1. We Have High Expectations and Give Students Crystal Clear Learning Targets

Children view learning targets: Wall posters of high-frequency “heart words”
- Children learn there are two kinds of words: Words they know how to write “by heart” and words they listen to, stretch out, and write the sounds for.
- The end goal is to be a “heart word” expert with at least 62 words and to fearlessly tackle any unknown word in their writing. (More proficient students may add additional sets of personal favorite words or the district’s mandated first grade reading lists.) There is no ceiling on success-driven learning!
- Children and their families have a crystal-clear target of the 16 words they are currently working on and what the next target is.
3. We Use Fingerspelling to Help Children Develop Fluency with “Heart Words” and CVC Words



- We sing, sign, fingerspell, and write 33 pink and purple “heart words” and bonus words.
- We refer back to the key phonics symbol as needed to build the reading brain.
- Fingerspelling is connected to children’s names and use of “Helper of the Day” strategy. A/”a” alligator and A/”a” Anna and…B/”b” bear and B/”b” Brian: your name starts with that same sound!
5. We Involve Parents as Partners in Teaching High-Frequency “Heart Words”



- Each new set of “heart words” goes home on a ring in a special box for family review.
- “Heart Word”/fingerspelling cards are available for family practice and individual or collaborative use.
- “Heart word” I Can Read pages are included in student anthology notebooks.
- Teachers make copies of the Sing, Sign, Spell, and Read! CD for family listening (permission is granted).
- Parents are invited to help cut and create “heart word” props.

7. Our Students Use Music, Fingerspelling, Writing, and Sign Language to Create Memory Hooks



- They Sing, Sign, Spell, and Read! and practice accurate handwriting. (High-frequency “heart words” simultaneously accelerate reading and writing fluency!)
- Floor “heart word” posters are available for Read-to-Self and Read-to-Buddy times.
- Independent writing totes provide authentic writing activities with “heart words”: “We Love Lists!” “Write a Message,” and “Animal Rubber Band Books.”
9. Independent Writing Totes Provide Systematic and Authentic “Heart Word” Practice



- Independent writing totes provide drawing and bookmaking experiences with a sequence of “heart word” sentences: “I love the…,” “I see a…,” “I like my…,” “I can see…,” ”This is the…”
11. “I Can Read” Anthology Pages Featuring “Heart Word” Songs and Chants Are Illustrated
- Children take pride in doing quality work and in challenging themselves to fingerspell, write, and read each new word.
- As new “heart words” are taught, they are added to the Word Wall, and old ones continue to be practiced and reviewed!
13. Harder-to-Accelerate Students Receive Additional Multisensory “Heart Word” Practice and Additional CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) Brain Exercises for Fluency
- Response to Intervention (RTI) Teams or Kindergarten Intervention (KI) Teams of volunteers, parents, and 5th grade reading buddies provide additional targeted practice — especially building fluency with pink “heart word” sentences and providing abc brain exercises for speed and accuracy.
15. Art, Creativity, Voice, and Playfulness Are Part of the Writing Process!
Choose Joyful Pathways to the Common Core: allow children’s creativity to flourish while meeting rigorous writing standards…
Examples taken from Nellie Edge Online Seminar #3:
Teaching High-Frequency Sight Words

To learn more from accomplished kindergarten writing teachers, peruse the “Heart Word” page, and view video clips of multisensory word work strategies.
Grow You Kindergarten Writers: Build the Reading and Writing Brain
Where can I purchase the Nellie Edge Kindergarten Sight Word Program?
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