As students begin to recognize and read high frequency words, their enthusiasm for reading grows. High frequency word instruction is one of many important components of a strong literacy foundation. By the end of Kindergarten, all students are expected to show mastery (rapid & automatic recognition) of Fry’s First 100 high frequency words. To help students read high frequency words upon “sight,” we will learn them in groups based on phonetic spelling patterns. These easily decodable words based on regular spelling patterns will be called “Sight Words” in our classroom. However, many high frequency words have irregular spelling patterns. We will call these “Heart Words,” as we will have to learn to read the irregular spelling “by heart.” Please support your child through weekly word practice at home.
Over the next few weeks, Kindergarten students are working on the following “Pre-Reader Heart Words”:
the, a, I, to, and, was, for, you, is, of
