Stop Teaching Your Child to Memorize Sight Words

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 11 лип 2024
  • When it comes to teaching sight words, a lot of folks get this very wrong. And I get it. Sight words are generally easy to teach and easy to track their progress. And it feels really good when your little one learns one. But if they don't know how to actually READ words on their own before teaching them to MEMORIZE these sight words, then you could be doing them more harm than good.
    I wrote more about this here: www.toddlersread.com/blog/sig...
    ---------- HOW I CAN SUPPORT YOU ---------
    🔥 Free 30 Min Training: toddlersread.info/free-workshop
    💻 Online Courses: toddlersread.info/courses
    --------- MY SOCIAL MEDIA ---------
    1. UA-cam: ua-cam.com/users/toddlerscanread?s...
    2. Instagram: / toddlerscanread
    3. TikTok: / toddlerscanread
    --------- CREDITS ---------
    Special thanks to my videographer and editor Ashhad (@_kwadw0) for his incredible work and attention to detail on every video!
    --------- CORRECTION ---------
    I mentioned "millions of words" in English and then Googled after recording to see if that was right. I found one source that said 171, 476 words and another that said about 470,000 words. Either way: it's not "millions" of words but is still quite a lot to memorize.
    --------- CHAPTERS ---------
    00:00 Intro
    02:36 Memorizing Words by Sight
    03:42 How Learning to Read Works
    05:04 Trying to Read New Words
    06:34 Too Many Words to Memorize
    07:17 Sight Words and Guessing
    08:10 How to Explain Tricky Words
    09:41 Recap and Closing Advice
    11:55 How I Can Support You

КОМЕНТАРІ • 115

  • @kmb2879
    @kmb2879 Рік тому +39

    Totally agree! I used to teach 7th grade ELA and I had kids who could not sound out words at all. They would guess at what a new word said based on the first and last letters. They were never taught each letter’s sounds! So I’m making it a point to teach my own kids differently!

    • @toddlerscanread
      @toddlerscanread  Рік тому +7

      Yes! Exactly right and I've done the same thing too but am trying to do better now!

    • @mturner6767
      @mturner6767 Рік тому

      I'm sure you're thinking that's what you're doing, but you can't teach how to read the English language without teaching sight words, period.

    • @v_lh109
      @v_lh109 Рік тому

      I actually got on here and saw this thinking I'd be able to send my daughter's second grade teacher this video and be like look you're not supposed to be teaching her sight words 🤔 but she was taught the sounds of each letter in kindergarten and first grade. So just curious, are there some schools that are not teaching them the sounds of their letters, first? If so, that is just crazy!!!

    • @mturner6767
      @mturner6767 Рік тому

      @@v_lh109 They are actually teaching both, you can't read or write the English language without knowing a majority of sight words.

    • @v_lh109
      @v_lh109 Рік тому +1

      @@mturner6767 ohhh, the way teachers are teaching now is so different than back when I was in school. My daughter's 2nd grade teacher was showing me how she was teaching them some new way of carrying the one and showing their work that just had me confused.

  • @Jackiesdaughter84
    @Jackiesdaughter84 Рік тому +57

    "When you teach a kid the shortcut before you teach them the path, they're gonna want to take the shortcut every time"---a word👏👏👏👏👏

  • @jezreellaruan
    @jezreellaruan 6 місяців тому +8

    I'm Filipino and I'm teaching my 3 year old to read English. She can already read two letter words together because I have taught her the sound of each letter of the Alphabet. I am currently making her read three letter words and she can read seamlessly thanks to the sound words. I was planning to teach her sight words by making her memorize them, but when I came across your video I changed my mind. I totally agree with you. It may take us a lot of time and effort to explain to our children each rules of how to read certain words, but once they know the rules, they will be able to actually read without guessing it and they won't have to memorize hundreds of sight words.
    I will watch more of your videos because I find this one helpful. Thank you!

  • @MrsGetOverYourself
    @MrsGetOverYourself 3 місяці тому +4

    My son is in Kindergarten and I’m a new pre k teacher. As my son is coming home with sight word homework I’ve felt like they were icky, I wasn’t sure right away why I didn’t like them. I love reading, teaching reading, but sight words seemed like cheating. I’m doing my homework now about why I feel that way. Thank you for giving me a way to explain to the teachers I work with why I don’t like them!

