One of the most common distance learning activities that kindergarten and first-grade teachers are sending home is “Work on sight words.” but for a lot of parents, they don’t know how that might look like in their home. One of the incredible benefits of homeschooling during Coronavirus quarantine is that you can do some super fun activities that are not always possible in large groups of students. I love teaching in a class, but one of my favorite jobs I have ever had was tutoring struggling readers. Working one on one allowed me to create creative, engaging activities for these children who had already decided that they weren’t readers; it took some seriously awesome activities to convince them otherwise. Some of these homeschool sight word activities would work in a group setting, but they are perfect for the home.
Not sure which sight words to use? I would suggest you ask your child’s teacher for a word list or at least the level they are presently at. If you have no guidance from your child’s teacher, you can find lists here for sight words and here for high-frequency words. The difference between sight words and high-frequency words gets somewhat technical, but this post explains it well if you are interested. This list of homeschool sight word activities can be used for both sight words and high-frequency words.
Sight Word Activities For Home
Sight Word Jars – build those words!
Listen & Find – Where the Wild Things Are – Sight Word Game & Free Printable – This is such a fun game, and I made it with my favorite book. If you don’t love the book, that’s fine! Check out the post and see how the game works and make your own with your child’s favorite book.
Roll & Read Sight Words – this is a flexible game that can be used for so much more than sight words.
Sight Word Water Balloon Game – this is hands down the best sight word activity ever.
“My word” bedtime reading game – this was a popular game at our house during bedtime reading for many years.
Sight Word Scavenger Hunt – get moving and learning with this game
Sight Word Dominoes & Speed Racer Game – this is a family favorite, and we haven’t really put it away since I made it when my now 3rd grader was in kindergarten. It’s even more fun now that two kids can play, and by fun, I mean the smack talk is insane.
Conversation Hearts – this is easy to adapt for sight words.
Outdoor Sight Word Hunt with Duplo. Make those “baby Lego” (that’s a direct quote from a child who shall remain anonymous and not my personal view of these rad blocks) work for your growing family. Use a sharpie to write the words on and dry-erase marker to erase the sharpie when you are done. Yes, yes, that works! This is one of my favorite homeschool sight word activities.
This sight word game is simple, but that’s perfect for the insanity going around us right now. Use a pencil if you want to use the same post-its over and over.
Mary says
Thank you for these ideas!! My child’s teacher gave us ideas for sight word games but didn’t really explain how to do it! I especially love the dominoes, dice and scavenger hunt games!
Allison McDonald says
So happy to help!
Frances Denniss says
Lovely, Wonderful and helpful all these activities make teaching/learning activities for parents and children more easier.
sheelaR says
good idea to teach sight words kids in easy way and play way method
Frances Denniss says
All these activities make play and learn appealing to the children, and this we I’ll get more parents involved.