I was given a free product from Thinkfun in exchange for my honest review. I was not required by Thinkfun to give a positive review. Please read my full disclosure policy for more info.Our family has owned Thinkfun’s Zingo! for a few years now. It is definitely a family favorite. As a home educator, I had my eyes set on quite a few of Thinkfun’s games to supplement what we are learning at home, especially Zingo! Sight Words. I was honored that Thinkfun sent our family a copy of it to try out and review. {There’s a giveaway for you, too! Yay!}
The Importance of Sight Words
If you’ve been a reader of my blog for very long, you know that I am a firm believer that kids need to learn phonics AND sight words in order to become a more confident and fluent reader. Sight words are so important that the first 100 frequently used sight words alone make up over 50% of what we read. I’d say that’s important! Sight words can be drilled through boring flash cards and worksheets, but why do that when you can make it fun and hands-on? That’s where Zingo! Sight Words steps in.
Learning and Reviewing Sight Words
Thinkfun did a wonderful job choosing the sight words for the game because they line up nicely with the Dolch word lists for younger children. No matter what curriculum you’re using to teach reading, the sight words included in this game will line up nicely. For example, NJoy {currently 4 years old} learned 26 sight words last year with Reading the Alphabet. While Zingo! Sight Words includes more than just the 26 he has learned, he’s been reviewing the familiar ones in such a fun way.
Helpful for Struggling Readers
I LOVE how Thinkfun included pictures and patterns to go with the various words. This is PERFECT for preschoolers and struggling readers because it provides visual clues.
Some of the sight words included are also very similar in visual appearance {such as went/want or three/there}. If the game is played at slower pace and in a less competitive mode, struggling readers can take the time to compare these words, like NJoy did with there and three.
Several Variations with One Learning Game
- Zingo! Sight Words has two levels built in for their game boards {one side is less competitive and the other side is more competitive}. NJoy likes playing the less competitive side and I’ve been known to let him win a few times. 😉
- While the game is for PreK through 1st grade, ALuv {just started 2nd grade} likes to play a faster-paced and more competitive side. It also works well to review the sight words he learned in PreK through 1st grade.
- Sometimes, NJoy plays the game by himself. We read each word on his game board “together”. {While he can’t truly read all of the words, the visual cues help a lot!} Then, he goes to work playing and finding the words on his board.
- MBug {currently 3 years old} usually wants in on the action. Instead of focusing on the sight words, we look at the letters in the words on her game board and the tiles. She plays by herself and usually by her own rules! 😉
Who Should Play Zingo! Sight Words?
- Preschoolers who know their letters and letter sounds. While sight words can’t always totally be sounded out, most letters in sight words can; so knowledge of those two skills helps make the game easier.
- Children learning the basic sight words
- Children who have mastered their basic sight words, but want a fun way to review them
- Struggling readers- What a fun way to learn and review the basic sight words! The visual pictures, calling out of words, and physical movement makes the game multi-sensory– a perfect match for struggling readers!
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~Becky
Crystal says
We like to see how many places we can find the word while we’re out and about.
heathfamily7 says
I haven’t mastered one certain way to teach sight words. I’d love this game to try!
Tara H
Shannon says
So far just flashcards but I love this idea
Sandra says
We use fun worksheets and a new sight word book for each word we are working on. We do 1- a week for now. After she has mastered it she gets to put the word onto her “word wall” in her bedroom, her favorite part!
Susan Lanthrip says
My 5 year old would love this! Thanks for the chance to win it.
Amy says
We practice, practice and practice sight words some more! Usually I have a sheet printed out, say the word and they have to find that word, kind of like bingo without the bingo!
Teresa M. says
We currently just read flash cards that I have written on paper printed in the shape of popcorn.
Stephanie says
I had no idea they made this! I have a struggling reader who loves playing Zingo. This would be a wonderful addition to his curriculum. 🙂
RejoicedOver says
I don’t have one yet….
Tiffany B says
trying to figure out how best to do this.
Miriam says
This game looks so fun! My son loves bingo and I think he would love this!
Janine says
I use sight word poems by Scholastic.
Jo S. says
this is so great! I love incorporating as many games/activities as possible when teaching my little ones.
