Sight Words for Kindergarteners: How To Teach Sight Words Correctly
As a teacher, I've witnessed various methods aimed at teaching young children how to read, and memorizing sight words is a longstanding favorite. It makes sense—starting with learning letter recognition and moving to memorizing sight words is a classic route that we’re all pretty familiar with. Children are incredibly adept at memorizing, and it’s no surprise if your little one’s recall abilities are impressing you.
You’re likely wondering:
How many sight words should we do each week?
How quickly should my child be memorizing them?
How can I make sure my child remembers what they are memorizing?
We are going to cover it ALL in this guide and if I’m being honest, the answers will surprise you!
Are you new here? Welcome! I’m Miss Beth the founder of Big City Readers - a different kind of early childhood development. Children need flexibility and fun to dig in and grow as readers. I believe not all children learn from sitting at a desk, in fact, most don’t! It is my job as an educator to find the best solution for every child. I use the 5 building blocks of early literacy: read, write, sing, talk, and play in addition to the Orton Gillingham method which is a science of reading-backed approach that utilizes the three brain pathways through which children learn—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
What are sight words?
Think of sight words like flashcards for your kindergartener. Printed on each card are common words children are encouraged to recognize on sight without having to sound them out. Words like "the," "and," "it," and "you" are examples. You can buy inexpensive sight word flashcards online (which is why they’re so popular) and the idea is that by memorizing these words, kids can read more quickly and easily.
The goal of sight words is to have quick recall when reading but the truth is, sight words are like groceries you just unloaded from the car. The milk is in the house, but it won’t last. When a child learns how to read correctly, they categorize the word into the correct part of our brain for rapid recall that LASTS.
Are kindergartners ready for sight words?
In fact, YES! Kindergarteners are at a unique stage in their development, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer that works for every child, but most children are ready to start the journey of learning how to read. And of course, sight words are a part of this process, but it’s learning the RIGHT way that makes all the difference.
How to teach sight words the correct way:
Let’s start with the word “THE”.
First, we break the word into sounds. In “The”, there are two sounds - “Th” and “Uh” to sound out THE.
Next, we’ll draw two lines on a paper and put TH (the first sound) on one line and E the “uh” sound on another.
I’ll ask the child “What letters make the “TH” sound?” And hopefully, they will respond with “T” and “H”.
Then I’ll ask, what sound do you hear next? And they’ll respond “uh”. This is our big teaching moment!
Next, draw a heart around the E to demonstrate to the child that this is the part of the word we have to memorize.
In many other contexts, TH is a sound they will read/hear often and we want them to be able to read that in other words when they see it. However, the “uh” sound, represented by the letter E in THE is just something that has to be memorized.
Finally, pair your practice of the word “THE” with other sensory elements like a song, game, etc. to help categorize this word into the correct part of their brain.
How is this method different?
With the heart method, we are giving the child the opportunity to learn the TH sound and apply it to other words. We memorize the irregular PART, not the whole word.
I do NOT recommend memorization. Here is why:
Since sight words are such a common learning tool, parents are often shocked I don’t teach them in a traditional sense. While I do commend sight words for the intent to make “reading” faster, they can have some unintended negative effects.
Here is why I do not recommend memorizing sight words for kindergarteners:
Memorization vs. Understanding: Teaching kids to memorize sight words might seem helpful, but it only teaches them to recognize specific words they've already seen, leaving them stuck when they encounter new words. This can hinder their comprehension skills and make reading feel like a chore.
Critical Thinking Skills: Relying on sight words can limit a child’s ability to sound out new words. They might become dependent on memorization instead of developing the critical thinking skills needed to decode unfamiliar words.
Stress and Frustration: Some children find it stressful to memorize long lists of words. This can lead to frustration and a negative attitude toward reading, which is the opposite of what we want.
The most significant concern, however, lies in the long-term impact of this approach: Reading Comprehension.
Memorizing words doesn’t necessarily foster an understanding of how those words fit into larger sentences or stories. Looking ahead to two to three years, when your child is in the 2nd or 3rd grade, this method might mean they recognize words by sight but struggle to understand how those words contribute to the meaning of a sentence or a story. This is why I advocate for methods that not only teach words but also build a deeper understanding and appreciation of reading.
What if my child's teacher prefers memorization?
This is a tough one — and it hurts my heart to think about the kids struggling with reading in class that aren’t being taught the easiest, most efficient way to learn to read. If your child’s teacher is asking for memorization of sight words…it’s okay!
While classroom learning is extremely valuable, when it comes to reading, what happens at home solidifies how often and how well a child is grasping reading. Memorizing sight words won’t hurt anyone, but I recommend the heart method while practicing at home.
Not sure where to start? I created a step-by-step learn-to-read program just for parents of kindergarteners to help bridge this gap. Let’s learn together!
My kindergartner isn’t reading yet. How I can help them?
First step… don’t panic! Many kindergarteners haven’t begun learning sight words or their journey to read. And the good news? It’s an excellent time to start!
This is why I prefer other methods for teaching young readers; excitement should surround the start of learning, not anxiety that your child is behind.
Instead of focusing on sight words alone, here are some approaches that are more effective (and enjoyable) for the whole family:
Read Aloud Together: Spend time reading with your child. Discuss the story, ask questions, and encourage them to think about what they’re reading. This not only makes reading enjoyable but also improves comprehension and critical thinking.
Play Sound Games: Use games and activities to teach letter sounds. Making phonics fun and interactive is key. For example, playing rhyming games or identifying the starting sounds of objects around the house helps children understand the relationship between letters and sounds.
Encourage Writing: Let children write or share their own stories. This helps them connect letters and sounds in a meaningful way. Writing supports literacy development and boosts confidence even if it’s just scribbles or simple words.
Use Real-Life Context: Point out words and sounds in everyday situations, like signs, labels, and menus. This shows kids how reading is useful in real life and reinforces their learning in a natural, engaging way.
Focus On Sound Combinations: The Orton-Gillingham method, rooted in the science of reading, focuses on teaching all 250 sound combinations and the typical rules of our language. This way, children learn to decode any word they come across, not just the ones they've memorized. We even use "nonsense words" to ensure they truly understand decoding before introducing irregular words aka sight words.
Over the years, I've noticed that children who learn through doing enjoy reading more and tend to be more confident readers. They’re not just memorizing words, but are seeing reading in action. Time and time again kids who struggle with sight words thrive when they switch to real-life methods. Most importantly, a love of learning grows from a young age!
If you want additional guidance, I highly recommend checking out my guide - Miss Beth’s Sight Words Guide. This FREE download uses research-backed strategies through playing, singing, and reading with your toddler to help them grow strong learning foundations.
Reading Is A Lifelong Journey That Starts Today.
Sight words tend to create a lot of anxiety for the entire family. As a parent, it can be difficult watching your kindergartener not recognize words on the spot, which results in your child developing negative feelings towards the start of their learning.
Instead, focus on real-life situations that introduce reading, writing, and rhyming in ways that fit into daily life. After all, this is how they will use learning for the rest of their lives! Most importantly, it takes the stress off of you as a parent, plus creates a more enjoyable experience for your child.
Do you have any questions on sight words vs. alternative reading strategies? Please let me know in the comments! And to keep up with all the latest learning tools for your child, check out my recent posts:
