Sight Words are found frequently in text and are difficult to sound out. Recognizing sight words on the spot helps children read fluently.
Sounding out “cat” requires matching sounds to letters (e.g., /k/ to c, /a/ to a, and /t/ to t).
Sounds don’t match up to letters in sight words. Here are a few examples:
- is
- the
- to
- and
What sight words are children expected to learn in kindergarten?
NYC private schools tend to have favorite sight word lists based on the school’s reading program, but core sight words for kindergarten are generally similar. This Dolch Word list is one example.
How can I teach my child sight words?
When reading beginning phonics-based books with your child, such as Primary Phonics or Whole Phonics, your child can practice reading sight words in context.
Flashcards or a list of sight words posted in a convenient place for you to review with your child are helpful, but here are more motivating ways to practice:
- If your child struggles with reading lowercase letters, play memory or go-fish. Write one set of words in uppercase letters onto index cards and another in lowercase. Take turns finding the same words to make a pair (e.g., the, THE).
- Tape individual lowercase sight words to Connect Four checkers. Have your child read the word on the checker before placing it into the rack.
- Write lowercase sight words onto Jenga blocks. Your child can read a sight word before removing it from the tower.
- Play hopscotch with lowercase sight words written into the boxes. Your child can read the sight words as they hop onto each word.
How many sight words should a kindergartener know?
Again, it depends on the reading program. There can be a range of expected sight words, but generally, the number of sight words should range between 50 and 100.
What reading skills are assessed at NYC private school kindergarten interviews and the FLI Test?
- Rhyme detection and generation
- Labeling upper and lowercase letters
- Matching sounds to letters
- Sounding out consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words
Getting Started with Stephanie
If you have questions about preparing your child for NYC private school kindergarten admission or the FLI Test, please contact Stephanie at sayandplay@yahoo.com.