  • @Mum_and_LizzyLark
    @Mum_and_LizzyLark Рік тому +2

    Thank you for this video. English is not my native tongue, but I taught myself how to read at 3 because i loved hearing the letter sounds.
    They were teaching Filipino phonics too but I could read it until I was 7, because we were taught many sight words.
    My cousins with 3 year olds are bragging about their kids reading/memorizing sight words. I felt like my daughter is so left behind (especially with her speech delay). I’m glad that I found this video and I will not start teaching my Lizzy to memorize words, and start from sounding it out.
    Thank you.

  • @sewcandid599
    @sewcandid599 Рік тому +4

    From kinder-2nd my oldest was forced sight words. I always questioned the teachers about it and why they didn’t teach the phonics. He clearly wasn’t getting it or loving reading. He was put on a IEP and we Finally got a teacher who listened. He jumped 8 levels in 4 months! Now my 3yr old at home and my 2 oldest back in school I’m teaching him phonics. I will not have him fall victim to the sight word craze. I found you on TikTok today I’m definitely going to follow along.

  • @carrimacf
    @carrimacf Рік тому +10

    You're a great guy Spencer! I love teachers getting excited about phonics and who teach it RIGHT!!!

  • @wisebookspub
    @wisebookspub 6 місяців тому +4

    Spence, thanks for this video. I'm an Academic Interventionist-Reading in the Detroit Public Schools. I appreciate you enlightening me about how to effectively teach sight words. Until now, I was teaching my students just like I was taught and learned sight words (by chunking and memorization). However, you have given me a more effective way. Thanks again!

    • @toddlerscanread
      @toddlerscanread  6 місяців тому

      Glad it was helpful! Appreciate the work you’re doing in the classroom!

    • @Pinkpanda0000
      @Pinkpanda0000 3 місяці тому

      Hi Spence, I am also an interventionist and I have always wondered why kids guess words when they are reading instead of sounding out the words. 🤔
      Your videos are so helpful and insightful. 😅 I’ve started using your strategies, and my kids are really learning how to READ.
      THANK YOU!🙏🏾
      This makes sense😊

  • @lindatorres-lopez8306
    @lindatorres-lopez8306 Рік тому +11

    Great video! Love your Instagram, this is such a great complement to your Instagram. I am a homeschooler and this has made me realize why my 2 oldest still struggle to read (they learned while in public school) and is helping me on how to teach my toddler and maybe help my middle better.

  • @Jess-hf9me
    @Jess-hf9me Рік тому +5

    My son is in the first grade and they've been forcing the memorizing of sight words since kindergarten. When I had the parent/teacher conference his teacher actually told me that my son always tries to sound out words as if that was a problem. I have always taught him to sound it out. That is the way I learned to read so I get confused with the best way to help him. They test only on sight words when it comes to reading in his class. I don't like it either because it makes him not understand if he should just guess the word or sound it out.

    • @toddlerscanread
      @toddlerscanread  Рік тому

      I'm so sorry to hear that's been your experience. 😕 I have a video on this page about what to do if you don't like the way the school is teaching your child that might have some helpful tips for your situation!

    • @jazmineapodaca4423
      @jazmineapodaca4423 8 місяців тому

      Currently in the same boat as you with my son. His is in Kinder and is expected to learn and memorize 56 sight words. 😒

    • @MsEBarts
      @MsEBarts Місяць тому

      Same here. They said, "No, she can't sound it out she has to know them by site."

  • @AwkwardWhispers
    @AwkwardWhispers 5 місяців тому +3

    I'm 28. I don't remember learning to read through sight words. I remember doing it exactly as you explain it. We learned the rules of spelling as we learned to read. I don't know why schools are pushing for rote memorization these days. Teachers should all remember that rote memory is the worst way to commit an idea to long term memory. It's at the bottom of Bloom's Taxonomy. Adults read by sight because they've had way more practice-- they look at the first and last letter and guess the order of the middle. Children are not adults. They should not sight read. Sight reading comes with proficiency. If a child can't understand a spelling rule than that word is above their reading level.