Amy Skirvin says
I teach them as we read. Each book introduces 2 to 3 new ones. Then we review those books.
louise zirk says
I love to write the sight words on small paper drinking cups, have each child read them one at a time, build a tower with them, and knock the tower over when the game is done!! Learning fun!!
Sonya says
My son would love this! Thank you for the idea. 🙂
Nicole says
Hoping this will help my struggling 1 st grader.
Laura says
My son is just learning sight words, so I don’t have a favorite way to teach them yet, but this looks like a fun way to do it!
emily says
I don’t know a great way to teach sight words yet, but this looks fun!
Lori says
I like to teach and reinforce sight words by using fun games and activities!
Jenna D. says
Fun worksheets and Bingo.
Natasha says
Tis would be perfect for my game loving kindergartener!
Krista Savadge says
We love zingo at our house! Would love to have the sight word version! 🙂
Jocelyn says
I like matching card games like memory.
Jennifer Lancaster says
I’ll often play Snowman Slap with sight words. We’ll place all the cards face down on the table, spread out (like you’re playing memory). Roll the die to see how many you read. Turn the cards over one at a time and read them. If you get them all, you keep the cards. If you get a freeze card, your turn is over and you get to keep what cards you have. If you get a snowman, you turn your cards face down and don’t get to keep any.
Erika DiPietro says
I use everyday items – store signs, clothes, food, whatever is out in the world and make that a lesson everyday. This game looks great!
Meganne says
Looks like fun! Thanks for the chance to win!
Kelli Bogdan says
Don’t have a fun way as of yet. Mostly we just look at them and review them every day.
Kimberly says
We have two other zingo games and my kids love them! This would definitely be a fun way to learn sight words
Sonya says
We are just starting Sight Words this week! My daughter learned well with Sight Word Sticky Notes on the wall and drill drill drill! My son is special needs and learns very differently, so a more multi-sensory approach sounds perfect! Thank you for bringing this one to light!
Mary gabriel says
Word wall, chanting, daily review, worksheets….this would be a great addition!
Anna@The Measured Mom says
I like teaching sight words with emergent readers.
Fritzi Worn-Wilkerson says
I’m just now really starting to teach my son how to read. I’ve read to him every day for years. I love games as they make learning fun!
Bethany says
We just started sight words- are using boring notecards- would love a funner way!
Abby J says
I love teaching sight words! Hands on fun is the best way. Writing with different things is fun too. Scented markers, chalk, color pens, etc. I didn’t know about the new game have the zingo and 3 letter word zingo. Would love this for my classroom!
Lorra says
I don’t really have one yet. We use flashcards, but would love to try this game!
Stacie says
We play sight word bingo.
Emily says
We are just starting down the journey of learning sight words, but we’re doing well so far. It would be great to have this game in our home to practice our sight words once we get a few more under our belts.
Teresa Fox says
My oldest is a struggling reader & this would be perfect for him! And then for my 2 younger who are preschool & SK to use as well! Would definitely love to win this!
Angie Shanley says
My favorite way is short sight word stories with multiple practices, and fun little home made games!
Christine B says
We have used flash cards and some iPad apps specifically for sight words. This looks like fun!
Jennifer Westerbeek says
My boys and I love playing games and this would be perfect for them!
Rachel Evers says
This looks like a terrific way to teach or practice. I use several methods including a ZAP it! game in small groups (go around the group and they have to identify and collect cards, if they get zapped they have to return all of them–winner has most cards and is the Word Wizard of the day!), sight word bingo, and a spin and graph sight word game.
Allison says
I really enjoy your blog posts. They are full of lots of insight and great ideas.
Terese says
This is our second year homeschooling I have a kinder and first grader and both love games so this would be a great addition to our home ,
JoAnne says
Zingo has come up twice this week, so I am thinking it is a game to try!
Leilani Zimmerman Ehlers says
this game sounds like fun can’t wait to play it!
Roxanna Alcantra says
I haven’t found a way for my boy to master sight words yet. This game looks great!
Elizabeth G says
through games.
