Memory Word Activities

Memory words, or high frequency words, are the most common words seen in print. Learning to read can be very laborious, and if a child has to make letter sounds and blend for every word they encounter they can become discouraged and give up. I enourage you to work with your child to help them learn to recognize, rapidly read, and spell their memory words.

Inside your child's reading baggie is a "word wallet". Within this word wallet are kindergarten memory words, first grade memory words, and concept words (such as colors and numbers). In addition to practice reading these words as flash cards, I have listed some activities to try below:

• Trace the words on the word card as you read them.
• Write the words in sand, salt, oatmeal, or flour.
• Write the words in shaving cream on the shower wall during bath time.
• Search for and circle memory words in a newspaper or magazine.
• Take a "spelling test" outside with sidewalk chalk.
• Draw boxes to show if the letters in your word are tall, short, or low.
• Use magnetic letters to build your words.
• Write the words on a white board, chalk board or magna doodle.