Kindergarten – 1st · Reading & Language Arts
Sight Words & First Sentences
The everyday words that do not sound out — the, said, was — plus reading a whole sentence.
Practice sets
Read the teaching notes, then let them practice on screen or print a sheet. Every set makes fresh problems each time, and you can change the numbers to match where your child is.
First sight words
Say this to your child first
These words break the rules, so sounding them out does not work — they have to be recognised on sight. Write each on a card. Show it, say it, have them say it. Three seconds per word, five minutes a day. Frequency beats duration here more than anywhere else.
Watch out for
Trying to sound out "said" or "was" and getting frustrated. Stop them and say plainly: "this one is a trickster, we just learn its face."
How this works
- 1. Read the notes above and do one problem together.
- 2. Open Practice and let them work on screen. Anything with one right answer is marked instantly; written answers are shown to you side by side with a good one, for you to judge.
- 3. Or open Print a sheet for a paper worksheet with an answer key for you.
First reading — short stories
Say this to your child first
Read the passage aloud once while they follow with a finger. Then let them read it back to you. Only after both readings should they answer the questions, and they are allowed to look back at the text — finding the answer in the text is the skill, not remembering it.
Watch out for
Answering from memory or imagination instead of looking. Point at the line and say "show me where it says that."
How this works
- 1. Read the notes above and do one problem together.
- 2. Open Practice and let them work on screen. Anything with one right answer is marked instantly; written answers are shown to you side by side with a good one, for you to judge.
- 3. Or open Print a sheet for a paper worksheet with an answer key for you.
Reading a longer story
Say this to your child first
Two passages instead of one. Let them read it aloud to you, then answer without looking back for the first question — and with looking back for the rest. Both are real skills.
Watch out for
Answering from memory of a similar story rather than this one. Point at the line that holds the answer.
How this works
- 1. Read the notes above and do one problem together.
- 2. Open Practice and let them work on screen. Anything with one right answer is marked instantly; written answers are shown to you side by side with a good one, for you to judge.
- 3. Or open Print a sheet for a paper worksheet with an answer key for you.
Finishing the sentence
Say this to your child first
Read the start of the sentence aloud with them and let them supply the missing word. This is where sight words stop being flashcards and start being reading.
Watch out for
A word that makes sense but does not fit the grammar. Read the whole sentence back with their word in it and let them hear it.
How this works
- 1. Read the notes above and do one problem together.
- 2. Open Practice and let them work on screen. Anything with one right answer is marked instantly; written answers are shown to you side by side with a good one, for you to judge.
- 3. Or open Print a sheet for a paper worksheet with an answer key for you.