Word Walls for 
Jiffy Words
MORE WALLS: About Jiffy Words
Of the thousands of words in English,
fewer than 250 appear over and over again.
These are known as ‘high frequency’ words, or ‘sight words.’
Good readers learn to name these words on sight--
'in a jiffy.'
Many Jiffy Words do not follow simple phonics patterns.
See my handy list of Jiffy Words, 200 of the most common words in reading, below.
Just about anything you will read in English is loaded with these common Jiffy Words.
Unfortunately for beginners, many Jiffy Words do not follow simple phonics patterns.
Listen to the sounds in the middle of these words:
home, Rome, dome . . . some
moth, broth, cloth . . . both
nut, cut, hut . . . put
So all readers should learn to recognize these ‘rule-breakers’ instantly, on sight.
How do children learn to recognize these words on sight?
The consonant sounds in Jiffy Words, help students to recognize them.
Plenty of accurate practice helps students to recognize them.
Repetition is the key.
The goal with Jiffy Words, as with Phonics sounds,
is Rapid-Accurate Naming.
Accurate practice makes perfect--and then the 'rapid' part will come.
Which Jiffy Words should children learn first?
Look at what your child is reading.
Pick out a Jiffy Word from that text.
Read that bit of text aloud with your student, to make sure they understand how the word 'fits in,' before you practice the isolated word. (More on this, below.)
Before You Drill:
Connect the Jiffy Words to the child’s language system
because many of the Jiffy Words are hard to picture.
Words like ‘by,’ ‘an,’ ‘would,’ or ‘of’-- might not have much meaning to a child, outside of a sentence.
Even adults might have a hard time defining them.
But children can readily recognize these meanings in context:
“Drive by the park,” “An apple,”
“What would you like?” “A piece of cake.”
So, choose drill words from the child’s Natural Language Stories, or another text they are working with.
That way, the child will connect with the word’s meaning.
Here is a way to point out the language connection.
1. First, read the context together--the sentence or phrase containing the drill word.
“I would jump really high.”
2. Then introduce the new drill word, written neatly in bold marker on a flashcard.
“Here’s ‘would.’ ‘I would jump.’ “
3. After the drill game or Search & Say exercise, look back at the text. Read the context again.
Can the student spot the word you just drilled?
Remember:
- Choose one from your student’s current story.
- Give fun practice in naming it accurately.
- Add to your student's Jiffy Word 'collection' at the pace of the student's success.
PDF version of Jiffy Word list to open with Acrobat Reader
The Jiffy Words
|
a about after again against all also always am an and another any are around as ask at ate away back be being because been before best better between big both but buy |
came can come could course day did do does done don't down each eight enough even every far fast few first for found full get great go goes good got had has |
he her here high him his how I if in into is it it's/its just kind know last laugh life light like little live long look made make man many may me |
men might more most Mr. Mrs. much must my never new night no not nothing now of off old on one only or other our out over own people play put read right |
said same saw say school see she should since small so some still stop such take thank than that the their them then there they thing think this those though thought three through |
time to today told too try two under up upon us very walk want was we well were what when where which while who will with work would write year years yes you your |
Short Cut Through the Treehouse ~ The Whole Treehouse
More on this topic: Practice Jiffy Words
