Sight Word Booklets

We have started utilizing some sight word booklets in class.  These will be coming home once I have had a chance to look at it with each individual child.  Some are coming home today.  They are very excited to be "reading."
Here is what you need to know about these books:

They each contain a sight word of focus.  That sight word is shown on the front of the book.
The story always follows a predictable pattern.
Pictures support the words.
We are not concerned with whether or not they can READ the words in the book - the important thing is that they remember the pattern/recite the story, and track well.
As we progress through this stage, we will concern ourselves with other aspects of "reading."

I have taught the children to "track" the words they are reading with their finger.  Their finger is to jump from one word to the next as they read, not slide.  This shows us that they understand how words on a page are organized.  Many of them are inclined (naturally so) to move their fingers according to syllables.  For example, "newspaper" has 3 syllables and so they want to jump their finger across 3 words when reading it.  Our job is to slow them down at those points and remind them that newspaper is just one word, thus one jump.  I hope this makes sense!?
They have been told that the act of tracking is the most important thing right now.  This relaxes them because when they hear, let's learn to "read" all sorts of anxieties arise.  Please reinforce this, as they read their books to you at home.

Kindergarten curriculum supports pre-reading skills such as left-to-right movement, difference between letters and words, using picture clues, etc. (see previous post on curriculum for more info.).

I hope you have fun reading with your little ones!