Sight Words

1/14/2013

English reading is commonly taught using a "Whole Language" approach which includes sight words as described below:

Whole word, also known as "Sight Word" and "Look and Say", teaches reading skills and strategies in the context of authentic literature. Word recognition accuracy is considered less important than meaning accuracy; therefore, there is an emphasis on comprehension as the ultimate goal.

Students in this method memorize the appearance of words, or learn to recognize words by looking at the first and last letter from rigidly selected vocabularies in progressive texts (such as The Cat in the Hat). Often preliminary results show children taught with this method have higher reading levels than children learning phonics, because they learn to automatically recognise a small selection of words. However later tests demonstrate that literacy development becomes stunted when hit with longer and more complex words later.

That said, does anyone teach "Sight Words" in Lashon Kodesh? What have your results been? Do you feel this is worthwhile? What about with boys who are having difficulty with Kriah?

4 Comments

K. Gross

1/20/2013 05:05:26 am

I'm a bit confused about the posting on sight words and whole language. Sight words are short words which can be recognized by "sight" without sounding them out. Such words as "the" "from" "with" etc. In Lashon Hakodesh, there is a bit of a problem. Of course, the name of Hashem is taught as a sight word. It is recognized as the name of Hashem, and pronounced differently than it is written. However, take the word "E-lohay". If it ends with a Tzeirie, it is pronounced "E-lohay". However, if it ends with a Pasach, it is pronounced "E-lohai" (unless by a chosid, where they are pronounced the same). Lashon Hakodesh is a very phometic language, where the addition of a dot can change the pronunciation (and meaning). A common mistake I always hear by the Shliach Tzibur is in the first bracha, where I constantly hear ""El Elyon". In should really be pronounced "Ale elyon". Thus, we can see that choosing and using "sight words" in Lashon Hakodesh is problematic.

Another issue mentioned seem to be phonemic awareness. In English, the position of a letter in the words. Again, in Lashon Hakodesh, which is phonetic, this is not a method that is useful.

Finally, as far as whole language, there can be similar problems with that. I often hear, at the end of Tachanun, the words "Ezreinu E-lohay yishaynu" instead of "Uzreinu E-lohay yishaynu". The one syllable difference makes a difference between meaning "Our helper" or "(Please) help us". Again, due to the phonetic nature of Lashon Hakodesh, phonics is the way to go.

However, when speaking about vocabulary as opposed to reading, there may be some way to incorporate whole language or sight words, in order to help build up a larger variety of words.

What do you think? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

C. Klien

1/20/2013 05:09:58 am

Thank you for the correction, I intended to discuss "whole words" merely a component of whole language.

I understand that sometimes a Nikud makes a big difference but how about teaching the most common form? wont this work most of the time?

1/20/2013 07:39:42 am

Not really. there are so many exception due to a change in Nekudos, I think that getting used to reading 'whole word' as opposed to phonetically is asking for trouble.

Y Marcus

1/24/2013 05:01:10 am

I have been teaching sight words for a while and I have found that the boys become more proficient in reading and not less so. Over a long period of time, although they aren't reading the sight words but rattleing it off, they still read new words fluently after looking at them carefully.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

Sight Words

Leave a Reply.

ShaiLaMorah

Archives

Categories