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How I Teach Sight Words in Kindergarten with Sight Word Stations

November 7, 2014 by Mary Amoson 30 Comments

How I Teach Sight Words in Kindergarten
I can not wait to share with how I teach sight words in Kindergarten. Last year I  worked on the idea to create sight word stations. My goals was to get my students to really WORK with sight words for a small chunk of time each day. I want them reading, building, writing, using sight words in engaging activities.

What Happened When We Started Sight Word Stations?

When we started Sight Word Station last year it was a HUGE hit. My students ran to their stations and complained when we left. Their sight word retention increase, but more importantly their ability to USE their sight words in writing drastically increased.

How We Start Sight Word Stations

Therefore this year, I made it my mission to start these sight word stations MUCH earlier. In fact, we started working on learning each station the second week of school. We did each “week” over a two week period of time, learning how to complete each activity.  I paid close attention to my students sight word retention, use of those words in reading and writing activities, and their attention span in activities.
Then, we accelerated our stations to doing each “week” during a one week period of time. Again, I paid close attention to the needs and abilities of my students. I moved only at their pace. We also started doing actual independent station time now too. 10-20 minutes a day of JUST open choice sight word stations. Once the light bulb illuminates, they could not get enough of words.
  • Sight Word Games & Stations {3rd Grade~Bundled}
    Sight Word Games & Stations {3rd Grade~Bundled}
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  • Sight Word Games & Stations {2nd Grade~Bundled}
    Sight Word Games & Stations {2nd Grade~Bundled}
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    $37.00 $32.00
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  • Sight Word Games & Stations {First Grade~Bundled}
    Sight Word Games & Stations {First Grade~Bundled}
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  • Sight Word Games & Stations {Primer~Bundled}
    Sight Word Games & Stations {Primer~Bundled}
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  • Sight Word Games & Stations {PrePrimer~Bundled}
    Sight Word Games & Stations {PrePrimer~Bundled}
    Sale Product on sale
    $33.00 $25.00
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Sight Word Stations Set Up

My class has successfully completed all the PrePrimer Sight Word Stations within the first 12 weeks of school. We have moved on to the Primer Sight Word Stations this past week.  I have taken some pictures over the past few weeks of our amazing sight word adventures…so hand on tight to see what we have been doing.

Clean Up From Last Week

First, on Friday afternoons, I lay out the baskets from the week before.

The chairs on the table because my carpet was being vacuumed because this is real life. I collect all the parts we have left over from the week before. I put the small pieces in baggies and I collect extra copies of the activities. Then, I place them in folder. You can see what I do with these games here.

Prep for the New Week

After I put away the words and activities from the week before, I put the new words in the baskets.
My prep time is sooo easy. First, I print the copies just a few minutes. This week needed 3 sets of copies. Then I fold the tent piece in the orange basket and add the words to the die for the yellow. The hardest part is laminating the pieces and cutting them apart. This takes maybe 5 minutes too.

1. Secret Code Words

 
Here are some of the activities we work on during these station time. Here is an example of our Secret Code Words activity. We break the code to make our sight words, using the code breaker at the bottom of the page. Once we are done, we scan the QR code to check our work.
 

2. Roll the Word

This activity is called Roll the Word. We roll the die and graph which word lands on top. We say each letter of the word as we write it. I included a cube in the pack if you don’t have the foam dice to make this. This game is a great way to practice writing sight words and using math skills.

3. Unscramble the Sentence

 
 This activity allows students to unscramble the sentence. There are colorful pocket card sized cards and worksheets. My students love to use the colorful sentence scrambles on the pocket charts. As a follow up activity, we use these printables to practice sentence scrambles independently.
 
Each pack comes with at least 2 sentences to scramble sets, one pocket chart and one worksheet for each sentence. The cards and the sheets match each week. These example photos came from different packs over the past few weeks.
  • Sight Words Games & Stations Editable BUNDLE
    Sight Words Games & Stations Editable BUNDLE
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  • Sight Word Games & Stations BIG WORDS Editable Edition
    Sight Word Games & Stations BIG WORDS Editable Edition
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  • Sight Word Games & Stations Editable Edition
    Sight Word Games & Stations Editable Edition
    $15.00
    Add to cart

4. Word Puzzles

Another table activity is the word puzzles. I set up the folded paper as the tent. This gives my little learners an extra easy word enforcer to help them build the words.
 
