Sight Word Flip Books

Kendra Von Raesfeld
Sep 8, 2016
3 min read

This month I am once again teaming up with my friends from I Teach K-2 to bring you some great ideas, free products, and a chance to win a Teachers Pay Teachers gift card. Check out my blog to learn how to use sight word flip books (and grab yours for free!) and then check out the bottom of the post to find other great freebies and to enter the giveaway. Good luck!

When I taught kindergarten, learning our sight words was a big part of our curriculum. Students who were able to recognize these high-frequency words instantly became more successful readers because they didn't waste time or energy sounding out words that often have unusual spelling patterns. They were able to focus on sounding out the words they could decode. (For the record, I only included high-frequency words with unusual spelling patterns in our list of sight words. Those high-frequency words that could be sounded out, I left off the list, as I would rather the students have opportunities to practice their decoding skills with these common words.).

Flashcards, both at home and at school, were a very successful tool in learning sight words. Most students were able to learn the words quickly through simple games and drills with their parents. However, there were always some students who couldn't grasp these words, no matter how many times the flashcards were practiced. Because of this, I decided to create these sight word flip books. I wanted to give these students a hands-on approach to learning sight words. Now, as I teach first grade, and expect these words to be not only recognized in reading, but spelled correctly in writing, I have found that these books are a useful tool in teaching the spelling of high-frequency sight words.

So, how do these flip books work? Each book contains ten high-frequency sight words. Especially for younger kids, it works best if an adult assembles the book (directions are included). When assembled, the students are able to use the book to spell each of the sight words by flipping the letters in the book. To self-check ,the student can see the spelling of the words on the back cover of the book.

I have used these books as a center and as a tool for the student to use at home. They were a HUGE help in getting those struggling students to recognize their sight words and also in helping the first-graders spell these high frequency words.

Options for use:

Individually, the students can challenge themselves to spell each word, and then check the back of the book to see if they were correct.

In a group, the teacher says a word and the students see who can build it fastest.

A parent or teacher can build the word and challenge the student to read it.

A pair of students can work together: one student reads a word from the back of the book and the other student builds the word. Then the students switch roles and continue with a different sight word.

Grab your sight word flip book for Set 1 here FREE:

This flip book can also be found in my Super Sight Words Bundle, along with two other flip books and worksheets, flashcards, activities, and assessments for 30 high frequency sight words. Get yours here: