Monday, August 31, 2015

Sight Word System Conquered!!

Today marked my second week back to school and my room is still incomplete! Crazy! I got such a late start this year and was so not ready! We weren't even allowed to get our keys this year until the Wednesday before Monday start....and Wednesday was an all day faculty meeting and PD.....and Open House was Friday!!! Really? Set up a room in 1 1/2 days....well let's just say it didn't happen! 

So needless to say, I haven't been able to share any classroom pics, because well...it still isn't done! But there is one thing that did get done...that I put into action the second day of school and I am absolutely in love with it!! My new sight word system!!! It's working just as I had planned and already saving me lots of time! :)

My Sight Word...practice, assessment, recording wall....All-in-One!!! Ahh yes! It always nice when you can make your job so much easier! 


Practice, assessment, and recording????? Here's how it works! First off, the majority of my students are all working on the Fry's first 100 word list! So that is what I used. Each word has ten squares below it, one for each student (I only have 7) and each student is assigned a color. 

Here is my color chart that is posted beside the sight word wall.


Students practice 3-4 words each day they do not know until they've mastered them. One of my assistants pulls them for this practice during certain times of the day. After assessing them, she places a sticker of their assigned color on the words that they knew and read fluently.  

Now I can easily look or show parents when they visit, the sight words that their child knows. At a glance I know that Deven has mastered all of the words with a "pink" sticker. I also love that the words are always right there in front of them now allowing them to see and use them all throughout the day! 

Better yet, the kids are loving learning sight words! They're already trying to see who can get the most stickers on the board!! :)

Could you use this in your classroom?



11 comments:

  1. Fantastic idea, Traci!! Love when you think if something to simplify all the assessments and recording!!
    Pam

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  2. I did something very similar to this two years ago but ultimately found it a bit unwieldy to keep up with! It also ended up taking up a lot of bulletin board space as I had kids spread from pre-primer to third in the Dolch words. But it sounds like your set up will work great with your group of kids!

    Sarah
    Years That Ask Questions

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    1. Hi Sarah,
      Thanks for stopping by and commenting! I have designated a time and one of my aides to be in charge of this board, so it will not be unwieldy for me at all. She is managing it very well! Other than my two "green" boys, my other kids will most likely never master all of these words by the end of the year, so I expect to use this same board all year!

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  3. I love how you were able to color code your students! The built in assessment is a great touch. I'm interested to see how this area of your classroom evolves throughout the year as your students master these first 100 words. Do you already have a time frame in mind for updating the sight word wall?

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    1. Hi Lyssa,
      Thanks for your inquiry! Other than my two "green" boys, which I already knew-knew these words and so it was not meant for them, I do not expect this board to evolve this year. I would love it if all of my other sped students could master 100 words within this year, but I highly doubt it will happen. They average a couple of words every month. I have my students for 1-5 years and seldom do I ever have a student that makes it to the second 100. So yes, I am expecting to use this board all year! The two boys I have that have made it to the second 100 are in GE most of their day, but I wanted them to still be included and be on the board. It definitely would not work in higher functioning classrooms, and most certainly not in a GE classroom, but I believe it is going to be perfect for my kiddos and for those that have low functioning students. I have been working on the first 100 with some of my kiddos for 2-3 years.

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    2. Traci,
      I love your sight word/HFW idea! I was wondering if you would share your template for the word card...specifically the grid portion.

      Thanks so much!
      Teri

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    3. Teri, post your email address or email me at thebendersbunch@gmail.com and I will send it to you!!!

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    4. Thanks Traci!
      dittmanteri@gmail.com

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  4. I would love to also get the template if possible! Love your blog and classroom. My email is katietimberlake@gmail.com

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  5. I would love the template too! My email is keriqueen@sbcglobal.net
    Thank you!

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