The Dolch sight word list is a list of 220 words that make up between 50-70% of the words we encounter in text. Most of these words are “service words” that must be quickly recognized in order to read fluently. Many of the words cannot be sounded out and they need to be learned by “sight”. Because the words must be identified quickly (just like a popcorn kernel pops quickly) many teachers tell their students that these words are “popcorn words”. The words just need to “pop”. Our little kindergarteners and first graders love this concept and you can have tons of fun using the popcorn analogy to teach sight words. When you download the Dolch 220 Popcorn Words file, you’ll receive all 220 sight words printed on colorful popcorn kernels. You can place these kernels on you classroom wall. Great for practice during whole group instruction or even within centers. Students can also refer to the words while writing, too!
The Classroom Wall-Sized Popcorn Words is available through the Make, Take & Teach website or through my online Teachers Pay Teachers store.
Okay, so maybe you just don’t have the wall space. Here’s a personal-sized popcorn words activity that you can place on a file folder. You can use this activity during your small group instruction or create a folder for each student in your class with the words they need to learn or the words that they know (your choice). Your students will love having their very own popcorn words file folder!
This activity is also available through the Make, Take & Teach website or through Teachers Pay Teachers.
Using the Fry Sight Words instead of the Dolch? The Fry Sight Words File Folder Activity is also available in my TpT store.
Learning sight words is so important, but who says it needs to be all drill-and-practice? Incorporating themes like using “popcorn words” and games keeps our little ones engaged.
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