Menu
English
Article
Article
A New Model for Teaching High-Frequency Words
Last updated 2024/05/27
Description
Often, high-frequency words are called “sight words” with the expectation that these words are irregular and must be memorized. Integrating high-frequency words into phonics lessons allows students to make sense of spelling patterns for these words. To do this, high-frequency words need to be categorized according to whether they are spelled entirely regularly or not. This article describes how to “rethink” teaching of high-frequency words, and provides a word list to support educators in designing effective instruction.
Curriculum Connection
B2. Language Foundations for Reading and Writing
This article supports the teaching and learning of words with irregularities.
2 Comments
Share your thoughts
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Funded by
Funding for ONlit.org is provided by the Ministry of Education. Please note that the views expressed in these resources are the views of ONlit and do not necessarily reflect those of the Ministry of Education.
© 2024 ONlit. All rights reserved.
This resource demonstrates and explains how to integrate “flash” and “heart” words into phonics instruction. If students are demonstrating some difficulty with particular high frequency words, you can then provide intervention that aligns with the corresponding spelling patterns.
Organizing the dolch words into phonics patterns is definitely the way to go. I also appreciated thinking about Kindergarten (Year 1 & 2) and teaching 10–15 pre‐reading high-frequency words ONLY AFTER students know all the letter names, but BEFORE they start phonics instruction.