Reading Extra Practice
Homework for first graders this year consists of reading 15 minutes per day at least 4 days per week. Reading can be any combination of the following:
Reading can be done in English or in your native language.
- Reading books independently
- Reading online using Razkids (link below)
- Being read to by an adult
Reading can be done in English or in your native language.
Online Resources:
Click on the picture to go to Raz-Kids online. Child's password: provided by your child's teacher Note: There is also a Raz Kids free app for the iPad- look for the parrot. |
Click on the picture to go to Starfall online. This website is free for students to practice phonics, reading, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills. At school we use MORE STARFALL. (Note: If you would like, you can purchase a home account for $35.00/year.)
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Frequently Asked Questions:
What are sight words?
Sight words, also referred to as “high-frequency” words, are words that commonly appear in text. The goal is for students to be able to quickly and automatically read these words rather than sound them out.
“Recognizing high-frequency words helps children to read; being able to spell high-frequency words will help children to write.” (Cunningham, 2003)
How do children learn sight words?
Practice, Practice, Practice!!!! As children begin to see these words on the classroom word wall, in text, and in their environment they will learn to recognize them without having to decode letter by letter.
What are word families?
Word Families are recognizable chunks of letters that appear in words. For example: cat, mat, and hat are words that all rhyme and share the phonogram –at. In first grade, we encourage students to find familiar word chunks in the new words they are decoding. Instead of sounding out a word letter-by-letter, students can efficiently decode the word by putting together word chunks and patterns they already know.
Sight words, also referred to as “high-frequency” words, are words that commonly appear in text. The goal is for students to be able to quickly and automatically read these words rather than sound them out.
“Recognizing high-frequency words helps children to read; being able to spell high-frequency words will help children to write.” (Cunningham, 2003)
How do children learn sight words?
Practice, Practice, Practice!!!! As children begin to see these words on the classroom word wall, in text, and in their environment they will learn to recognize them without having to decode letter by letter.
What are word families?
Word Families are recognizable chunks of letters that appear in words. For example: cat, mat, and hat are words that all rhyme and share the phonogram –at. In first grade, we encourage students to find familiar word chunks in the new words they are decoding. Instead of sounding out a word letter-by-letter, students can efficiently decode the word by putting together word chunks and patterns they already know.
Optional Games & Activities for Word Practice:
1. HANGMAN: play using the word wall words
2. EYE SPY: Look for words in book
3. BINGO: Make 2 copies of each sight word and play
4. RAINBOW WORDS: write the words using different color markers.
5. SIDEWALK CHALK: Write the sight words with chalk on the sidewalk.
6. CHUNK IT: Circle smaller words within words using a dry erase board.
7. ABC ORDER: Have your student put the words in A.B.C. order.
8. FLASHLIGHT WORDS: turn off the lights and put the spotlight on the word and call it out.
9. WORD WALL DICTIONARY: Children make their own word wall dictionary using photocopied small sight words and scrapbooks labeled with a letter of the alphabet on each page… add throughout the year.
10. PLAY DOUGH: Make the words using playdough
11. SCRABBLE: Students make the words using scrabble pieces.
12. BEADS: Get ABC beads and string the words together
13. STENCILS: Write the words using stencils.
14. ABC STAMPS: use stamps to make the words
15. MAGNETIC LETTERS: Build the words using magnetic letters
16. WORDO or TIC TAC TOE: Wordo, similar to Bingo, Make a grid with nine squares. Have the students choose nine words from the word wall to write in each square. Then randomly call out a word and the students must either cross it out or cover it with a marker if they have it. You can play until someone gets three in a row or covers the whole board. You might decide at the beginning how many winners you will have.
17. MAGIC FINGER: Write the word on the child’s back and have them tell you the word, take turns.
2. EYE SPY: Look for words in book
3. BINGO: Make 2 copies of each sight word and play
4. RAINBOW WORDS: write the words using different color markers.
5. SIDEWALK CHALK: Write the sight words with chalk on the sidewalk.
6. CHUNK IT: Circle smaller words within words using a dry erase board.
7. ABC ORDER: Have your student put the words in A.B.C. order.
8. FLASHLIGHT WORDS: turn off the lights and put the spotlight on the word and call it out.
9. WORD WALL DICTIONARY: Children make their own word wall dictionary using photocopied small sight words and scrapbooks labeled with a letter of the alphabet on each page… add throughout the year.
10. PLAY DOUGH: Make the words using playdough
11. SCRABBLE: Students make the words using scrabble pieces.
12. BEADS: Get ABC beads and string the words together
13. STENCILS: Write the words using stencils.
14. ABC STAMPS: use stamps to make the words
15. MAGNETIC LETTERS: Build the words using magnetic letters
16. WORDO or TIC TAC TOE: Wordo, similar to Bingo, Make a grid with nine squares. Have the students choose nine words from the word wall to write in each square. Then randomly call out a word and the students must either cross it out or cover it with a marker if they have it. You can play until someone gets three in a row or covers the whole board. You might decide at the beginning how many winners you will have.
17. MAGIC FINGER: Write the word on the child’s back and have them tell you the word, take turns.