SIGHT WORDS - 11 SWITCHEROO GAMES - First 99 IRREGULAR Sight Words Based on FRY'S INSTANT WORDS

Fluency is the key to developing comprehension skills. I specialise in learning support and see students who are years behind their peers in reading skill development. Sight words are a key component of their 'catch up'. I took the sight word list I feel has the best research base - Fry's - and took out all the words that had regular short vowel sounds and common consonants sounds or blends. These were already part of the phonics component of my intervention if it was necessary. I didn't need to do them twice. It was a waste of their time and mine, and they didn't have the time anyway. Usually their self esteem was affected and they had no confidence in their ability to read. These students need skills fast and I know that games are the way to ensure their engagement levels are high. The repetition in playing such games leads to learning despite the barriers.

Switcheroo came about because I had a student who loved playing UNO. He was only 7 but he had the ability to use the strategies involved in this game. I adapted similar strategies and found Switcheroo hit the mark. He was practising the skills he needed and made rapid progress. As his skills improved his confidence grew and the more he read, the more he improved. It's a very satisfying exercise for me and I have now adapted Switcheroo to most phonic elements. It is perfect for irregular sight words. I have made eleven games to target the first 99 of Fry's Instant Words. This pack will give you not only the games, but a student record to identify the words not known. I have included the screening cards I use, but there is a tag set as well if you don't have access to a binder.

You can delete the words your student already knows well, then add ones from other sets they are slow on, or don't know at all. Saying the words as they play them is the key. The whole object of the game is recognising the word, saying it as they play and having fun the whole time.