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This Reading Mama

Sight Words You Can See {Review and Giveaway}

By thisreadingmama 75 Comments

photo of Sight Words You Can See-Review and Giveaway {This Reading Mama}

The “Problem” with Sight Words

Many children have problems with sight words, even if they know all their letters and sounds.  Sometimes, it’s a developmental thing; they just aren’t ready to move at the pace in which we’d like for them to learn.   Pat Cunningham also lists three “problems” with sight words, including: 1-most of them have no concrete meaning (For example, computer or tree have a concrete meaning whereas of and the do not.) 2-many sight words look very similar, and 3- they don’t follow the standard spelling rules. (Phonics They Use)  One of Cunningham’s suggestions is to create some kind of picture to go with the sight word to help it “stick” a bit better.

How Sight Words You Can See Helped My Young Reader

For the most part, ALuv (currently in 1st grade) gets sight words.  His frustration comes mostly over similar looking sight words (especially those starting with th and w; there’s just SO many of them!).  Even the words new and now have tripped him up a bit.  As I was re-reading Cunningham’s book, I was contacted by Penny of Sight Words You Can See and asked to review her sight word program.  After looking into it and noticing that it included mnemonic cues with the sight words, I was excited to see how Avery would do.  And I’ve been amazed at the results!  Here are just a couple of shots of the flashcards included:

photo of mnemonic cues for wa- sight wordscues for words with w, followed by a

photo of mnemonic cues for silent letters in sight wordscues for words with a silent letter

Once he began learning the cue system (which is rather cute and comical, I might add), he was able to read words I had not introduced to him yet!  I also noticed that he was less likely to mix up those similar looking sight words, even out of context.  I’ve used the cue system while reading books, as I’ll simply draw one of the cues he’s learned on a dry erase board to help him read an unknown word.

More About Sight Words You Can Use

The lessons in the packet are predictable and repetitive, which works well for readers who are struggling because there is structure.  One way we always like to shake it up a bit is to play sight word games, including some of the ones I posted about this summer.  To find even more sight word games, you can visit my Sight Word Pinterest board; where I love to add fun games for learning and practicing sight words.

The words chosen for this program are not in the same order as the Dolch sight words or Fry’s Sight Word list, but I did some cross referencing and noticed that the majority of the words are from the Pre-Primer through 3rd grade Dolch word lists and Fry’s first 100 and second 100 word lists.

Included in the Sight Words You Can See packet is:

  • a teacher manual-includes a guide to presenting the cards, illustration sheets, sentence practice sheets, testing forms, progress check sheet, instructional dialogue boxes, and a student certificate (disclaimer-we did not use every portion of this teacher manual, but it’s nice to have them available)
  • 7 sheets of sight words with mnemonic cues (12 words on each sheet), each level in a different color
  • 7 sheets of sight words without the mnemonic cues (12 words on each sheet), all on white paper

Does this program sound like something your young reader could use?  Then, enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win!  Please read the terms and conditions before entering.  The giveaway ends Friday, January 4th and the winner will be announced Saturday, January 5th here on This Reading Mama.  Please note that the only mandatory entry is a comment on this blog post.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Becky

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Filed Under: Sight Words, Struggling Readers

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Comments

  1. Jen from Oz says

    December 30, 2012 at 6:34 am

    Ooh! That looks so eat!

    Reply
    • Jen from Oz says

      December 30, 2012 at 6:35 am

      I mean neat!

      Reply
  2. Cassie @ 3 Dinosaurs says

    December 30, 2012 at 6:38 am

    I love the product! I wish I had it something like this 2 years ago with my oldest!

    Reply
  3. Jen says

    December 30, 2012 at 7:06 am

    This would be so helpful!

    Reply
  4. Heather A says

    December 30, 2012 at 7:07 am

    My daughter is only just starting to recognize some sight words. I feel like I need extra help to make it “click”. We are both a little frustrated and after reviewing this it looks like something hat would really help; she is a visual learner.

    Reply
  5. Lindsay @ Bytes of Memory says

    December 30, 2012 at 7:24 am

    This looks like it would be a great fit for my son. He is currently learning to read and we are getting to where he has learned enough site words that he is getting them mixed up!

    Reply
  6. Jessica says

    December 30, 2012 at 7:32 am

    Would love these for my Nora!

    Reply
  7. Kimberly says

    December 30, 2012 at 7:49 am

    This looks like just the thing I need to help my daughter – she struggles so often with sight words!

    Reply
  8. Kristina Best says

    December 30, 2012 at 8:09 am

    I would use it with my oldest to help him with his reading and I think my youngest would enjoy it to learn new words while he is learning to read.

    Reply
  9. Erica says

    December 30, 2012 at 8:26 am

    This looks awesome and could help my kindergartener!