Angie says
I don’t have one favorite, but my son learned his kinder sight words prior to entering kinder by using sight word cards (that I made) and a bingo game (I also made). I only put nine squares with words, to not overwhelm with too many words. Besides the Sight Words Bingo games began and ended pretty quickly for the short attention span five year olds have.
mamamayor says
Putting the name of things on them, like the word door on door
Leanne says
This looks fun. I’ve always just used flashcards.
amy s says
love teaching thru games! Thanks!
Jennifer says
We just started sight words this year so I don’t have a favorite yet. However, my daughter is very hands on and she loves games so this would be great to win!
kelsey says
I’ve had this game in my Amazon cart forever!
Nancy says
My little girl is only 4 and we are just starting out but she loves games and I think this would be great for her.
Brandi says
I have not had the chance to yet…. my oldest is just now getting to the age to get started with sight words. I intend to make it as hands on and fun as possible. This looks like a great way to do that!
Jodi says
I don’t have a favorite way to teach sight words. I would rhink that something hands on, like this game, would be more fun and reinforce learning sight words better than using worksheets.
Rhoda says
I have other products by this company that I love. I would really like to try this one out. It looks great!
Danielle says
I’m just starting to teach my son to read, so this is new for me. Looking for fun and easy ways for him to learn. 🙂
Loura says
Dianne Craft’s sight word cards – They are great!
Carrie Chance says
Not really sure what a favorite way is… primarily I would think through interactive reading over and over. My kids love the dick and jane books.
Leslie Corney says
Hiding sight words around the house and hunting them down.
Mistie says
I am not sure what my favorite way would be, except just exposure, exposure, exposure. I did a lot with Pat Cunningham stuff when I taught school, and I still use the word wall at home too, but I love to use whatever keeps the child engaged with them. If it is a child who likes to color, then sight words-by-number. If it is a child who likes tactile, then play dough mats to build the words. My four year old son is just beginning to learn some sight words right now and one thing he really likes is to “build” the words with lots of different letter. I collect all the letters from our sets for a certain word, put them in a bucket, and let him go to town. He likes to see how many of that word he can make. (Of course, he loves to put the magnetic ones on the refrigerator 🙂
Jennifer says
Just getting ready to do sight words and this looks like a fun supplement!
Yahiliz says
We love games! This would be great for my little Kinder. Thanks for the review and giveaway!
Powerful Mothering (@PowerMothering) says
This is awesome! Good tool to have!
Ann Cowan says
We read easy picture books. The when the little guy “reads” from the pictures, we point to the words on the page that he also said…
For example, if there is a cow playing with a ball, as soon as he says “cow” I point to the word and say, you just read “cow.” When he says “ball,” we do the same thing.
The next time he “reads” he points to the words. We also spell them out and so on.
Marcia S says
I don’t really have a favorite way as we are just now really navigating this new ground. We’ve used some videos and iPad games so far. This game looks awesome.
Lisa says
I try to use as many games as possible to keep it fun
Katie says
I love to use interactive sight word readers along with pointing out the words in our environment. Games of any sort to make it more exciting for the kids.
Laurie G says
I use flashcards, games, reading them in easy readers, and practice, practice, practice.
Stephanie says
We just started your Reading the Alphabet curriculum to work on our sight words!
Lee Ann Conger says
Looks like a great way to learn & practice sight words!!
Dianne says
I have not ever taught sight words. This is our first year at home schooling.
zekesmom10 says
If they are phonetic, that’s how (I don’t consider sound out words sight words, though it seems some people do). If not, we drill with flash cards, read together, use reading apps.
Jenny says
We’ve been using the BOB books but would love to incorporate this fun game! Thank you for the chance to win!
Jenny
Sunny says
I like using different implements, like a pointing stick, a clean fly swatter with a rectangle cut out (could be tailored to a particular topic… wooden spoon for cooking/kitchen words) and word cards placed around the house, yard, etc.
Sunny says
I got so excited I expanded on my idea too far lol. SIght words can have nothing to do with what area they are in or the pointing item. Different settings alone can be stimulating and engaging.
TheBargainBabe says
This is definitely a fun way to reinforce sight words. Another cute thing I’ve seen is to write the words on a large poster, provide a fly swatter, and let kids SWAT the words that you call out.
