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.
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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.
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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.
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…
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!
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?
I love and can't get enough if these stations! My kindergarten EIP students beg to do them. They are amazing!
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My kids too! THEY LOVE THEM. They will give up everything to go back to them.
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?
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.
WOW! What awesome sight word station ideas!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Julie
The Techie Teacher
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.
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
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.
I AM THE WORST TYPER EVER…
no other reason than that!
I am trying to use the 20% code when I check out and it is not working.
Is the code still valid?
Are you on CHILD1st site?
No TPT
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.
Thanks for the information 🙂
I already purchased the sight word bundle. I should get a free update??? Am I mistaken?
When and how do you do guided reading groups? Is it during these choice centers?
My county does Daily 5 for reading stations. I also do sight word stations. Then separately I have math centers too!
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
Just wondering how many students you have in your class and how many students per station?
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?
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.
Mary, I like the sight word stations that you provided above. thanks!
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
🙂
They use smart devices that are on wifi and a free app that scans the code. 🙂
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!
Sounds like a great plan for next year.
Where did you find the cute trays?
The color baskets? Really Good Stuff