Teaching Sight Words to Kindergarteners: Why it Matters

Recognizing words quickly is an essential skill for young readers, and teaching sight words to kindergarteners can have a significant impact on their reading abilities. In fact, being able to recognize words swiftly allows students to focus more on understanding the meaning of the text, which in turn supports reading comprehension.

Research has shown that diverse students benefit greatly from this type of instruction, as they encounter increasingly challenging texts throughout their educational journey. To read with accuracy and automaticity, prosody, and comprehension, students must develop the skills to decode words, analyze word parts, and write and recognize words.

The What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade recommends teaching sight words through three increasingly sophisticated levels. This approach has been found to be highly effective in supporting early literacy instruction.

Incorporating sight words into kindergarten curriculum can have a lasting impact on students' reading abilities, ultimately leading to improved reading comprehension and overall academic success. By prioritizing this critical skill, educators can help set their students up for success in the years to come.

Sipps sight word list kindergarten