 

5. Sight Word Memory

The easiest table station is memory.  It is a student favorite. I make sure my little wonderfuls practice saying the words as they flip it over. THAT is the most important part. If they don’t know the word they turn over, they can ask their friends around them. They can even ask me!
 

6. Painting Sight Words

One of the sure fire FUN ways to use sight words is with the painting sheets.  Who doesn’t want to use watercolors to make sight words.
https://child1st.com/?rfsn=192983.b8524
 

7. Check Out Snap Words

Next, I also love to use these awesome sight word cards from Child 1st. They are called Snap Words… and I have used them for years! I actually bought a second set for my own child to use at home! Here are her baggies with smile face for YES and a frown face for no.
 
 
We used them for months at home with enormous success, and my own kinder know ALL her sight words.

 8. LISTENING TO WORDS WITHOUT THE TEACHER

Also, check out these QR Scan & Learn Sight Word Books…
https://sharingkindergarten.com/product-category/qr-scan-and-learn/
  • QR Scan & Learn Dolch Bundle Interactive Sight Word Book
    QR Scan & Learn Dolch Bundle Interactive Sight Word Book
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    $30.00 $24.00
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  • QR Scan & Learn Interactive Sight Word Book FRY 1-100
    QR Scan & Learn Interactive Sight Word Book FRY 1-100
    $8.00
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  • QR Scan & Learn Interactive Sight Word Book FRY 101-200
    QR Scan & Learn Interactive Sight Word Book FRY 101-200
    $8.00
    Add to cart
My students can scan and HEAR me read the words to them with a supportive sentence.
I have a PrePrimer Book,
Primer Book, and 1st Grade Book.
{These are divisions of the Dolch sight words.}
 

You can NOW create YOUR OWN EDITABLE sight words!

EDITABLE sight word stations
CLICK HERE to check out these files. 
 
I hope you got some ideas on some great sight word activities you can use in your classroom. Here is a link to older posts all about Sight Word Stations. You can guy the bundles to save on the cost, as I always discount the bundles. There is no code needed to get this discount.
Check out this set of ALL the Dolch Sight Word Stations at a HUGE discount!
 
 

Need More Info?

How I Teach Sight Words in Kindergarten

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Filed Under: QR Scan & Learn, Sight Word Stations, Sight Words, Teaching Tips

Comments

  1. Pamela Rountree says

    November 7, 2014 at 11:17 pm

    I love and can't get enough if these stations! My kindergarten EIP students beg to do them. They are amazing!

    Reply
    • Pamela Rountree says

      November 7, 2014 at 11:17 pm

      *of

      Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      November 8, 2014 at 3:11 am

      My kids too! THEY LOVE THEM. They will give up everything to go back to them.

      Reply
  2. Lee Ann Rasey says

    November 7, 2014 at 11:51 pm

    I have used the first week since that is as far as we have gotten with those words. (I have to go by our reading series word list so I add the words from your centers as extra words). We already lost some word puzzle pieces in which I have no idea where they went to because they are no where to be found! I sent a note home today asking for any Magna Doodles for another center. How do you manage the centers that take longer than others?

    Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      November 8, 2014 at 3:14 am

      great question… ALL OPEN CHOICE… I don't.
      It is that simple.
      Engaged students stay at their station working until they are finished, then they can pick another.
      If I hear them NOT working or being engaged, I quietly speak to them and choice their station for them. If they are not progressing or learning their words, I "play" beside them or watch their choices closer.
      Again… all open choice. They change groups whenever they are ready.

      Reply
  3. Julie Smith says

    November 8, 2014 at 12:29 am

    WOW! What awesome sight word station ideas!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
    Julie
    The Techie Teacher

    Reply
  4. KathyS says

    November 8, 2014 at 12:21 pm

    I teach PreK and had some students ready for sight words. I found this last year and have used it, We use it in small group. I love to "pick and choose" the activities I think they are ready for. I love how the activities are the same, just the words change. There is a "method to the madness". I recommend as THE sight word "go to". Love it.

