UNCOVERING THE TRUTHS THAT DRIVE THE “KEY ACTIONS”
Common Misconception: Sight words are words that can’t be decoded and must be memorized.
Have you been told students must memorize sight words in order to read them? A common belief is sight words are words that cannot be decoded and, therefore, must be learned through memorization. This misconception often leads to teaching strategies that rely on memorizing “sight word” lists instead of focusing on teaching phonics.
The truth is, with all types of words, attending to the sounds and spelling patterns is necessary to develop automatic word recognition. Sight words refer to words that the reader so accurately and automatically decodes and understands that they are instantly recognized during reading, taking less than a fraction of a second to retrieve. They appear to be known by sight, but the brain is actually instantly retrieving their permanently unitized sound, spelling and meaning. Sight words may be common or uncommon; regular or irregular. Irregular words, sometimes called heart or tricky words, have parts that do not follow typical spelling patterns. Most words do have at least some typically spelled sounds. Irregular words should still be taught based upon their sound-spelling correspondences, with the regular and irregular parts explicitly shown to students.
High-frequency words are words that show up frequently in texts, making automatic recognition of them important for fluent reading. Most high-frequency words are regular or have just one irregular spelling pattern. High-frequency words should be taught using their sound-spelling correspondences, not memorized as whole words (Foorman et al., 2016).
To learn about other common misconceptions that may have led to ineffective literacy practices and how to shift to evidence-based structured literacy practices, see Key Actions for Meeting the Needs of ALL K-3 Readers and Writers.
Kentucky Reading Academies: Cohort 4 of LETRS Professional Learning COMING SOON!
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has an exciting partnership that brings the LETRS professional learning to educators across the Commonwealth, called the Kentucky Reading Academies. Through LETRS, teachers gain essential knowledge to master the fundamentals of literacy instruction required to transform student learning and create a more vibrant experience for each and every young reader.
The Kentucky Reading Academies LETRS training is a comprehensive no-cost professional learning opportunity open to all K-5 public school educators.
Two different courses are being offered through the Kentucky Reading Academies: LETRS for Educators and LETRS for Administrators. Interested educators can join the Kentucky Reading Academies for the course that pertains to their role:
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LETRS for Educators Cohort 4: This course is recommended for K-5 teachers, interventionists, reading specialists, instructional coaches and anyone providing reading instruction or intervention supports to early readers.
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LETRS for Administrators Cohort 4: This course is recommended for instructional coaches who have completed LETRS for Educators, district leaders and building administrators.
More than 4,000 Kentucky educators and administrators are completing the LETRS professional learning. Participants in both cohorts have stated that LETRS is a comprehensive professional learning that is enlightening, eye opening and life changing.
Find out more about the Kentucky Reading Academies on the Kentucky Reading Academies webpage. More information about Cohort 4 of LETRS professional learning will be available soon.
For questions about the Kentucky Reading Academies, please email KDE Director of Early Literacy Christie Biggerstaff.
Call for Vendors: Join the KY Reads to Succeed Conference
The Kentucky Department of Education Division of Early Literacy announces the opportunity for vendors to participate in the upcoming KY Reads to Succeed Conference, scheduled to take place on June 13, 2025, at The Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. For this event focused on promoting literacy and educational excellence, we are seeking vendors whose products and services align with our mission to improve reading outcomes throughout our state.
The KY Reads to Succeed Conference provides a platform for vendors to showcase their offerings to a diverse audience of educators and administrators. This is an opportunity to connect with education professionals, demonstrate the value of your products/services and contribute to the advancement of literacy initiatives in Kentucky.
2025 Submission for Vendor Applications
ICYMI: Keynote Speaker Announced for Kentucky’s Read to Succeed Summer Conference
 The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) Division of Early Literacy invites you to the second annual Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference on June 13, 2025, at The Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky.
Keynote speaker and educational consultant to state departments and school districts on explicit instruction and literacy, Dr. Anita Archer has presented in all 50 states, all US territories, and many countries, including Australia and Canada, and has received ten awards honoring her educational contributions. Dr. Archer has served on the faculties of three universities, including the University of Washington, the University of Oregon, and San Diego State University. She is nationally known for her professional learning, and she has co-authored numerous curriculum materials and a best-selling textbook addressing reading and writing.
The conference, which will require registration but will be FREE to Kentucky K-12 public educators, will offer focused learning pathways to meet the needs of teachers and administrators. Attendees will learn from KDE Office of Teaching and Learning consultants and partners about:
- Evidence-based instructional shifts for literacy;
- The benefits of structured literacy;
- Why high-quality instructional resources matter; and
- Available resources for implementing the Read to Succeed Act.
Mark your calendar for this June 13 event, and please stay tuned for registration information coming soon.
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