Turning On The Dolch Word Light Bulbs

Are some of your students struggling with the Dolch Word lists?  Here are some helpful tips that might turn the light bulbs on.

Children enjoy games.  Making things fun for students takes the drudgery out of memorizing things, as one of my little ones said:  “We were having so much fun we didn’t even know we were learning!”

I truly believe that learning and fun should go together.  If children enjoy learning they will WANT to come to school and you won’t have problems with discipline because students will be engaged in learning because they aren’t bored.

The Traceable Dolch Word Card packets  provide a tip list of a variety of activities you can incorporate into centers and games for students so they can immerse themselves with these words.

I've also designed Dolch Word Bingo Bonanza for all the word lists. If you get students looking for, and using the words they will learn them.

I've discovered that looking at the words separately and trying to figure them out, is difficult for some students. Memorization is also very boring.

We teach students all sorts of attack skills when they read, yet we give them a “list” of Dolch words and hope for success.

I find that some children do so much better if they can see these words in a group.  So I’ve made up phrases using the words.

These can be found in My Read, Trace & Write Dolch Word Phrase Packets.   They include trace and write the phrase-skill sheets, 40-60 phrase cards, a letter home to parents, 3 recording “good reader” sheets, and 2 certificates of praise.  These make great Daily 5 activities.

It’s important to get parents on board to reinforce lessons at home to get struggling children over the hump as there is just not enough time for all the one-on-one needed at school. 

Click on the links below to view/download whatever packet you need.

My Read, Trace & Write Pre-Primer Dolch Word Phrase Packet 

My Read, Trace & Write Kindergarten Dolch Word Phrase Packet

My Read, Trace & Write First Grade Dolch Word Phrase Packet

My Read, Trace & Write Second Grade Dolch Word Phrase Packet

My Read, Trace & Write Third Grade Dolch Word Phrase Packet

When a student achieves success with one packet they can correct the phrases and turn them into sentences by adding capital letters, punctuation and a word or two to complete the thought.   Continue to raise the bar, and challenge students to move on to the next level of words.

Finally, I really think that teaching students the words phonetically helps a lot.  I’ve had wonderful success turning the light bulb on when some students just don’t get it when I rhyme things.

I actually think it is much easier to break the words down this way and feel most students could learn a lot more words across the board if we taught them “off the list” and grouped them by sound instead.

I’ve compiled an anchor chart of a Phonetic Dolch Word List.  Click on the link to view/download it.

I hope these things help your students enjoy reading and learning new words, as those light bulbs turn on and start to shine brightly!

"The only place success comes before work, is in the dictionary." -- May Smith

Activities For Dolch Words

Looking for something different to do with Dolch Words?  Look no farther!

I’ve made traceable word cards for Pre-Primer through 3rd, that you can turn into an Itty Bitty booklet.

Students enjoy tracing the words, cutting out the cards and sequencing them in alphabetical order, adding a cover and turning them into a mini booklet that’s fun to share with their families.

You can use these cards for Memory Match “Concentration” games, “I Have Who Has?” games or sprinkle them on the floor and have students find and then sequence them as a whole group.

 Students can choose a partner and play “Speed” and several other card games too.

I've also included a set of bomb cards so students can play "Kaboom" as well.  Directions for these games are in the tip sheet.

There are also worksheets where students trace and alphabetize the words as well.

These things make nice Daily 5 activities too.

Click on the links for the various Dolch Word Cards and activities: Dolch Pre-primer cards, Dolch Kindergarten cards, Dolch First Grade cards, Dolch Second Grade cards, or Dolch Third Grade cards.

If you think up some other uses, I’d enjoy hearing from you diane@teachwithme.com or feel free to comment here.

Thanks in advance for your time.  

Be sure and pop back tomorrow for more interesting teaching tips.