Sight word playdough mat maker

Read it, make it, trace it, write it

Make a playdough mat for each sight word. The word is printed in big hollow letters to fill with playdough snakes. Under it are a line to trace the word and a line to write it. Laminate the mats and they can be used all year.

Pick a design

Now: . Hundreds of designs to choose from.

Choose each part yourself

To keep a copy, choose “Save as PDF” as the printer. What you type stays on your device: it is not sent to us and not saved.

Your worksheet:

How to make your worksheet

  1. Pick a sight word list, or choose “Type your own words” and type them.
  2. Choose how many words from the list. Each word gets its own page.
  3. Print. Laminate the pages or use page protectors.
  4. Roll playdough snakes, fill the letters, then trace and write the word.

The reading skill

Making a word slowly with the hands gives a child time to look at every letter in order. Reading it before and after ties the shape to the spoken word.

Our own letter shapes

The hollow letters and the dotted letters are the same simple print letters as on our tracing pages.

Which words

Start with the few words your child meets most in books, such as the, I, see and can. Five mats are plenty to begin with.

Good questions

Can I use my own words?

Yes. Choose “Type your own words” at the top of the word list and type them. What you type stays on your device.

Can I use it without playdough?

Yes. Fill the letters with buttons, beads or stickers, or color them in.

How long can a word be?

Any length. Longer words get thinner letters so they still fit across the page.

How do I make it last?

Laminate the page or slip it into a page protector. Then it can be wiped clean and used again.

Is it free?

Yes, with no sign-up and no limit.

Make another kind of sheet

More than worksheets

Does this sound like your child?

“Cannot remember common words like the, said and was”

Words That Stick is a full 10-day plan, with a short video that shows you every step. The goal: on day 10 your child reads 16 of the most common words, on their own and inside sentences never seen before. It is the goal, not a promise.

  • 22 printable pages, one short day at a time
  • 11 short videos that show you each day before you do it
  • 4 sound tracks your child works with, while you stay nearby
  • A check on day 1 and day 10, and a report
  • About five minutes a day from you
  • $19, one payment. 30-day money back.

See the 10-day plan →Or do the free 3-minute check first