sound, and which part is unusual.
• Bring back last week’s words before adding new ones.
• Read the words in short sentences, not only on cards.
• Stop while your child is still doing well.

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