What Are Heart Words? Why They’re So Important for Beginning Readers
If you’re teaching your child to read, you’ve probably heard of sight words — those short, common words kids need to recognize instantly. But did you know that many sight words are called Heart Words?
What Are Heart Words?
Heart Words are the words kids need to know by heart — because they don’t always follow regular phonics rules. For example, said and was don’t sound exactly how they’re spelled, so we teach kids to remember the tricky parts “by heart.”
These words pop up all the time in early readers, so it’s super helpful for kids to recognize them right away instead of stopping to sound them out every time.
Why Practice Heart Words Daily?
Practicing Heart Words every day helps your child:
Read smoothly and quickly
Understand what they’re reading without getting stuck
Build confidence as a reader
Enjoy books more!
A few minutes each day can make a big difference.
How to Practice Heart Words at Home
Use flashcards (like our Heart Words Flashcards) for quick daily practice.
Play games like Heart Word Bingo or Memory Match.
Point out Heart Words when reading books together.
Write them on sticky notes and place them around the house for fun practice!
Ready to Get Started?
If you’d like a simple tool to practice Heart Words, check out my Heart Words Flashcards Bundle — perfect for daily use at home!
Happy reading, and remember: your child’s confidence grows with every word they learn by heart!
