Benefits of Sight Word Instruction

Research-Based Methods of Reading Instruction devotes an entire chapter on

phonics and word study. They state, beginning readers need to be able to identify
words automatically and have an effective strategy for decoding unknown words.
Sight Words Promote Confidence
Confidence can be defined as trust or reliance in oneself. To possess self-
assurance; to remove all doubts. The ability to identify sight words when reading a
book provides a child with confidence in their ability to read. The 100 most
frequently used words represents over 50% of all English text. When a child can
easily recognize over half of a sentence, they typically possess the confidence to
attempt to read it. Opening a book filled with many words can be overwhelming to
a child. If a child can instantly recognize more than half, he is not overwhelmed
but rather challenged. The French philosopher, Rene Descartes wrote Cogito,
ergo sum, which translates into English as I think, therefore I am. While this
pertains to the proof of ones existence, I think it can be extended to a more
inspirational mantra.