How To Teach Sight Words in Spanish to Kids
Did you know that by learning sight words in Spanish, you can give your child a valuable boost in their literacy skills?
Similar to how high-frequency words in English help students recognize words and read faster, Spanish sight words have the same effect when teaching young kids to read in Spanish.
We’ll look at the advantages of using sight words in Spanish in this article, along with a list of frequently used words to get your child started on the road to fluent Spanish reading.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What are sight words in Spanish?
- 3 reasons sight words in Spanish support literacy
- How to use sight words in Spanish for literacy development
- List of 100 high-frequency sight words in Spanish (+ free download)
- Let our teachers help you teach Spanish
What Are Sight Words in Spanish?
First, let’s distinguish the difference between the terms “sight words” and “high-frequency words.”
High-frequency words are the words that are most commonly used in a language. “Sight words” refers to a way of teaching reading that focuses on memorizing words that are often used in texts. This method has been shown to improve reading fluency.
For example, in English, the Dolch Sight Word List is the most commonly used set of sight words.
A great Spanish resource is this list of 1,000 sight words in Spanish, provided by the Real Academia Española (RAE).
Of course, only some of the words on the RAE master list appear in texts written for kids. While the resource is super helpful, we recommend that you start with 100 words. Starting with this list of the 100 most common sight words is an excellent way to start the reading process without adding too much overload.
The term “sight words” translates to Spanish as:
- palabras a primera vista
- palabras de alta frequencia
- palabras de vocabulario reconocible a la vista
3 Reasons Sight Words in Spanish Support Literacy
There are three major reasons why you want to use sight words in Spanish to improve your child’s Spanish literacy. Sight words:
1. Strengthen word recognition
Sight words in Spanish can help students learn to recognize common words quickly and without thinking. This lets them focus on more difficult words and ideas in the text, improve their reading speed, and learn more about the language.
2. Improve spelling and expand vocabulary
Memorizing sight words in Spanish improves spelling skills and expands vocabulary awareness as students gain a greater understanding of word patterns and structure.
3. Deepen reading comprehension
Using sight words in Spanish improves reading comprehension, as it allows students to understand the meaning of a text more quickly, and with less effort. Students who can recognize common words in a text will be able to understand the overall meaning of the text and engage with the material on a deeper level.
It’s clear that sight words can help your child read faster, understand what they’re reading, and be more interested in the language. Implementing a “sight word” method in Spanish class or at home can help children learn to read and write in Spanish in a big way.
So, how do you do it?
How To Use Sight Words in Spanish for Literacy Development
Using sight words as part of the learning process is an excellent way to help your child learn to read and write in Spanish.
Here are some ways to use sight words in Spanish:
1. Books and Other Reading Materials
Start by giving your child books and other reading materials in Spanish that are at the right level for them.
One way to do this is to visit a local library or bookstore that specializes in bilingual or Spanish-language materials. Many libraries and bookstores stock a variety of Spanish-language books at various reading levels, and librarians or bookstore employees can help you find the right materials for your child.
Another way is to access online resources such as digital libraries, ebook platforms, or educational websites that offer reading materials in Spanish. Websites like La Casa del Libro or Tumblebooks offer a wide variety of Spanish books for children of different reading levels.
Third, you might want to use a reading assessment tool like the Sistema de Evaluación de la Lectura en Español (SELDE) or the i-Ready Spanish Reading Assessment to evaluate your child’s reading level in Spanish. Once you know how well they can read, you can choose materials that are at the right level for them. These assessments can be found online and can be done with the help of a teacher or professional in the field.
If you’re familiar with the Learning AZ website, you’ll be happy to know that they also have a Spanish collection of books at different levels of text complexity.
2. Songs, Poems, and Nursery Rhymes
Get your child singing and dancing their way to fluency with Spanish sight words. Incorporate catchy songs and fun nursery rhymes with high-frequency words into their reading practice, and watch their language skills soar!
Here are some ideas:
Find your favorite music streaming services, YouTube channels, or educational websites that offer Spanish-language songs and nursery rhymes.
Streaming service:
Check out Spotify playlists like Just the Best Spanish Nursery Rhymes and Best Spanish Kids Sing Along Songs.
YouTube channels:
Check out top kids YouTube channel Toy Cantando and GallinaPintadita, which have a collection of super fun Spanish songs and nursery rhymes that include sight words.
Educational websites:
Websites such as ÁrbolABC or BabyRadio.es provide a fun assortment of songs and rhymes sheets that you can print out, and work with your child on pointing out and highlighting sight words as they sing along. Additionally, you can make your own flashcards using the sight words that are included in the songs or rhymes.
3. Introduce “Word of the Day”
Introduce a “word of the day” by using Spanish high-frequency word flashcards and incorporate it into your child’s daily routine. The key to success is not only to make the Word of the Day routine interactive and engaging but also relatable to your child’s life.
Here are some ideas:
Embrace the use of visual aids
Use images, videos, or real-life objects to help your child understand and remember the word. It can be pictures of the object, videos of how the word is used in real life, or even finding the object in the child’s surroundings and pointing it out.
Relate it to your child’s experience
Relate the word to your child’s personal experience or to things that they are interested in. For example, if the word is “perro” (dog) and your child has a pet dog, you can use it to talk about their pet. Or if the child loves soccer, you can use the word in the context of a soccer game. This makes the learning more relatable and helps children remember the words better.