  • @jeffkunzeDotCom
    @jeffkunzeDotCom Рік тому +5

    This is definitely a problem. My son is 10 and I can tell if he doesn't have a word memorized he will guess at it. When I tell him to try that word again, I tell him to sound it out. He get's so frustrated he quits a lot of the time. I wish he had learned the right way from the beginning like this.

  • @Educate_Improve_Share
    @Educate_Improve_Share 4 місяці тому

    I agree to some extent about the sight words. I think there is a time and a place for sight words. If the word can be blended then you should teach the pedagogy of literacy but some words even if you sound them out they won't make sense.i think if they know the origin of the words it helps them make sense on why they are spelt the way they are. Very good video!

  • @tavaresmac6620
    @tavaresmac6620 Рік тому +8

    Great video extremely informative flawless execution Spence

  • @nickolespears
    @nickolespears Рік тому +2

    I don't even have children and this was so valuable. And I'm forever grateful for learning phonics. I've pronounced words I've NEVER SEEN BEFORE. In HS I was able to take 2 English College courses in 11th and 12th grade. Love this MOVEMENT! They're changing a lot of things in education and it makes me uncomfortable.

  • @shannonthevenin2639
    @shannonthevenin2639 Рік тому +6

    Great explanation! I’ve done a lot of blending teaching with my toddler as well as some sight words. I’d love to see videos on how to teach other tricky words. This is where I struggle because I don’t know how to explain why a letter makes a different sound.

    • @toddlerscanread
      @toddlerscanread  Рік тому +2

      Great suggestion! I've got a lot on this in my Reading Books Course, and then some on my Instagram page as well. I'm sure I'll tackle it soon enough here too!

  • @Jackiesdaughter84
    @Jackiesdaughter84 Рік тому +3

    Thank you for this valuable information.❤

  • @emmaa6889
    @emmaa6889 Рік тому +2

    So glad I found your content before starting to work with my children on reading skills

  • @anniewilliamson8343
    @anniewilliamson8343 2 місяці тому

    Merci . Everything you explain make sense,surely when a child is going to learn how to read in different languages.

  • @teeme2050
    @teeme2050 Місяць тому

    Thank you for your video. I struggled with reading as a child, so it's very important to me to learn different reading strategies to help my kids.

  • @pranitaagrawaljain2411
    @pranitaagrawaljain2411 Рік тому +3

    Will definitely try this method for the sight words thanks a lot for sharing this 👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻

  • @princessg4100
    @princessg4100 Рік тому +3

    So well explained! 👏🏾

  • @bigchief7040
    @bigchief7040 Рік тому +4

    I came from TikTok! Love your videos glad you are doing UA-cam now! Should we be teaching our young ones the letters first, Sounds or both at the same time? My son is 18 months and knows his shapes, colors and some animals. I haven't actually sat down and tried to teach him the letters yet so I'm not sure where to start. Thank you! I love your content!

    • @toddlerscanread
      @toddlerscanread  Рік тому +2

      Thanks for hopping over here (it's better than my TikTok lol.) I personally recommend teaching the sounds first because that's what kids use to actually read the words on the page. Check the description though bro: I've got a 30 min training that will help you get started with your little guy!

    • @sugerless20
      @sugerless20 5 місяців тому +1

      @bigchief7040 How did you teach colours & shapes? One of my nieces is around that age. My older niece is pretty good at reading now. I got a book that taught reading by learning the sounds.

    • @bigchief7040
      @bigchief7040 5 місяців тому

      @@sugerless20 I bought a basic shape sorter and had him first figure out how to do it on his own. Then I would do it and say the shape name as I did it. Once he knew the names then I would ask him to grab one and sort it by only using the name of the shape. While he in that stage I would ask him to repeat it. After he had the shapes down, I repeated the same process with the colors because the shapes were also different colors.

  • @nabilaakrouche9262
    @nabilaakrouche9262 Рік тому +2

    Great explanation. Thank you!

  • @NayShea7
    @NayShea7 2 місяці тому

    Great explanation. What are your thoughts on The Good and Beautiful booster Reader cards. They seem to focus on mostly Phonics but have a select few sight words.

  • @christinab9133
    @christinab9133 Рік тому

    Love this!

