High-Frequency Words

More About High-Frequency Words

Tutor Handout: Teaching High-Frequency Words

Why Teach High-Frequency Words?

Typically, children go through specific stages of development as they progress. A relatively small number of words in the English language are used repeatedly in print. In fact, about 100 words make up 50 percent of the words we read, according to research. These are high-frequency words. Many of the high-frequency words are not decodable, and they must be memorized if a child is to become a confident reader.

Builds Critical Confidence

"It's all about confidence. With Reading-Tutors, the tutor knows the selected books and lessons are appropriate for the reading level of the child. Children are successful readers because they learn reading strategies at the right level. And the Reading-Tutors lessons help extend learning in a fun way!"

Sue Arnold; Program Coordinator; Literacy; OSU Extension; Findlay, Ohio

High-Frequency Word Packet Contents

Reading-Tutors has 24 high-frequency word packets. Each packet introduces two to four new high-frequency words and reviews previously taught words. Each packet contains all the materials needed for a 30-minute tutoring session. Materials include:

  • Tutor teaching tips - Activities and strategies for familiarizing children with high-frequency words.
  • Flashcards - Templates for making flashcards of new and reviewed high-frequency words.
  • Worksheet - Opportunities for the child to write new high-frequency words and use them in sentences.
  • High-frequency word book - Book that uses rebuses for non-high-frequency words to enable a child to focus on reading new and reviewed high-frequency words.
  • Game - A fun way to challenge a child's high-frequency word knowledge.

Teaching High-Frequency Words

Developing readers need repeated exposure to high-frequency words. They must recognize these words on sight. Reading-Tutors High-Frequency Word lessons are designed to teach high-frequency words sequentially. The first packets introduce the most common and most essential words. Subsequent sets reinforce those words.

Assessments

Reading-Tutors assessments evaluate a child's ability to read the most common high-frequency words.