The pre-primer ghosts vs. vampires is now up for sale.  For those of you who liked the game I now have a primer, first grade and second version of the game.  All of these versions will be available for free until Wednesday.  

For more sight word games you can visit the sites shop or teaching sight words.

Here's a new sight word file folder game just in time for Halloween.  Ghosts vs. Vampires.  Ghosts and vampires fight to see who is the scariest monster.  

This is the first time that I've had a guest blogger on my site.  Its a great post about setting up an environment that we'll help your students be successful throughout the school year with a special focus on students with visual impairments.  

Set Your Students Up for Success

With the school year underway, teachers have settled into their classrooms and are getting to know their students. Each year begins with teachers having the highest hopes for each child and his or her success in the classroom. Check out some suggestions for setting your students up for success this school year.  

Encourage good health

Good health goes a long way for student focus and productivity. Teach and promote the importance of hand washing and the proper way to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. You may also consider supplying small bottles of hand sanitizer for the students to use, especially around cold and flu season. You’re also often the first line of defense in helping identify students’ longer term health issues, like vision problems which can be easily addressed and corrected by an eye doctor.  

Clearly define your expectations

You can’t expect your students to follow rules or expectations they don’t understand or haven’t been made aware of. Make your classroom ground rules very clear and easy to understand. Hang up fun posters as reminders, and give incentives the kids when they follow the rules. Check to make sure they understand the rules, as well as the fact that they’re accountable for following them and will suffer the consequences if they don’t. If you've explained exactly what your expectations are and your students understand, they’ll know what to do to succeed in your class.

Eliminate distractions

Another great way to help students perform their best is to set up your classroom in a way that limits distractions. Designate an area where they first walk in for jackets, backpacks, boots, etc., so these items are immediately out of sight and out of mind. It’s also a good idea to have a specific spot for personal items like glasses or any medications the student might need to take. Whether it’s in your desk drawer or somewhere else in the classroom, keeping these items in a special area will not only prevent eyeglass frames from getting broken or medicines from getting lost, but it’ll also keep the student from fussing over them. Just be sure you’re keenly aware of when the student needs the item.

Always have a keen eye

It may seem like a common sense tip for a teacher, but it’s important to always have a keen sense of what’s going on with your students so you can pick up on things that may need to be addressed. From behavioral problems that may be an indication of bullying to a child struggling to see the board which is a sign they might need eyeglasses, teachers are in a unique position to spot concerns. And, once these things are addressed, the student will be in a much greater position to succeed.

Post is provided by LensCrafters.

Dolch second grade sight word worksheets are here.  These worksheets are a little more challenging then the ones for first grade and kindergarten.  Students can color and write the words but they can also practice spelling them by covering and spelling the word, picking the correct spelling, and hunting for the word in a string of letters.