"Site Words" and their Importance in the Development of Reading Skills

"Site words" are written words that children associate strongest with their site. "Cat" is an example of a site word. A child may see a cat very often, and so it is easier for them to recall and say the word "cat" than it is to say the word "lion." They are simply words that a child sees over and over again, to the point where it becomes it's own entity. It becomes a whole word rather than letters pieced together, and the child spends less and less spelling out site words and instead, they just come out. These site words are a crucial beginning for the development of reading skills (Daymut 1). Not only are site words crucial in building a base for vocabulary skills, they also help children to read fluently. As a child develops fluency skills, his/her attention on figuring out what each word means turns into an attempt to comprehend a sentences meaning.

So now that you understand the importance of site words, here are some ways you can help your little one learn more and more of 'em.

At home:

• Label common objects around the house with sticky notes. 
• Write site words on the house chalkboard (if you have one) or during sidewalk chalking, or encourage your child to write what you draw
• Put magnets with site words on the refrigerator
• Read story books that say words over and over again (Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? or Goodnight Moon)
• Make grocery lists and read the common words with your child, especially those items he/she indulges in

At school:

• Create a wall with site words and add new ones to it every week
• Have children practice reading site words
• Have students read newspapers, magazines, journals, animal books, and highlight all the site words they can find (that are on your wall)

Resources
Daymut, Julie A. M.A., CCC-SLP, Super Duper Handy Handouts (2009):  Site Words