    Reply
  10. etrieberbeth says

    December 30, 2012 at 8:45 am

    I just started teaching sight words, and I love this idea!

    Reply
  11. Kristin Bartley says

    December 30, 2012 at 8:47 am

    Beautiful work, Reading Mama!

    Reply
  12. A Fisher says

    December 30, 2012 at 9:31 am

    Very nice! I love the visuals that help them focus on the correct “parts ” of the word.

    Reply
  13. Eddie - The Usual Mayhem says

    December 30, 2012 at 10:07 am

    Bummer- it’s US only. 🙁 They look great!

    Reply
  14. sandra m. says

    December 30, 2012 at 10:35 am

    Would love these for my kids!

    Reply
  15. Trish says

    December 30, 2012 at 11:39 am

    It would be useful for my kids

    Reply
  16. Jessica says

    December 30, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    I would use it to help teach my oldest and middle to read.

    Reply
  17. Magela Gonzalez says

    December 30, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    I would use it to teach my son to read.

    Reply
  18. kristi says

    December 30, 2012 at 3:48 pm

    Ooooooo……genius plan! Would love to try this out with my 1st grader…and even my almost 5 year old.

    Reply
  19. 52BrandNew says

    December 30, 2012 at 4:06 pm

    I’d love to try this with my 5 year old daughter. We’ve been working on sight words recently, and they don’t “stick” very easily with her.

    Reply
  20. Diane Bode says

    December 30, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    I am just starting to introduce sight words to my Pre-K kiddos. This would be terrific!!!!

    Reply
  21. Deann Pelkey says

    December 30, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    A few of the children in my Head Start preschool classroom are ready to move on to sight words…and I have had a hard time figuring out how to teach them to these kiddos! This would be so helpful.

    Reply
  22. Lori R says

    December 30, 2012 at 5:45 pm

    I would use this to help teach sight words.

    Reply
  23. Laurie says

    December 30, 2012 at 6:14 pm

    What a great idea to help students learn sight words. This would be great for my kinders and sturggleing granddaughter.

    Reply
  24. Jessy at Our Side of the Mountain says

    December 30, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    My youngest son, almost 8, struggles with reading due to a visual processing problem, but I think these visuals might help him out!

    Reply
  25. Lee Goodwin says

    December 30, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    This looks like just what my Special Ed. Students need!

    Reply
  26. Juliet says

    December 30, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    Fantastic!

    Reply
  27. Paula says

    December 30, 2012 at 8:56 pm

    Using visuals is a great idea!

    Reply
  28. barb says

    December 30, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    I have a 9 y/o/d who has dysliexia. It would be great with the visuals.

    Reply
  29. Penina Goldstein says

    December 30, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    This is something that my struggling elementary students could really benefit from.

    Reply
  30. Niki Parris says

    December 30, 2012 at 10:56 pm

    I have a 7 year old who is a visual learner. These would be great! She has struggled with sight words from the beginning.

    Reply
  31. Shannon Wallace says

    December 30, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    I have never seen this before!!! Very, very creative and cool!! I would use this with my 7 year old son who doesn’t like learning to read. 😉 He would have fun with this! Thank you so much.

    Reply
  32. Melanie Whitson says

    December 30, 2012 at 11:35 pm

    Love it! I would use it for my son who is learning to read now…I think it would be a big help to him

    Reply
  33. Kristina says

    December 30, 2012 at 11:57 pm

    Yes! It’s would definitely help my 5 yr old!

    Reply
  34. Jessica says

    December 31, 2012 at 12:19 am

    I would use it with my pre-school. I started to teach him some sight words and this would be so helpful!

    Reply
  35. Gae says

    December 31, 2012 at 2:44 am

    This would be so great for our more needy children
    Thanks

    Reply
  36. laura says

    December 31, 2012 at 6:35 am

    i would use it to help it stick better~

    Reply
  37. Amy says

    December 31, 2012 at 7:15 am

    Great for those visual kiddos…

    Reply
  38. Dony says

    December 31, 2012 at 11:01 am

    making sight words learning fun is a great idea. my lil girl would love this!

    Reply
  39. Carlin says

    December 31, 2012 at 11:19 am

    Love the visuals. Would use it with my 2 sons.

    Reply
  40. Michelle O. says

    December 31, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    I would love to try this with our children. I’ve always been a phonetic reader supporter but as usual, kids (we have four) taught me that everyone learns differently 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  41. Susie McKeown says

    December 31, 2012 at 2:33 pm

    What a great idea!

    Reply
  42. Julie says

    December 31, 2012 at 7:33 pm

    I plan on trying this with my own kindergartner and my students!

    Reply
  43. Amy M says

    December 31, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    I would use this with my kindergartner! thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  44. Angel F says

    January 1, 2013 at 10:56 am

    This looks awesome! I would use it to help my K and pre-k kids in our homeschool.

