Irregular Sight Words are words  we can't sound out easily using phonics, they don't follow traditional spelling patterns. Many of these are High Frequency  (HFW) or Common Words.

Common Words or HFW are words that appear in written language most frequently - Dolce & Frys are common lists and you may hear these names in school. These HFW include words that can be decoded (sounded through using phonics) plus irregular words.

WARNING! It is a hard task for any child to learn all the HFW - plus it serves no real purpose  since most can be sounded out when reading or spelling. Relying on memory is a poor strategy for reading and spelling - the learners first strategy should be to sound through a word.

For learners with dyslexia this is important - they are likely to rely on phonics ( sounding out) and may struggle with their sight memory for words - so focus what they do have. Avoid wasting time on the words they can sound through.

FOCUS on the irregular sight words that they can't tackle using their phonics knowledge. You will find a list below.

LIST OF IRREGULAR SIGHT WORDS

This link  takes you to a list of the 30 most common irregular sight words.

http://www.gdss.glasgow.sch.uk/Websites/SchSenRosepark/UserFiles/file/Spelling/Sight%20and%20HF%20Words/Irregular%20Sight%20Words%20List%20of%2030.pdf

MOVIE OF A TECHNIQUE FOR MEMORISING - 

Links to a quick clip showing learners throwing a ball to chant through the spelling of irregular words.

MOVIE OF TYPING PRACTISE FOR SIGHT WORDS

This clip gives ideas for practising recall of letter sequence for irregular words - while getting keyboard practise. 

Take a look at our clip for using spell checkers