Thanks for the chance to win a great game! 🙂
Cassandra says
I haven’t found a favorite way. I use flashcards, worksheets, apps… This looks like it would be a great addition!
Crystal says
Found your blog while preparing for our first year homeschooling. Love all the ideas here for sight words, and this game sounds awesome for my PK, gr 1 & 2!
pisforpreschooler says
We’re still early in the process, so right now I’m just spelling words out, like “Who wants to go O-U-T?” lol. But I can see this game coming in handy soon for us!
Lisa Palladino says
Thank you for introducing us to Zingo!
Julie says
I hadn’t heard of this game before but it would be perfect for my game loving 4 year old.
Jennifer says
For my kindergartner, I find books that are interesting to him (super hero, star wars, etc) and read to him while letting him read the sight words they use. It keeps him interested and engaged
Brittney says
I like to write out silly sentences that use words we’re working on, and leave them around the house (on fridge, mirror in bathroom, taped to Lego tote, etc) where my son will find them and want to read them.
Abby says
My four year old would love this game!
Kelli says
Wow! I think my son would really benefit from this game!
Tabitha says
We use flashcards and color by number. My daughter would love this!
Catriona says
Looks like an awesome review tool (and fun game)!
becca vachon says
Creating pictures about the word and flash cards.
Stephanie Lucas says
I am just getting started as my oldest is only 3, but this really sounds like a neat way to teach sight words.
Jennifer says
Looks fabulous. I have a 5 year old who could learn from this.
LaToya Edwards (@LaToyaSEdwards) says
I suck at teaching sight words. Just kidding, I used mostly flash cards with my oldest. But my little guy LOVES Zingo so this would be fun for him.
Meredith Magee Donnelly says
Love using familiar songs and pulling our sight words to use in games.
Amy says
Looks like fun! My 6 year-old would love this to practice her sight words.:)
Deanna says
I love the idea of labeling things with sticky notes to teach sight words. This wouldn’t work for some of the words, but it wold help get the idea down. Also, pointing out sight words when reading to your child.
Thank you for the opportunity to win!
edna says
Have not gotten to that yet.
Jeanine says
Would love this for my 6 year olds!
MT-anonymous says
Honestly, I’m not a fan of sight words. We mix our sight words in with our phonics.
Becky Milstead says
We have just started sight words, so this would really help!
juli vrotney says
Making a game out of it..
Caroline says
We’re loving sight words right now! My son especially like learning new sight words each week on his “good morning chart.”
Thanks for the giveaway!
Amanda says
I usually use homemade flash cards with my son.
Karolyn says
We use Bob books.
Cori White says
I was reticent to start homeschooling yet with a 4.5, 2.5 and 1 year old…but my 4.5 is voraciously devouring everything I get and print and do with her….so I NEED extra things like games like this to add variety to her homeschooling! Plus I can donate it to my favorite homeschool tutoring center in Pensacola when we are done using it with our kids!
barbee says
We use flashcards, Bob books & free Kindle sight word programs
Kelly L says
We use flash cards and we like to either act out what the word is or how we can use it in a sentence.
Jen says
We are just beginning with sight words and just have flashcards. Would love this game to use as another fun way!
Tara G says
Since we have just begun our journey into the land of sight words, I would say fun worksheets (do a dots and color by word) are the best way for learning them so far. We absolutely love games and Zingo Sight Words would be a great addition to our collection. Thank you for the amazing review and the chance to win.
Jennie says
I put sight words up all over my house.
Kala says
We don’t really have one yet…just review review review.
Amanda says
So far my favorite way to through DVD, which as a former teacher I never thought I’d do. But I don’t really let my little ones watch tv or movies, so it’s a “reward” I feel ok about!
Ellen says
This is my first time teaching reading so still trying to figure that out. My son loves the original Zingo though so I am sure this would be a very fun way to do it!
Teri says
We have just started on sight words. We use books & signs we see outside. We also use sight cards. It’s all a work in progress to see what works best for my son.
Kathie says
This looks like a great resource! Flash cards, tablet games, felt boards are all great ways to build a site word vocabulary. My three year old would love the cards and tiles in Zingo!