    Reply
  45. Melanie H says

    January 1, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    I think this would be a great help to my son who is struggling with his reading.

    Reply
  46. Meg K says

    January 1, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    looks like a great idea for new readers

    Reply
  47. Amy Mc says

    January 1, 2013 at 6:23 pm

    I would use this to help my kinder kiddos who are struggling with sight words

    Reply
  48. kelly tillotson says

    January 2, 2013 at 12:12 am

    i would use this for my kindergartener! thanks!!
    *kelly
    kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com

    Reply
  49. Rachel Driscoll says

    January 2, 2013 at 6:56 pm

    So cool! We would love this as my 5 yr old dd is a little hung on on some of those unusual words.

    Reply
  50. Kristen says

    January 2, 2013 at 10:07 pm

    I’m teaching my 5 year old to read and helping my 7 year old become a better reader. This would be so helpful!

    Reply
  51. Christa says

    January 2, 2013 at 10:32 pm

    OMG. This is just what my second grader needs. He has always had a hard time with his sight words. This would help him soooo much. Great idea.

    Reply
  52. Kat anderson says

    January 2, 2013 at 11:47 pm

    What a great idea! Thanks for the opportunity!

    Reply
  53. Ally says

    January 3, 2013 at 2:11 am

    Both of mine (under 4) know their alphabet and beginning sounds, but I need to start introducing sight words as we delve into phonics. This would be perfect.

    Reply
  54. Angela Lutz says

    January 3, 2013 at 10:18 am

    I would live to win this. It would help my daughter!

    Reply
  55. Alison says

    January 3, 2013 at 3:12 pm

    I will use it with my daughter and son to help reinforce sight words

    Reply
  56. Casey Morgan says

    January 3, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    I could really use this in my classroom!!

    Reply
  57. Brenda Sims says

    January 3, 2013 at 9:58 pm

    I have some students that with multiple times to practice sight words are still unable to read them. I think this would work great with them.

    Reply
  58. Alina says

    January 3, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    I have two kids that this would currently be great for and 1 that will be ready for it next year 🙂

    Reply
  59. Cheryl H. says

    January 3, 2013 at 10:35 pm

    I will use it at home to augment the public school’s curriculum

    Reply
  60. Michelle Caringella says

    January 3, 2013 at 11:01 pm

    I will use it with my 5 years old son to help him as he is learning to read.

    Reply
  61. lisa says

    January 3, 2013 at 11:14 pm

    Would use this next year as I will be trying to teach two kids to read. Looks like a great product.

    Reply
  62. etrieberbeth says

    January 3, 2013 at 11:20 pm

    I may have to look into this even if I don’t win it!

    Reply
  63. Melanie McBride says

    January 3, 2013 at 11:31 pm

    My young reader could benefit from this. Her mom (me) could, too. My oldest daughter plans to major in early childhood education (so she can tutor at home while homeschooling her own children) and this would be a great reference for her, too.

    Reply
  64. Becki K. says

    January 4, 2013 at 12:41 am

    Would love this for my daughter who is learning to read!

    Reply
  65. No Doubt Learning says

    January 4, 2013 at 1:32 am

    This is such a smart idea!! My daughter would surely benefit from this!

    Reply
  66. Tiffany S. says

    January 4, 2013 at 7:49 am

    What a great idea!! I would use this at home with my boys over, and over as they are all a little over a year apart! Thanks for this great giveaway!

    Reply
  67. Lori Summers says

    January 4, 2013 at 11:58 am

    This would be great for my daughter!! 🙂

    Reply
  68. Robyn says

    January 4, 2013 at 4:21 pm

    I would use this with my 5 yr old who is just beginning to recognize site words. He is a very visual learner so this would be amazing for him.

    Reply
  69. Madeleine says

    January 4, 2013 at 4:21 pm

    What a really awesome way to teach sight words. I am in the process of doing that with my youngest son and would love to win this product!

    Reply
  70. Angie says

    January 4, 2013 at 4:35 pm

    Would love this for my students!

    Reply
  71. Christy Coy says

    January 4, 2013 at 4:35 pm

    I’ll help my son learn to read!

    Reply
  72. Kristin Sailors says

    January 4, 2013 at 5:06 pm

    LOVE this!!! Can’t wait to start sight word lessons with my girls!

    Reply
  73. Susan Wadkins says

    January 4, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    I am a teacher of special needs children. This looks like a great way to approach sight words with them!

    Reply
  74. Robin says

    January 4, 2013 at 5:47 pm

    My grandson struggles with reading and spelling….I think these would help him

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Becky, a homeschooling mama with 4 blessings who keep me on my toes {and knees}. Before homeschooling, I was a classroom teacher (M.Ed.) and reading tutor. Read more about me here.

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