  • @backtoschool1611
    @backtoschool1611 Місяць тому

    I am learning Braille and I have to relearn how to read because I was taught the whole word method/"look say". Braille is left to right feeling of the fingers!
    One of my stuggles is blending.
    If I dont know the word, I say the letter names, and see the enlish letters in my head and "translate".
    I know its holding me back but how do I read the Braille and get the sounds they say without doing this "translation" thing??

  • @BabyChris17
    @BabyChris17 9 місяців тому +2

    That shutting down scares me honestly. I’ve worked with all grade levels k-12 and those that know sight words will read a page very fluently then come to a word they don’t know and completely go blank. It is very scary because they are being taught what they want them to know. We are going to have grown ups that can’t truly read and the system knows every word you know cause that ode are the only words they taught you. Brainwashing!

  • @flownez1111
    @flownez1111 29 днів тому

    11:37 - 11:48 I couldn't agree more. Sometimes they push the children to read even though the children still difficult to memorized the letter sounds.

  • @Jameshasblueprint
    @Jameshasblueprint Рік тому

    Wow 😮so true thank you 🙏🏼

  • @moniqueeltz6776
    @moniqueeltz6776 Рік тому

    My daughter is in kindergarten and I realized as she was coming home with set two of sight words that she was trying to sound out words and wasn't able to blend properly like in you video wit the word " Like". She is able to read sight words and some other main words. I will be going through the rest of your videos to help teach myself to work with her at home to help her at school so she is not just trying to memorize. I will say I'm a little nervous because I don't want to step on the teachers toes and need to figure out a good time and or schedule with working fulltime and her extracurricular activities. Should just working with her 5 min a day be adequate? Thank you for these videos!

    • @toddlerscanread
      @toddlerscanread  Рік тому +1

      Consistent time is great- 5 minutes a day every day is a great place to start. Check out my free training if you're interested- it includes more info and examples. www.toddlersread.com/free-workshop

    • @moniqueeltz6776
      @moniqueeltz6776 Рік тому

      @@toddlerscanread thank you so much!

  • @lorrithzanelson1068
    @lorrithzanelson1068 Рік тому +2

    Wow! I Subscribed✔ Thank you for all the helpful information.

  • @ayeshajamil6023
    @ayeshajamil6023 6 місяців тому

    Well said

  • @frozenflo4724
    @frozenflo4724 11 місяців тому

    While i understand your clear and logical explanation/reason to teach reading and not memorizing, how would you suggest teaching a toddler sight words as they wont be able to understand the grammar rules as yet.? Thanks!!

  • @sialee-rs2zd
    @sialee-rs2zd Рік тому

    Thank you for your information. I love all your videos ❤

  • @Sabedoria1023
    @Sabedoria1023 Місяць тому

    Thanks for these videos! I'm getting ready to start teaching my 2.5 year old to read.

  • @kkibler1
    @kkibler1 Рік тому

    Thank you

  • @chey6557
    @chey6557 11 місяців тому +2

    So I live in Germany I have a two year old I want to teach her how to read. She speaks both languages English and German. I read to her almost every night before bedtime in English or German. Just a little side note my German isn't the best so I speak to her mostly in English. I want to teach her the englich letter sound but I'm scared she will be confused when she starts school here. Do you have any tips

    • @toddlerscanread
      @toddlerscanread  10 місяців тому

      Hi there- it is honestly up to you. Kids can learn to read in both, or you can choose one to focus on at a time. In terms of letter sounds- I have a pronunciation video on here as a preview to my Learning Sounds course but your pronunciation doesn't have to be 100% perfect to get started! Here is the link to my free training if you want to see this in action- www.toddlersread.com/free-workshop?

  • @studyfanatic8762
    @studyfanatic8762 Рік тому

    Good one....

  • @katec2630
    @katec2630 7 місяців тому

    How can i follow this while my child is in kindergarten and they follow the “memorizing sight words” can they do both at the same time? Like her memorizing and memorizing teaching her the sounds and blending?

  • @omarespinosa9826
    @omarespinosa9826 Рік тому

    You're awesome man, my niece teacher handed a paper to my sister telling her to put my niece to learn a 100 sight words, i told my sister that theres something wrong about it then i searched and found you and realized i was right about it, im gonna show this video to my sister and make her understand the short cut way is not the proper way 👏👏👏👏👏👏

  • @vareuche3481
    @vareuche3481 Рік тому

    i’m so happy i found this channel!!!!

