Consisting of pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions and verbs, the core Dolch Word List contains 220 "service words" that are difficult to learn phonetically. Created by Edward William Dolch in 1948, the original sight word list was enhanced by a separate list of 95 difficult nouns. A larger collection of sight words, the Fry list, contains 1,000 words split into 10 groups of 100. Fundamental to reading fluency, sight words are encountered between 65- to 85 percent of the time by English readers.
Split into groups according to grade level, sight words are usually introduced in kindergarten. Instruction continues through second grade (or beyond), with increasingly more difficult words added as literacy skills develop. While methods such as rote memorization are used, the rhythmic nature of poetry makes learning fun, at the same time as its patterned presentation makes it perfect for visual learners.
Successful sight word poems for children are personal ("my name is Sam"), funny ("I live in a can") or interesting ("with my dinosaur Stan"). Limited only by a teacher's imagination, related activities can include word jumbles, fill-in-the-blanks or highlighting sight words. Taking turns reading lines of poetry aloud builds confidence, while advanced activities could include rewriting poems or putting a familiar story into verse.
Group sight-word poems according to age-appropriate themes and incorporate related material. For example, activities surrounding "Favorite Animal" poems could include discussions of habitats, care and feeding, and social interaction. Have children create and decorate personal poetry pockets in which they can store photocopied poems. Cut poems into line-strips and let students rearrange them in new ways.