Sight Words with Samson
April 22, 2008
I have always depended on the kindness of talking cartoon animals. Whether I learned about hibernation from Yogi Bear, or was exposed to opera by Bugs Bunny, animated animals are dependable and oft-overlooked fonts of knowledge. Why should learning to read be any different? That’s why, when teaching your elementary students their ABCs, let them have a look at Sight Words with Samson.
The Samson in question is a dog wearing a track suit who speaks with a vaguely German accent (I think - it’s hard to tell). The site lets kids play games that strengthen their word-building. After starting off by viewing a word and listening to it spoken out loud in a sentence, kids are challenged to pick the word out of a lineup, or to spell it. With practice, your students will be able to know and spell words on sight.
Sight Words with Samson also has other resources, including printable flashcards, lesson plans, and worksheets. In my opinion, though, the online word games are are your best bet. The video game factor will keep kids more interested, and Samson will hopefully open your students’ eyes to the wonderful learning possibilities of listening to talking cartoon critters. -BILL FERRIS
