ACTIVE LEARNING #23 SIGHT WORD SHOWDOWN

Here are some multi-sensory ways to put vocabulary, sight words, and spelling words in the brain.  Purposeful practice for automaticity (aka repetition) is essential to skill mastery, and these chants and dances will be more fun than drill and kill.  They're also the perfect brain break where children can learn as they move.

Clap and Snap – As you spell out words clap on the consonants and snap on the vowels.

Jumping Jacks – Do jumping jacks for each letter in a word.

Palm Pilot – Hold up one palm and trace the letters in a word with the index finger of the opposite hand. After making the letters say the word and “take it to the brain” by pretending to run your fingers up your arm to your brain.
                                    

Sight Word Cadence
Children echo each line as you sing four word wall words at a time.  Slap thighs and march as you sing.
     There are some words you need
     If you want to learn to read.
     A     All      And   Are
     Be   Book   Boy   By…etc. 

                  


Singing the Word Wall
Sing the word wall from a to z with the tune of “Gilligan’s Island.”

Disco – Finger up in the air and move it across your body as you say different letters in a word. Hands on hips as you say the word.
                                                                                              

Air Writing – Children use their finger, foot, knee, tongue, elbow and other body parts to spell out words in the air.

March – Children march and swing arms on each letter. They salute and say the word at the end.

                 


Body Writing
Tall letters (b, d, f, h, k, l, t) - touch your head
Tummy letters (a, c, e, i, m, n, o, r, s, u, v, w, x, z) – touch your tummy

Toe letters (g, j, p, q, y) – touch your feet
For example:
      H – touch head
      O – touch tummy
      P – touch feet
      Clap as you say the word “hop.”