Are you trying to figure out ways to teach your kids how to learn Dolch sight words? These printable Read Build Write Sight Words Mats are the perfect tool for helping kids learn sight words in a hands on way. We love using Read Build Write Mats to work on spelling too!
Read Build Write Sight Word Mats with Dolch Sight Words
I am always looking for ways to best teach my kids sight words and spelling as well as activities for my elementary grade school kids.. I have found that getting them to actually take notice of each and every letter is very important. I am happy with our current method of learning spelling words but I needed a slightly different approach to teach sight words. It is a discussion that will definitely be had on our private Facebook Group . If your child is having a difficult time with sight words please know that you are not alone.
It may not always be easy to learn Dolch sight words with Read Build Write Templates.
For some children learning sight words is hard. The way it is taught in most schools is to just visually look at the word and say it over and over. How can looking at a boring word over and over help a child learn sight words? Have you ever had those weeks where your child just seems to be getting the same word wrong every single time you test them? I think the reason for this is that visually we do not really pay attention to every single letter in a word. We skim words and our brain subconsciously figures out the word. This in turn has your child guessing the answer based on the first letter.
Look at the example below, I am sure that you too can read this even though everything is spelled wrong.
How to learn Dolch sight words with Read Build Write Templates:
Learn through more than through the ‘Visual’ Sense (See) : Learn through Touch (Feel).
Looking at sight words doesn’t always seem to get the words to stick in a child’s mind. It is so much easier for a child to learn by actively learning through more than one of their senses. Through using the Read Build Write Mats the child physically touches the letters with his/her hands, which in turn stimulates the mind.. My printable activity has a printable set of letters but I highly suggest you purchase a set of alphabet letters where your child can feel the actual outline of the letters. I recommend a few products at the end of this post.
After reading the word, the child then builds the word. By doing this the child has to take notice of every single alphabet letters in each word that they normally visually skim over. This makes them actively learn. To further re-enforce it the child then writes the word out. This engrains it in their mind.
Not all sight words need to be learned this way. Just the ones that your child finds difficult to remember. Some sight words are so easy that a child can look at them once and just know it. For the words that your child finds difficult though, this is the perfect solution.
Each child will learn Dolch Sight Words in a different way.
My son started to learn Dolch Sight Words in the second grade. While other parents said their kids flew past each word quickly, mine on the other hand needed a more hands on approach. Some kids are visual learners while others need to stimulate more of their senses in order to actually pay attention to each and every letter of a word. There is no right way to teach Dolch Sight Words. However, there is a variety of ways that may be suitable to that particular child.
Other ways to learn Dolch Sight Words
Some ways parents recommend learning sight words:
– Putting their weekly Dolch sight words list on post its near their bed so that they look at it and practice when they wake up or right before they go to bed.
– Playing a stomp on the sight word game. Write out the sight words that your child is having trouble with on printer paper and when you say that word have your child JUMP on to it. This is a great way to get them active while learning too!
– Repetition. The more you go over it the easier it gets.
– Do a sight word treasure hunt. Hide the sight words around the house or in some rice.
If you receive a list of 20 words each week… break them up. Do 5 words each day Monday to Thursday and then on Friday go through all of them.
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You can find all of our Free Printable Read Build Write Mats and Vocabulary words here!
I have included Dolch Sight words to get you started.
For extra durability, it is better to laminate the letters. The read build write mat can be laminated or you can put it inside a page protector.
I made an Alphabet Letter Box to use with these mats which was so much fun.
I already had the Melissa and Doug See and Spell Words toy at home as well as an alphabet fridge magnet set, which I used in my alphabet divider!
I store the mats inside the alphabet box so that it is quick and easy for me or the kids to grab when we need it.
New Read Build Write Mats!!
I have created a new perfected version of my Read Build Write Mats Activity pack that includes 13 different mats, 220 Dolch sight words + more nouns, 220 Tracing Cards AND an editable word card pdf file so that you can add in your own words. The word cards are larger in size to the ones in the free download. You can have a look at them here:
Read Build Write Mats with Dolch Sight Words and Editable Word Card PDF
More Sight Word Activities
Try out my alphabet letter fishing but with sight words instead! Kids will love fishing for the letters to make their sight word.
Looking for a nice sight word app? Try The Sight Word Adventure – Seven Academy
Teach Number Sight Words by using the Sight Words Number Pack. It includes 40 pages of number sight word activities to help your child playfully learn sight words.
For more sight word learning ideas follow me on pinterest: Visit Fun With Mama’s profile on Pinterest.
Check out ABC Mouse – it is a great learning resource:
ABC Mouse– Download a free 30 day trial at ABC Mouse – This program is perfect for learning letters, sight words and so much more!
I hope you enjoyed the many ways we learn Dolch Sight Words. If you have some suggestions please leave a comment below or let me know on my facebook page.
