That's My Word!

Try this simple game with your beginning reader.

By Allison McDonald
Jun 04, 2015

Ages

4-7

That's My Word!

Jun 04, 2015

Bedtime reading is one of my favorite literacy tools. It's consistent, it is something my children look forward to, and my audience is captive under their blankets. Also all the distractions that surround us during the day are gone. It is just the two of us and some books. That is why this is a great time to gently work on some big things like high frequency words.



High frequency words are sometimes also called sight words, Fry words, or Dolch words but they aren't exactly the same thing even though the terms are often used interchangeably. For our purpose, this doesn't matter at all. What matters is that you and your child are working on one word every night. You can do that with any list you are given from his teacher or find your own here or here.

How to play:

1.    Grab one word off your list and make it the word of the night.
2.    As you read your bedtime story, trace the words as you read them to your child.
3.    Your child's job is to read the word of the night every time it pops up.

Sometimes the word pops up so many times in one page that you will be giggling before you turn to the next. I love that, because games should be fun! This super simple game is a wonderful confidence booster. If your child is struggling with a word, you can revisit it with a new book without it feeling like drill-and-kill practice. I think the best part of this simple reading game is that you can take it anywhere, you can stop it midway if frustration or exhaustion has overcome your child, and as he gets older the game can grow with him!

How do you work on high frequency words with your kids? Tell us on the Scholastic Parents Facebook page!
 

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