Popcorn Words
Why do we call them ‘popcorn’ words? What we call ‘popcorn’ words are also known as sight words or high-frequency words. Sight words are words that we see and use often in reading and writing. Only 100 words make up half of all the words found in book today! So we call them popcorn words because they keep ‘popping’ up when reading and writing. This small set of high-frequency words is the foundation for our language. Good readers should be able to recognize these words instantly. Why learn sight words? Learning to read is a lot of work. If children had to sound out every word, reading would become so slow and so much work that many children would want to give up or comprehension would be affected. Knowledge of high-frequency words is necessary for fluent reading. Many of these words do not sound like their spellings, therefore sounding them out would be unproductive. Learning high frequency words by sight helps children build confidence and fluency in their reading, and thus reading becomes easier and makes more sense. Although many high-frequency words carry little meaning, they affect the flow and coherence of text. Developing a large sight word vocabulary helps a student become a better reader by increasing reading fluency, speed and accuracy.
Games to help learn sight words:
POP
In the file, there are word cards with the word pop on them. Shuffle all cards and place each card face down on the playing surface. Each player takes turns picking up a card. If a player recognizes and can spell the word, they get to keep the card. If not, they must put the card back down face down. If they pick a card that says "POP", all the cards that the player has collected must be put back face down.
NEWSPAPER WORD FIND
Using a newspaper and highlighter, take a small section of the newspaper and look for popcorn words. This can also be done with boxes, advertisements, magazines, etc.
CONCENTRATION
Make two copies of the popcorn words on cardstock or index cards. Mix them up and turn them face down. Have your child pick two. If they match and they can read the words, they get to keep the pair. Keep playing until all the cards are matched.
ROLL, SAY, KEEP
Download the PDF file and print the game board. You will need a die. Place one popcorn word card in each space face up. Roll the die, if you can spell and say the word, you keep the card. Place another one in the space and the next player goes.
Roll Say and Keep
POP
In the file, there are word cards with the word pop on them. Shuffle all cards and place each card face down on the playing surface. Each player takes turns picking up a card. If a player recognizes and can spell the word, they get to keep the card. If not, they must put the card back down face down. If they pick a card that says "POP", all the cards that the player has collected must be put back face down.
NEWSPAPER WORD FIND
Using a newspaper and highlighter, take a small section of the newspaper and look for popcorn words. This can also be done with boxes, advertisements, magazines, etc.
CONCENTRATION
Make two copies of the popcorn words on cardstock or index cards. Mix them up and turn them face down. Have your child pick two. If they match and they can read the words, they get to keep the pair. Keep playing until all the cards are matched.
ROLL, SAY, KEEP
Download the PDF file and print the game board. You will need a die. Place one popcorn word card in each space face up. Roll the die, if you can spell and say the word, you keep the card. Place another one in the space and the next player goes.
Roll Say and Keep