• Click Here:  Kindergarten Trick Word List

     

     

    WHAT Are Trick Words?

     Trick words are words that students frequently encounter in reading that do not "play by the rules."  Students cannot apply their letter/sound knowledge to decode trick words because they do not follow regular phonetic rules.  

     

    WHY Learn Trick Words?

    More than half of the words in the English language are trick words that do not follow regular phonetic rules.  As a result, these words are more difficult for students to master.  

     

    HOW Do Students Learn Trick Words?

    Asking a student to "sound out" a trick word is ineffective and will lead to frustration.  Young readers need to experience and manipulate these words in order to learn to read and write them with fluency.  Below you will find trick word lists for grades K and 1 as well as a variety of multisensory activities to help your child practice his or her trick words at home.  

     

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    MULTISENSORY ACTIVITIES FOR LEARNING AND PRACTICING TRICK WORDS

    Play ZAP!

    Number of Players:  2 or more

    Materials:    large craft sticks

                      markers - to write the words on the sticks

                      a timer

    How To Play:     

    1. Write one word on the end of each stick.
    2. For every 25 sticks, add three ZAP sticks.
    3. The players take turns pulling a stick out of a cup.
    4. If they can read it, they keep it. If they can't, they put it back in the cup.
    5. If they get "zapped" they put all of their sticks back in the cup.
    6. At the end of a set time (about 5 minutes), the winner is the one with the most sticks.

    Build trick words with Play-Doh.

    Write trick words in sand.

    Finger trace trick words while simultaneously spelling them out loud.

    Search for trick words in books that you read.

     

     

  • Learn Trick Words in 4 Steps

    Play the "What's Missing?" game to help students store a trick word in their memory banks.  Then have students "mix and fix" the word with magnet letters, finger trace the word on the table, and write the word on white boards. 

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  • Popcorn Words Online Game

    Play this interactive and engaging game online to build automaticity with trick word recognition. 

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  • Orton-Gillingham Red Word Drill

    This multisensory technique involves writing a word on a bumpy surface with crayon, finger tracing on tactile surfaces while simultaneously spelling the letters and reading the words, and arm tapping.   We use the Red Word Drill in our small groups 1-2x a week to teach trick words.  At home, have your child finger trace and spell out loud or arm tap to practice his or her trick words. 

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