Star WordsStar WordsStar WordsStar WordsHelping your child learn Star Words or Helping your child learn Star Words or

Sight WordsSight WordsBy Jane BarceloBy Jane Barcelo

What is a Star Word?• A group of words which are

frequently used in the English language.

• Example: the, of, is, it, a, & like• The child has definitely had sugar.

Why Learn Star Words?• 50%-75% words read are star words• There are about 220 star words• By recognizing stars words

immediately a child will read more fluently

Games• Bingo or Wordo• Fishing• Concentration• Roll-Say-Keep• Bang• Bean Bag Toss• Riddle Solving

Game

Word Detective• Highlight star words in magazines• Count the star words in their

favorite book• Circle star words in the newspaper

Writing Activities• Write star word,

then trace over with different color pencils.

• Write word in sand, salt or rice.

• Write outside with sidewalk chalk.

• Write word with shaving cream in the tub or on a counter.

• Write word then trace with colored glue.

Word Card Games• Sort words alphabetically, by last letter

or number of letters in the word.• Slap it! Lay cards out on table, say a

word and have your child slap it with a fly swatter.

• In the stack of sight words Place a “bang” card at which point all cards go back in the stack!

Magnetic Letters• Have your child write the star

words using magnetic letters on a cookie sheet or any metal surface.

• Play “fix-it” by having your child mix up all the letters and then fixing them back into the word!

Play Dough Star Words• Using alphabet cookie cutters,

have your child make star words.• No alphabet cookie cutters? No

problem! Have your child make “snakes” out of the play dough and then form the words.

JeopardyLay several star word cards face up.

You “choose” a card and give clues about it. For example:

“It starts with th.” or“It rhymes with fish.” or “It has three sounds.” or “It has four letters.”

Flashcard Activities• Hide-and-Seek Hide word cards

around the house and then have your child find them. Give points only if he/she can read it!

• Memory Make two sets of

the star word cards, lay them face down. Have your child find the match. Only give points if read correctly!

Create your own game• Make your own puzzles. Write the

star words on cards or stationary. Then cut them up to make your own puzzle.

• Or make a word shape card by cutting the word card according to letter height.

Thank You For Coming!