  • @yolandamontano3905
    @yolandamontano3905 9 місяців тому

    Wow! This all makes so much sense. I have a 1st grader and he use to know some 3 letter words in kindergarten but now in 1st grade I'm noticing him soo confused. I feel so bad for him not only because school has sent me a note already that he is not reading as he should but because he is confused now with long vowel and short vowel sounds. Where can I continue from here?

  • @kervine
    @kervine 4 місяці тому

    I agree with you 🎉, with everything you say

  • @gabrielaramirez693
    @gabrielaramirez693 Рік тому +2

    Spencer, are you going to teach the rules on how the sounds change on different words?

    • @toddlerscanread
      @toddlerscanread  Рік тому +1

      I have a LOT more information and detail in my courses. Feel free to check out www.toddlersread.com/store

  • @earlyyearstribe
    @earlyyearstribe Рік тому

    Thank you so much Spencer. This is super helpful. As an early years educator who is particularly interested in kids reading, I found your channel super helpful and amazing 👏

    • @toddlerscanread
      @toddlerscanread  Рік тому

      Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the work you do in education!

  • @nehachadha4001
    @nehachadha4001 11 місяців тому

    Hey I totally agree by what you are saying here about sight words…my child is 5 years old and knows the sound and blending as well….I have just one question then how to teach them sight words ????
    It’s all new letter sounds and there all lots of sight words which are been taught in school

  • @Danaiah55
    @Danaiah55 21 день тому

    Do you have a online tutoring program

  • @ashleyjohnson9607
    @ashleyjohnson9607 Рік тому

    Thank you so much I have been struggling with my kids trying to get them to read and now, I figure it out, and thank you for your UA-cam channel. I came her from tic toc.

  • @BabyChris17
    @BabyChris17 9 місяців тому

    I’m with you 100%

  • @kristin87425
    @kristin87425 Рік тому +5

    I taught (drilled) sight words and guess what? My kid "struggles" now in 2nd grade and we are starting over back at the basics.
    We have skipping words he doesn't know, we have refusal to sound out words, we have frustration, and guessing words with a similar "look" but completely random words that make no sense contextually. And the worst thing, which is a major blow to his confidence. Don't do it!!

    • @toddlerscanread
      @toddlerscanread  Рік тому

      It sounds like pretty much every symptom I've seen too! hopefully some of the tips on the page will be helpful for you. I've also got a Reading Books course on my website for non-beginners that might be helpful

  • @roselinenhlapo7649
    @roselinenhlapo7649 2 місяці тому

    love this app I can send my pictures to the email or the email 📧 😂❤

  • @brendamagadla8903
    @brendamagadla8903 2 місяці тому

    Please do a video on ght sound

  • @JORGERAMIREZ-cy2hk
    @JORGERAMIREZ-cy2hk 11 місяців тому

    thanks

  • @almasalazar8318
    @almasalazar8318 Рік тому +2

    It works because it follows the Science of Reading.

  • @fatimaullah5529
    @fatimaullah5529 Місяць тому

    🙏

  • @essenoko4665
    @essenoko4665 7 місяців тому

    Great job u are doing 👍
    Can u help with a complete parkage of blending two letter or three letter words in vowels sounds

    • @toddlerscanread
      @toddlerscanread  7 місяців тому

      I have that in my Blending Words course!

  • @awesomegamers9574
    @awesomegamers9574 Рік тому

    I like your videos

  • @roselinenhlapo7649
    @roselinenhlapo7649 2 місяці тому

  • @jpizzleforizzle
    @jpizzleforizzle 5 місяців тому

    Yes! Exactly!
    Adults read by seeing the whole word, because we've learned the rules!Kids and remedial learners' brains dont understand how the letters work together yet.

  • @riagiffney4970
    @riagiffney4970 4 місяці тому

    What are the rules to teach the kids , eg. in like its the e that makes the i sound now become I
    And in my the y sound
    Is there a list of rules we should teach them along with the sounds to help them apply the rules to the tricky words so that they can recognise that the rule applies and they word now sounds like this

  • @shomoabdokrim1563
    @shomoabdokrim1563 2 місяці тому

    ❤❤

  • @CochranKayla
    @CochranKayla 3 місяці тому

    This is why we teach phonograms, not just letters. There are 75 phonograms that say 45 sounds in the English language. If the kid just learns the basic 26 letters with one sound, they are missing a lot. They have not been given all the tools to read. It is inevitable that they will come across words that don't follow the minimal rules they have been taught. That is what makes it seem random and complicated.

