Teachers can help ESL students build reading fluency by teaching them to recognize common words on sight. Here are five fantastic ideas to help you teach them in your ESL classroom.
Boom Cards
I’ve written about boom cards before as they are such a valuable and versatile resource. Not only are they interactive, but they require almost no preparation time or effort and are self-marking. In other words, they are something you should definitely consider using in your ESL classroom.
Three of my Boom Card sets are perfect for tackling the tricky teaching of sight words.
1. Sight Words: Reading and Listening
My Sight Words: This set includes seven cards containing a range of sentences incorporating key sight words. Children can listen to the sentences and then choose the corresponding image. In addition to the obvious work, they also offer versatility to incorporate other aspects of the English language. For example, the sentence I see a rat could be discussed as to how the sentence would change if it were an apple, i.e. I see an apple with the a changing to an because of the following word starting with a vowel.
I spy is always a fun game to play with zero prep and huge possibilities. However, this Boom Cards version is different. Pupils can use the interactive magnifying glass to move across the screen in order to find the hidden sight words. To add challenge, you could ask your students to incorporate the words they find into sentences, either orally or in writing. With 33 cards, this is an excellent resource that your ESL class will love using.
3. Building Sight Words
Regular practice on building common words can be a really useful activity for all ESL students. This pack of 25 digital cards allows your class to work independently on listening to, reading and building key words. Using a selection of letters, students should choose the correct ones to ensure the spelling is accurate. Although designed to work as an activity for just one person, you could have children working in pairs, with one not able to see the screen. Can that person listen to the word and then tell their partner which letters to choose?
I’ve written about Write the Room resources in the past, too. It is a movement-based activity ensuring students can be active and engaged in their learning at the same time. Provide students with a clipboard and the recording sheet and encourage them to circulate the classroom in search of the corresponding numbers and words to write, for example. This big bundle of Write the Room covers five different levels of sight word practice for your ESL learners. Choose the correct level, print off the cards and laminate – this will ensure that they last year after year. Display them around your classroom or even the school if you fancy giving them a bit more space. Provide your students with the recording sheet on a clipboard and let them go off.
5. Sight Words Workheets
Let your students have fun practicing their sight words with these sight word worksheets.
Students use a variety of skills with each worksheet. First, students will read, rainbow trace, write, find the word and color the picture.
What is your favourite activity to teach sight words in your classroom?
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