Teachers and Parents:
This website contains a "Dolch Kit"
with many practice activities for students to use as they learn the Dolch,
220 high frequency words. The Dolch high frequency list was published
by Edward William Dolch, Ph.D. in his book, Problems in Reading,
The Garrard Press, 1948. The Dolch list of high frequency words comprises
the 220 words, excluding nouns, that were common to the word lists of the
International Kindergarten Union, The Gates List and the Wheeler-Howl List
--- all lists that were used in beginning reading programs in the 1940's.
The Dolch List has held up over time as reliable high frequency word list
that is used in beginning reading programs. Some words are out of date.
For instance, the word "shall," found on list 11, is not a frequently
used word today.
Many students do not need extra practice with
the Dolch words, as they learn them by reading them repeatedly in context.
The learning of the Dolch words in isolation, does not make a "reader."
Sometimes a student can read the words from a list and not recognize the same
word/s in a book or story. So ~ please, consider the Dolch Kit activities
to be a supplement to strong balanced reading program. The Dolch Kit activities
can help to boost a child's motivation and confidence.
You are free to print and use any of the activities
on this site. You are also free to include a link to this site from
yours, but do not copy pages and include them on your site. All work
is copyrighted.
In my first grade classroom, I use a plastic,
hanging "file cube" to store the Dolch kit materials. I do not have
a special "Dolch" practice time. Materials are available during
center time. Sometimes I pull activities to use with a struggling group
of readers and I can quickly gather an activity for a parent or cross-aged
tutor to use with a selected group of students. Students keep a Dolch Word
practice booklet in their bookbox on their desks so they can use little "sponge"
moments to practice their words. Most practice actually takes place at home.
I try to test students once every week or two.
I like to do my own testing because I want observe a child's errors and I
use the opportunity to give a student a quick mini lesson. I also expect the
student to read the words with automaticity and I have found that others who
test my students are too lenient---letting the child struggle to sound out
the word and then giving him credit for "knowing" the word.
I hope you find the materials helpful.
Kathy Gursky
Teacher on Special Assignment
Brentwood Union School District
Materials Copyrighted, March 1, 2003
