Sight words are words your child recognizes readily without analysis. Sight word games should be geared to self-improvement rather than deciding a winner. Words can be chosen from papers your child brings home, word lists provided by the teacher or favorite books. Place these words on index cards and develop a file of sight vocabulary to use and review.

For variety, try a game using words from "Make Way for Ducklings." Draw fish shapes on cardboard or index cards. Cut them out and write a word from the list on each fish. Attach a paper clip to the mouth of each fish. Tie a small magnet to the end of a string and tie the other end to a stick that can be used to "fish" words out of a bowl. Your child must say the word correctly to keep it. If incorrect, tell her the word and let her throw it back in and fish again. Count how many words she can "catch."

Pub Date: 12/02/98