There are several ways to teach your child Sight Words. The trick is to have more than one trick. There are many, many kids who learn easily with flash cards. You can buy them in most stores. It takes little to no prep time and it's not hard to figure out how to implement them. However, not every child learns that easily. Learning should be fun at this age. There are so many things you can do. I hope to share a few ideas with you that might inspire even more creative activities that are perfect for your child.
Matching Game: Buy two decks of flash cards, print them out on your computer or better yet have your child write them but only if it isn't a chore. Bringing fun to Sight Words is hard enough without fighting a battle before they even begin. :-) Just select whatever method makes sense for the style of game your child would most enjoy. Turn the cards over. Take turns finding matches, BUT the word has to be read to complete the match. Depending on where your child is you may want to scale it down. You may only want to use 2-3 Sight Words but make them individual cards that have only one match (see illustration). The repetitiveness of verbally identifying the word is what you are looking for. If you are having a hard time motivating, incorporate something they love. Here are a few examples. 1) When you find a match you get to pick one item of clothing to dress a Barbie. At the end of the game the best dress Barbie wins. 2.) For the Lego Lovers: Upon securing a match and verbally identifying the word, you get to pick two legos. At the end of the game, set the timer for 3 minutes. You both get to create anything you want from the legos you won. 3.) You get an M&M for every correct match.
Sentence of the Day: Be sure to select an appropriate Sight Word List for your child, you child's teacher is a great place to start. Place all the Sight Words and Word Family words on index cards, being sure to cut the card to the exact size of the word itself. Word Family words are all the -at words (hat, cat, sat, bat, etc.) or the -it words (hit, bit, sit, fit, etc...). You get the idea. You should always include high interest words like dump truck, legos, Barbie, and Silly Bandz. Make a spotlight wall for the "Sentence of the Day". You can use the refrigerator with magnets on the back or any blank wall with painter's tape. Everyday your child gets to create a sentence for everyone to read. BE SURE to actually read the sentence aloud as you pass by so they can hear you. Have all family members, relatives, and guests do the same. You are creating a love of writing and learning Sight Words is just an aside. Depending on you spot light area, you may choose to keep a number of sentences up on the wall created throughout the week. Every child wants to read what they write. It gives them such a sense of pride and an amazing amount of confidence. Learning Sight Words is always repetitive by nature but this way it becomes "shared moments and memories" and not tears and gnashing of teeth (as we say in my home).
Relay Race This is especially great if you have more than one child. Use those same flash cards and put painter's tape on the back. Put 12 up on the wall. Have you child stand behind a line, call out a Sight Word and let them run to find it. Help them if they need it. This should be a no stress game. Let them pull the Sight Word off the wall and return to the back of the line. If you have only one child set the timer and see if they can beat their own time. Visually identifying the word is a huge step towards being able to read it. When they get tired of this reverse it. Put all the cards on the floor by their feet. You call out the word and they have to run up and place it on the wall.
Once you feel they have mastered these 12 words, test them. Have them read the word to you and you do the running around. They won't even realize it's a test. You will know if they are able to read the Sight Words or still need practice.
Here are a few links to help you out:
The Kid Coach 