Sets 1 to 4

Map It, Heart It 8 min
Set 1: after, again, any, ask, by, every, fly, from, give, going 🔒 9 min
Set 2: because, been, before, both, buy, call, does, done, found, gave 🔒 9 min
Set 3: could, would, should, their, there, they're, were, where, which, write 🔒 10 min
Set 4: always, around, best, many, very, other, mother, brother, once, together 🔒 9 min

Sets 5 to 8 and Review

Set 5: about, better, carry, clean, cut, draw, eight, far, full, laugh 🔒 9 min
Set 6: friend, people, school, through, thought, enough, though, already, whole, special 🔒 10 min
Sound-Alike Words 🔒 9 min
Daily Review and Reading Check 🔒 9 min

Map It, Heart It

The best way to learn a sight word is to link its sounds to its letters. We call this mapping.

Let's learn

Say the word could. Count the sounds: /k/ /oo/ /d/.
Write the letters under each sound: c, oul, d.
The oul part is unusual, so draw a heart over it.
Read it, cover it, write it, check it.

Watch out for

Learning a word as a picture shape. Shapes are easy to forget; sound-letter links last.

Make it fit your reader

Easier: Map a short word first: went (/w/ /e/ /n/ /t/), which has no tricky part.
Harder: Map would and should and notice they share the same heart part.

Practice activity

Map three words: could, would and should, and draw hearts over the tricky parts.
Word detective: find one of today’s words in a book.

Tip for grown-ups: Keep practice short and cheerful: 10 to 15 minutes is plenty for young readers. Praise effort, let your child point to the words, and stop while it is still fun.

Enjoying this lesson?

Enroll in the full course to access all lessons, track your progress, and earn a certificate.

Enroll in Full Course