Melissa G. says
I like teaching sight words with a memory game (each sight word written on two cards and turned over to find the match) and silly sight word books (using the sight words to make silly sentences and illustrate a picture).
Tanya says
We just started homeschooling. My son is 5 and he is
interested in games of any kind. All day he wants to only play legos and superheroes. This game sounds like it would be right up our alley of games he’d enjoy.
Loura says
love to win.
Amber Toll says
looks like this could help my struggling reader
Meaghan A says
I haven’t found a good way yet; this game seems perfect!
Jessica A. says
I use flashcards and hands on activities to teach sight words!
Stacy says
I once read to make a poster filled with parking spots and use hot wheels to test students!
Andrea says
Thanks for allof your fun ideas. My son struggles with reading.
Kristan Price says
We began teaching sight words by using flash cards but now we have a bunch on cut up flash cards and they match them to words when we are reading.
dawn says
I use your reading the alphabet lessons
Tammy says
I don’t do a lot of sight words yet, but I have a game we play when we do work on them.
Kimberly Blane says
We like to swat the correct word with a flyswatter.
Kris says
I teach by using memory games
Latyia Brown-El says
I love taping sight words to Lego duplos since they seem to be the only thing to keep my 6 year olds attention. Works great! He can continue building if he knows the word.
Christa Hannasch says
We use books that are interactive with wheels that turn and flaps. We have this game in the number bingo, we love it. This game looks great.
Heather Tudhope says
I’ve tried a number of things but I have a strong willed child that just wants to do her own thing and will almost always reject an idea multiple times. We’ve read the first three sets of Bob Books over a three month period and she picked up tons of words that way. Unfortunately I made the mistake of taking a break over Christmas last year and she wouldn’t pick them up again. She loves games but she’s caught on to my tricks and now will ask for a “no reading” game. So today we played Parcheesi… she hasn’t figured out that I’m teaching her to add too. 😉 I’d love to try this game… maybe it would do the trick.
Dena says
I love to use flash cards for sight word teaching.
etrieberbeth says
I love all sorts of games for sight words. Activities like Skunk, Bang, and Swat the Word.
Abigail Kocher says
So far I’ve mostly used flash cards. Sometimes when we read we play a game where the kids get to say the words that they recognize while I read the rest. It keeps them interested and paying attention as well. I’d love to try this game out!
hayley says
we love games!
Sara @ Embracing Destiny says
We use sight words magnets on our fridge. My daughter loves to rearrange them so she’s learning to read them at the same time.
Crystal says
Right now I am using All About Reading and my son and I “play” at building words and reading them.
Holly says
Perfect and fun way to practice sight words! LOVE the visual cues!
jenny Melendez says
We use movies and flash cards. I love that it is good for a visual learner and kinesthetic. Both of my kids learn this way it will be great to try this game it is perfect for teaching sight words
iulia enii says
my 1st grader would love to play this!
April says
My older son learned to read with the “100 Easy Lessons” book, which is phonics-based. His twin sister has no interest in phonics and is teaching herself to read whole words. This game would be great to help reinforce sight words with both of them!
kewkew says
We actually focus more on phonics and don’t do a lot of sight words. But the girls enjoy the Rock N Learn Sight Words DVDs, plus my daughter is now using Time4Learning and is learning to recognize them on there. Now that they are reading more I would like to do more with sight words. Love the look of this game
Tammi Olds says
We have been having a hard time with sight words for a yr..we are starting to make slow progress finally!
brandy says
The old boring way with flash cards, I would love to try something more exciting 🙂
Nikki says
We like to mix things up when learning sight words. We introduce them with flashcards, but use cut/paste, songs, read/trace/write, graphing search-a-words, and also lots of games – bingo, slap a word with a flyswatter, etc. We try to make it fun!
Cheryl Petersen says
My 3 year old son just started learning how to read. This would be awesome to help him with learning his sight words!!!!
Angela Mason says
Go fish!
ruth stieff says
I love Zingo sight words. I do tutoring for children with learning differences. We have to drill a lot of concepts over and over. Being able to do the drilling in this fun way makes life so much better for the children I tutor.