Helper Words

The Orange Helper Words

Here are the orange "Helper Words" from the new level that we are on. Helper words are sight words (words that can't be sounded out, such as "gone, the, have, one") and words that are in the Hooked on Phonics stories that we haven't learned how to sound out (such as words with the silent E and other blends we haven't learned yet).

These words are taught as a whole word (no sounding out involved). We have 2 zipper pouches (.97 at Wal-mart) that we keep these in. The purple pouch is for all the words that she knows very well. The teal pouch is for words that she doesn't know yet or struggles with.

This is our "game" that we play with these words. Each day she gets to hold the purple bag and I hold the teal one. I'll pull out one word at a time and if she reads it right away, she gets the word to put in her purple bag. She loves it when I act upset when she gets to keep one of my words from the teal bag.

Another way to teach the helper words is with the "Mixed-Up Whole Word" Game.

The Most Common Words in Written English

Here is a site that my friend told me about. It lists the most common words in written English from 1-200 in order of use. This is a great list to have for your little ones when learning to read. I'm going to copy and paste the list here, but it's probably easier to read from the link :)

Here are the Most Common Words in Written English

Words 1-20
the of and a to in is you that it he was for on are as with his they I

Words 21-40
at be this have from or one had by word but not what all were we when your can said

Words 41-60
there use an each which she do how their if will up other about out many then them these so

Words 61- 80
some her would make like him into time has look two more write go see number no way could people

Words 81-100
my than first water been call who oil its now find long down day did get come made may part

Words 100-120
over new sound take only little work know place year live me back give most very after thing our just

Words 121-140
name good sentence man think say great where help through much before line right too mean old any same tell

Words 141-160
boy follow came want show also around form three small set put end does another well large must big even

Words 161-180
such because turn here why ask went men read need land different home us move try kind hand picture again

Words 181-200
change off play spell air away animal house point page letter mother answer found study still learn should America world

Games - Mixed-Up Whole Words

This is our Mixed-Up Sight Word game. Hannah loves to play this!

We are using Glenn Doman's method of teaching from his book "How to Teach Your Baby to Read".

We have 9 flashcards measuring 3 1/2 x 8 1/2. A single word is printed on each one in large letters. First I say the words to her for a couple of turns until she knows them. Like this:

Each day we take out the oldest word add one new word. The first words I picked were: Mommy, Daddy, Hannah, Takeshi and Ernest (her brothers). The next words that I picked are out of easy reader books that Hannah will be reading (after she learns these words).

Here is our video of us playing the game. We put the 9 flashcards down, and Hannah reads them. Then I mix them up quickly and say, "They are all mixed up... you can't read them now!" Hannah of course comes over and reads them again, and again.

Here is another version of the "Mixed-Up Whole Words". Here Hannah says the words once and then has Twyla say them the second time.

We play this game 2-3 times a day, mixing them up about 4-5 times in each sesson.

Whole Words vs. Phonics

Apparently there is a big debate over how to teach children reading. Should they be taught Whole Words or Phonics? Whole words is teaching a child the word as a whole, not by sounding it out. Phonics, of course, is teaching a child to read by sounding out the letters of a word.

Glenn Doman teaches Whole Word exclusively.

Sidney Ledson teaches Phonics exclusively.

Felicity Hughes teaches both.

I teach both and I think both are needed. Some words in the English language don't follow any rules of phonics and therefore you cannot get around whole words no matter how much you want to :) For ages 2 and under I would only teach Glenn Doman's method. For children ages 2 or 3 and up I would teach both. For children 3 and up I would teach phonics only.

If you want a deeper explanation or debate that this, you will have to read these authors books. I say whatever works for you then go for it. Both methods work, as these authors have proven over and over.

Books - How to Teach Your Baby to Read

How to Teach Your Baby to Read - by Glenn Doman
(Stock Photo)

This is the book that started it all for me. I love this book!! Although I did not teach sight words exclusively, I learned a lot from this book. The main thing I learned was that you can teach little children (0-5) how to read, math, etc. It is actually easier to learn the younger they are. The second thing I learned was how to make learning to read fun.

We have 9 flashcards measuring 3 1/2 x 8 1/2. A single word is printed on each one in large letters. First I say the words to her for a couple of turns until she knows them. Each day we take out the oldest word add one new word. The first words I picked were: Mommy, Daddy, Hannah, Takeshi and Ernest (her brothers). The next words that I picked are out of easy reader books that Hannah will be reading (after she learns these words).

Here is a video of how to show the flashcards to teach reading. We did this a couple times and then played our "Mixed-Up Whole Words" game.

Books - Reading and Writing Before School

Reading and Writing Before School by Felicity Hughes

This is an out of print book, but could still probably be bought on ebay. This mother also followed the "How to Teach Your Baby to Read" by Glenn Doman, as well as phonics. This is an account of this mother's day to day, step by step, process of teaching her 2 and 3 year old how to read and write.