• Home
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
#RGSTeachersLounge
MENU
  • SHOP
    • Best Sellers
    • What’s New
    • Subscription Box
    • Outlet
  • CLASSROOM
    • Decor/Themes
    • Bulletin Boards
    • Furniture
    • Organization Solutions
    • Flexible Classroom
  • CELEBRATIONS
    • Holidays
    • Games and Activities
    • Birthdays
    • 100th Day
    • Dr. Seuess
    • Graduation
  • CURRICULUM
    • Social Emotional Learning
    • ELA
    • Spanish – ESL
    • Social Studies
    • Math
    • Science/Spangler
    • STEM
    • Cross-Curriculum/Kits
    • Standards Match
  • THE RESOURCE LOUNGE
    • Teacher Resources and Supplies
    • Career Path
    • Home Life
    • Teacher Tips
You are here: Home / Articles / Teacher Tips & Resources / Teaching Sight Words Virtually

Teaching Sight Words Virtually

Trying to make sight words exciting and memorable while teaching virtually is a challenge! I’ve been trying to come up with multiple ways to engage students while teaching new sight words and reviewing past sight words.

Spin a Sight Word Activity

One of the activities I love to use is “spin a sight word” using the Magnetic Dry Erase Spinner Wheel from Really Good Stuff. It’s magnetic (amazing!) and dry-erase compatible (also amazing!). I write one sight word on each color section and hang it on my magnetic dry erase board. Students can see both the spinner and me while we do this activity.  

I spin the spinner and have students take turns telling me what the word is. I love being able to include ALL the students during our group lessons. This can be difficult while teaching online, because as many of you know, it’s chaos when everyone unmutes. You hear an endless amount of background noise from siblings, parent conversations, televisions, etc.

Using Hand Gestures to Virtually Teach Sight Words

One way I have been able to include all students is with hand gestures. Each week when we learn our new sight word list, we come up with a motion for each word. Not only is this helpful when teaching virtually, it’s also helpful for in-person instruction since students can activate another learning modality. Not only are students seeing and hearing the sight word, but now they can learn kinesthetically, too.

For example, if the word is “hear,” we see the word, say the word, and put our hand to our ear to show the motion for hear. While using the spinner, sometimes I tell students to make the motion for the sight word that the spinner landed on. This way I can quickly scan the screen to see which students are remembering which motion goes with which sight word.

“Whispering” Into the Camera to Teach Sight Words

I have also had students “whisper” the work into their cameras while leaving their microphones muted. This way I can read their lips and since I know they only have a handful of words to choose from, I can usually figure out what they are trying to say.

Virtual learning has its curve balls, and engaging students can be one of them! Finding ways to make learning fun and meaningful to all students is important and I hope this quick and easy idea helps another virtual teacher out there!

10/2/2020

By Erin Kassly

Erin Kassly is a first-grade teacher in Illinois. She is also the CEO of Erin’s Ink, a teacher resource and accessory company. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Illinois State University. Her education experience includes nine years in first grade, two years in Kindergarten and one year in fifth grade. She creates teacher resources for TPT and designs accessories for teachers including bracelets, earrings and stickers.

Sharing is caring!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin

Join our Community!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

LIVE ON FACEBOOK!

#RGSTeachersLounge
Join us the first and third Tuesday of every month AT 8PM!

Popular Posts

  • Free Reading Websites for Kids 11 Free Reading Websites for Kids
  • 20 Job Ideas for Teachers 20 Job Ideas for Teachers
  • Free Math Sites for Kids 11 Free Math Sites for Kids: Math Websites for Students
  • 50 Strange Things Teachers Say 50 Strange Things Teachers Say
  • 20 Gift Ideas for Mentor Teachers 20 Gift Ideas for Mentor Teachers
  • Getting Organized from the Start - Tips for Teacher Organization Getting Organized from the Get Go with Lists!
  • Getting Things to Stick to Cinderblock Walls How to Make Things Stick to Cinder Block Walls
  • 12 Community Service Projects for Kids 12 Community Service Projects for Kids
  • 20 Jokes for Kids for the New School Year 20 Kid-Friendly Jokes for the New School Year
  • Preschool Classroom Must Haves 10 Preschool Classroom Must-Haves

#RGSTeachersLounge

Copyright © 2023 #RGSTeachersLounge

Copyright © 2023 · Slush Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in