Sight words are words we see so often that we want to read them in a snap, without sounding them out every time.
Words like the, a, is and to make up a big part of every page in a children’s book.
Sound it, heart it
Many sight words can be sounded out, like it and can. Some have a tricky part that does not follow the usual rules, like the o in to. We put a heart over the tricky part to “learn it by heart”.
Let's learn
- Write the word the on a card.
- Say the sounds: /th/ /u/. Point to each part as you say it.
- The e does not make its usual short sound here, so draw a small heart over it.
- Read the word three times, then use it in a sentence: “The dog ran.”
Watch out for
- Only memorising the shape of a word. Always connect the letters to the sounds.
Make it fit your reader
- Easier: Start with just two words: a and the.
- Harder: Find the five times in a picture book.
Practice activity
- Heart words: write the, to and said on cards and draw a heart over the tricky part of each.
- Book hunt: count how many times the word “the” appears on one page of a favorite 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.