March 2008
Literacy Tutoring Tip:
Sight Word Battleship
"Sight words" are words that are immediately recognizable as whole words and do not require word analysis for recognition. Students in K - 3 often need quite a bit of practice seeing these words over and over again in order to be able to recognize them instantly when reading. This is a fun game to help them gain exposure to those words.
Number of players: 2
Object: to read sight words
Making the Game: Take 2 file folders and draw identical grids (4 x 4) on each. Write in some sight words into each grid (again, identical on each). From another piece of paper, cut 5 strips of paper into varying lengths (2 long enough to cover 3 words, 2 long enough to cover 2 words, and one long enough to cover 4 words).
Playing the Game: You and your student each have an identical file folder and 5 strips of paper. Holding up the folder so that each of you cannot see the other person's board, secretly cover up words using the strips. Take turns calling out words to one another to guess where they have placed their paper "ships". The first one to guess all the words that the other person had covered wins!