    Reply
  5. Mrs. Bartel's School Family (Alyce) says

    November 8, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    I love your stations! I wish my district used the Dolch list, but we use our basal words. So, I cannot use your products, but I sooooo wish I could. Love them!!
    Alyce

    Reply
  6. Pam says

    November 8, 2014 at 3:53 pm

    Thank you for sharing your system for teaching the sight words. Anytime someone shares a tried and proven success, others benefit. I must ask you to please proof the opening sentences of your post. As an educator of 40 years, I know how important it is for fellow educators and myself included, to be correct and precise in what we write and say. As I began to read your post, I noticed the errors and thought, "would someone listen to me, if I am incorrect in writing?" I am sure it was written in haste because teachers have so little spare time. I am right there with you! Please know that I am in no way criticizing, I offer these suggestions in a caring nature. Thank you again for your efforts for our children and for sharing with fellow teachers.

    Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      November 9, 2014 at 1:50 am

      I AM THE WORST TYPER EVER…
      no other reason than that!

      Reply
  7. Misty Walker says

    November 9, 2014 at 5:30 pm

    I am trying to use the 20% code when I check out and it is not working.
    Is the code still valid?

    Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      November 9, 2014 at 6:41 pm

      Are you on CHILD1st site?

      Reply
    • Misty Walker says

      November 9, 2014 at 6:42 pm

      No TPT

      Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      November 9, 2014 at 6:57 pm

      Gotcha… that code is a discount on Child1st that they offer for my readers because I love their products so much. I updated the post to make this a little clearer. Sorry for the confusion. I can't generate TpT discount codes. All the sight word station bundles are discounted though.

      Reply
    • Misty Walker says

      November 9, 2014 at 7:01 pm

      Thanks for the information 🙂

      Reply
  8. teech92 says

    June 5, 2015 at 2:59 pm

    I already purchased the sight word bundle. I should get a free update??? Am I mistaken?

    Reply
    • Keri Benjamin says

      December 31, 2015 at 10:22 am

      When and how do you do guided reading groups? Is it during these choice centers?

      Reply
      • Mary Amoson says

        December 31, 2015 at 11:17 am

        My county does Daily 5 for reading stations. I also do sight word stations. Then separately I have math centers too!

        Reply
  9. Jennifer Drake says

    July 13, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    LOVED your sight words presentation at I Teach K and just had to come check out this post! Can't wait to get these up and running this year!
    Jenn
    Crayons & Cuties In Kindergarten

    Reply
  10. Jennifer says

    July 18, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    Just wondering how many students you have in your class and how many students per station?

    Reply
    • Gail says

      April 8, 2018 at 8:37 pm

      How many students do you have in your class? How many stations do you have out? Just wondering how many students you have at each station at once? Do you have a limit of how many there can be? Do you check their work?

      Reply
      • Mary Amoson says

        April 8, 2018 at 9:27 pm

        It varies each year. Always in the 20s. I have at least 8 stations set up. You have to have enough stations for students to move through at their own rate. I do have a limit for each group because my tables are small. Small tables get 4 students, larger tables get 6. 🙂 I do not check their work, but I assess their sight word progress. IF they are making progress, I let them be. If they are not, we conference to discuss how they learn the best.

        Reply
  11. C. E. Uttereyuk says

    August 12, 2015 at 5:31 am

    Mary, I like the sight word stations that you provided above. thanks!

    Reply
  12. Gina says

    February 14, 2016 at 9:19 am

    Hi!
    I love these ideas
    I’m wondering how the children scan the QR codes?
    Maybe it’s something technological that my school doesn’t have.
    I love the idea to self check the work…but with what?
    I’d love to know…thanks again
    🙂

    Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      February 14, 2016 at 3:17 pm

      They use smart devices that are on wifi and a free app that scans the code. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Heidi Butkus says

    April 2, 2016 at 8:12 pm

    This is very impressive! I wish I had found it at the beginning of the school year!
    Wish you had them for the rest of the Dolch word list, too! It’s been really tough to figure out something that will work for both first and second grade!

    Reply
  14. Mary says

    May 14, 2016 at 10:58 pm

    Sounds like a great plan for next year.

    Reply
  15. Jolene says

    May 15, 2016 at 9:19 pm

    Where did you find the cute trays?

    Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      May 15, 2016 at 9:30 pm

      The color baskets? Really Good Stuff

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Centered On Learning: The Letter Gg - Sharing Kindergarten says:
    September 17, 2016 at 11:46 pm

    […] stations, or even something else. I do small groups or Daily 5 for reading. I do stations for Sight Word Stations. And I also do centers for center […]

    Reply

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