Teaching Sight Words in Kindergarten

Teaching Sight Words During Guided Reading

Introducing and practicing sight words whole group is a big part of kindergarten, but do you also teach sight words during your small guided reading groups? If not, i’m going to tell you why you absolutely should be and how to do it effectively!

I, of course, teach sight words whole group, but all of my students are at different levels and their sight word needs are different. It is a much better use of my time to really target the words each small group needs.

Teaching Sight Words in Kindergarten

I start by choosing a text that uses the target word often. If it is a new word for my students, I will do a quick mini-lesson on it before we read the book, but usually this is a word we’ve been introduced to whole group before.

Before reading, I have students find the target sight word and frame it with their fingers. That helps them build a connection to the word.

Sight Word Routine for Guided Reading

After students read the text and we discuss it, we work with our target sight word.

I start by introducing the word, show it on a whiteboard, and then cover it up with a piece of paper. I have students watch as I slowly reveal one letter at a time. This helps with visual memory of the letter order.

Then, I turn the board around and I erase 1-2 letters. I turn it around and have a student quickly identify what is missing. I write that letter in the word and we read the word together. We do this several times.

Practicing Sight Words During Guided Reading

Then, I give students magnetic letters and have them build the word. Once we have all built the word, we push up one letter at a time as we say each letter, and then we read the word together. We do this 2-3 times.

Sight Word Practice for Guided Reading

I have students write the sight word. Then, I have them write a sight word I know they already have mastery of and won’t have to think too hard about. Last, I have them write the target sight word again. By switching words in between, it requires students to pull the target word from their memory rather than write it by rote. This is key in building connections in the brain!

 Teaching Sight Words in Kindergarten

On day 2 of my guided reading lesson, we work on our target sight word through guided writing! To see how I do that, click here: Teaching Guided Writing in Kindergarten

I hope this post was helpful to you if you are considering teaching sight words during your guided reading groups, or if you just want to update your routine! If you have any questions, let me know down below!