Play games and make it fun
Make the word of the day more interactive and interesting by adding games and activities to the routine. For example, have a word matching game with flashcards, create word search puzzles, or make a word scavenger hunt. This will not only make the learning more fun but also more memorable.
Need somewhere to start? Try this
4. Gamify Sight Words
Gamifying the learning process is a fun and effective way to teach sight words in Spanish to children. By turning the learning experience into a game, your child will be more engaged, motivated, and able to retain the information better.
Here are some ways to gamify sight words in Spanish:
Flashcard matching game
Create a set of flashcards with Spanish sight words, and have your child match the word to its corresponding image. You could also make a memory game for your child where they have to match the word to its meaning. This not only helps in reinforcing the sight words but also in learning their meaning.
Looking for FREE flashcards? Try the Free Spanish Lessons for Kids content hub by Homeschool Spanish Academy, with more than 50 free Spanish lessons that include free flashcards, activity packets, and more.
Want a simple, premade set? Try: Learning Sight Words is Easy—Spanish! on Amazon.
Word search puzzle
Create a word search puzzle using the sight words. This can be done by using a word search generator or by hand. The child’s task is to find the words in the puzzle, which not only helps them with their spelling but also reinforces the sight words.
Scavenger Hunt
Hide flashcards with Spanish sight words around the house or classroom and have the child find them. Once they find the flashcard, they have to say the word out loud and use it in a sentence. This helps with retention and also makes the activity interactive and fun.
Word BINGO
Create a BINGO board using the sight words and have the child match the words as they are called out. You can also add additional elements to the game, like a reward for a BINGO or a penalty for an incorrect match.
Word matching game
Create a game where children have to match the word to the corresponding picture or definition. This can be done using flashcards, digital apps, or even pen and paper.
Hangman
Play Hangman with the sight words as the word to guess. Children will have fun guessing letters while reinforcing their sight word vocabulary.
For even more ideas, check out 15 Sight Word Games in Spanish for Kids.
100 High-Frequency Sight Words in Spanish: List
Here’s a list of 100 of the most common sight words in Spanish. It’s divided into grammatical categories, but you can also download a free printable PDF with this list in alphabetical order just below.
100 Sight Words in Spanish for Kids
Download these sight words to help your child read faster, understand what they're reading, and be more interested in the language!Nouns
gracias – thank you
papá – dad
perro – dog
gato – cat
niño – boy, kid
niña – girl
mamá – mom
amor – love
amigo – friend
amiga – friend (fem.)
cama – bed
casa – house, home
escuela – school
abuela – grandma
abuelo – grandpa
primo – cousin
prima – cousin (fem.)
Pronouns
yo – I
tú – you
él – he
ella – she
nosotros – we
ellos – they
ustedes – you (pl.)
me – me
conmigo – with me
contigo – with you
mí – to me
ti – to you
que – than
If you you need to refresh your knowledge on Spanish pronouns, see 3 Types of Spanish Pronouns to Perfect Your Fluency
Verbs
voy – I go
vas – You go
vamos – we go
va – goes
van – they go, you go (pl.)
soy – I am
veo – I see
vemos – we see
ven – they see, you see (pl.)
ve – sees
puedo – I can
leer – read
cerrar – close
abrir – open
dice – says
estoy – I am
mira – look, looks
juego – I play
es – is
dijo – said
somos – we are
tengo – I have
tienes – You have
tiene – he/she has
quiero – I want
quieres – You want
estaba – I were, was
hay – there is, there are
Adjectives
bueno – good
malo – bad
mucho – very
grande – big
muchos – many
aquel – that one
aquellos – those
aquellas – those (fem.)
este – this
esta – this (fem.)
estos – these
feliz – happy
Adverbs
muy – very
también – also
sí – yes
dónde – where?
quién – who?
cuándo – when?
atrás – behind
abajo – below
arriba – up
tampoco – neither
no – no
poquito – a little
ahora – now
aquí – here
allá – there
más – more
Prepositions and Conjunctions
por – by
y – and
a – to
con – with
de – from
Articles
un – a (masc.sg.)
una – a (femsg..)
unos – a (masc.pl.)
unas – a (fem.pl.)
los – the (masc.pl.)
el – the (masc.sg.)
las – the (fem.pl.)
la – the (fem. pl.)
Others
por qué – why
Let Our Teachers Help You Teach Spanish
If you’re looking for a way to effectively teach sight words in Spanish to your child, signing up for a free trial class with Homeschool Spanish Academy is a great option. Our professional, certified teachers are experts at teaching Spanish to kids, and they can help your child reach their own language goals. After just a few classes, your child will be able to quickly and automatically recognize common words. This will help them read faster and understand what is being read.
Our online classes are fun, interactive, and easy to use because they can be accessed from anywhere and on any device.
But those aren’t the only reasons to give us a try!
Homeschool Spanish Academy is proud to have been voted “Best Overall Online Spanish Classes for Kids” by parents who have used their services. We are committed to helping you and your family learn Spanish in a fun and effective way. Sign up for a free trial class to see what our program has to offer and how we can benefit your child’s Spanish literacy development.
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“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”
– Erica P. Parent of 1
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