  • @sarahscow397
    @sarahscow397 Місяць тому

    What about my kid is going to be starting second grade and is really struggling with reading and my friend who's the second grade teacher says to really work with him on a sight words because he only knows a bare handful and he is really behind for his grade on how many words he knows

  • @yrr7867
    @yrr7867 10 місяців тому

    Soooo my daughter is in Kinder. The teacher told us she needed to memorize her sight words”. I’ve seen your channel before but she wasn’t To that point of learning to read but I was never taught sight words I was taught to sound out the words. I get frustrated with her teaching her and I thought there has to be a better way!!! Well.. I’m back at your videos lol I wish you did like a 1 on 1 tutoring 😅

  • @Ann-pn9or
    @Ann-pn9or 6 місяців тому

    how many sounds in a 4 letter word?

  • @namwanjelindah1140
    @namwanjelindah1140 10 місяців тому

    I think this man's videos are going to help my 2 years old sister because she is very bright but she just only doesn't know how to read i know she will do it because she never disappoints
    ❤🎉

  • @harneetvirk9607
    @harneetvirk9607 9 місяців тому

    Hello,
    I am a third grade teacher, I have students who do not know how to read and want to help. This is my third year teaching as well and need help where to start with these students.

  • @treasureabdool7108
    @treasureabdool7108 9 місяців тому +2

    NOOOOOOOOOO😢😢😢😢😢

  • @sialee-rs2zd
    @sialee-rs2zd Рік тому

    🎉❤❤

  • @ariadrexler1021
    @ariadrexler1021 Місяць тому

    I disagree with this…Glen Doman’s method (The Institute for Human Potential, “Teach Your Baby To…” book series) teaches sight words to babies and toddlers and their research showed that very young children learn from general to specific. ie The alphabet has no context as an abstract concept to a toddler, but they know what a word refers to. As they gain more vocabulary they connect the patterns of letters within the word to sounds, then by the time they are 3 or 4 you can teach them the alphabet and phonics with ease. Similar concept for how a young toddler can learn a language with complete fluency without starting with alphabet or grammar. 0-5s are way more intelligent than most adults give them credit for! The Doman method has been very successful since the 50’s and I am currently using it with my toddler.

  • @12gbdoooi9
    @12gbdoooi9 5 місяців тому

    Thank you for this video, it was really helpful but I wish you didn't use the word * hit when you were speaking maybe you could kindly avoid using words like that in your future videos because my kids sometimes watch this with me and in our culture that word is a swear or rude. Hope you don't mind the advice. Excellent videos, I started following you today. Thank you!

  • @descendantsvk4691
    @descendantsvk4691 4 місяці тому

    How do i teach my son "the"

    • @emeloy
      @emeloy 3 місяці тому

      Hi! For my kids I taught them the phonogram “th” and told them that the “e” does a different sound in this word. For a while I put a sign on the word every time they saw it and made dictation for better memorization. Good look!

  • @Keshy501
    @Keshy501 7 місяців тому +2

    😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

    • @Keshy501
      @Keshy501 7 місяців тому

      How are you doing dis

  • @mturner6767
    @mturner6767 Рік тому

    You can't learn how to read the English language without teaching sight words, period.

    • @rabidsamfan
      @rabidsamfan Рік тому +1

      Malarkey
      I listened to a kid who was learning phonics and sight words and when she was fine with both of them independently but when she went to read sentences she struggled every time she had to switch strategies.

    • @mturner6767
      @mturner6767 Рік тому

      @@rabidsamfan The struggle you're speaking of is exactly what I'm talking about. It's not either or. Sight words are a foundational part of learning to read the English language.

  • @user-li1tq6mp8f
    @user-li1tq6mp8f 5 місяців тому

    L

  • @roselinenhlapo7649
    @roselinenhlapo7649 2 місяці тому

    ❤️

  • @ingridmontanez2461
    @ingridmontanez2461 5 місяців тому