In this video, children learn a visualization strategy to help them recognize common words found in the Nap on a Mat book.

These are known as high-frequency words, sometimes called sight words, words that children should be able to recognize instantly, without sounding them out.

Some high-frequency words include irregular spellings (e.g., the) that don’t follow typical phonics rules, so it’s important for kids to memorize them by sight.

Have your child watch the video, or continue to the next slide to guide them through the activity yourself.

1. Say
   Let’s review some words you will read in the book, Nap on a Mat.
2. Point to the word as you Say
   This word says on.
   I see the letters o–n spell on.
   Close your eyes and picture the letters o-n.
   Say each sound slowly /ŏ/ /n/.
   
3. Read the word together: Say
   Let’s read it together: on.

1. Say
   Let’s do another word.
2. Point to the word as you Say
   This word says no.
   I see the letters n–o spell no.
   Close your eyes and picture the letters n-o.
   Say each sound slowly /n/ /ō/.
   
3. Read the word together: Say
   Let’s read it together: no.

1. Say
   Let’s do another word.
2. Point to the word as you Say
   This word says oh.
   I see the letters o–h spell oh.
   Close your eyes and picture the letters o-h.
   I only hear the sound for o. The h is silent.
   
3. Read the word together: Say
   Let’s read it together: oh.

1. Say
   Let’s do another word.
2. Point to the word as you Say
   This word says the.
   I see the letters t-h-e spell the.
   Close your eyes and picture the letters t-h-e.
3. Read the word together: Say
   Let’s read it together: the.

1. Say
   Let’s do another word.
2. Point to the word as you Say
   This word says is.
   I see the letters i–s spell is.
   Close your eyes and picture the letters i-s.
   I hear the vowel sound /ĭ/ in is.
3. Read the word together: Say
   Let’s read it together: is.
4. Say
   Now let’s practice reading these words in context.
5. Push next to continue

1. Say
   Look at the sentence. How do you know this is a question?
   (There is a question mark at the end.)
2. Point to the question mark and Say
   By looking at the punctuation at the end of sentence, we can tell whether it’s a question or not. I see a question mark here, so it is a question. 
3. Point to the picture of a dog and Ask
   What animal do you see in the picture?
   (dog)
4. Say
   I’m going to read the question.
5. Point to each word and the picture as you Read
   Where is the dog?
6. Read the question together
   Where is the dog?

1. Say
   Let’s answer the question.
2. Point to the picture and Ask
   Where is the dog in the picture?
   (on the mat)
3. Point to each word and the picture as you Read
   The dog is on the mat.
4. Read the sentence together
   The dog is on the mat.

1. Point to the picture of a cat and Ask
   What animal do you see in the picture?
   (cat)
2. Say
   I am going to read the question. 
3. Point to each word and the picture as you Read
   Where is the cat?
4. Read the question together
   Where is the cat?

1. Say
   Let’s answer the question.
2. Point to the picture and Ask
   Where is the cat in the picture?
   (on the dog)
3. Point to each word and the pictures as you Read
   The cat is on the dog.
4. Read the sentence together
   The cat is on the dog.

1. Point to the picture of a rat and Ask
   What animal do you see in the picture?
   (rat)
2. Say
   I am going to read the question. 
3. Point to each word and the picture as you Read
   Where is the rat?
4. Read the question together
   Where is the rat?

1. Say
   Let’s answer the question.
2. Point to the picture and Ask
   Where is the rat in the picture?
   (on the cat)
3. Point to each word and the pictures as you Read
   The rat is on the cat.
4. Read the sentence together
   The rat is on the cat.

1. Point to the picture of a bug and Ask
   What animal do you see in the picture?
   (bug)
2. Say
   I am going to read the question. 
3. Point to each word and the picture as you Read
   Where is the bug?
4. Read the question together
   Where is the bug?

1. Say
   Let’s answer the question.
2. Point to the picture and Ask
   Where is the bug in the picture?
   (on the rat)
3. Point to each word and the pictures as you Read
   The bug is on the rat.
4. Read the sentence together
   The bug is on the rat.

1. Point to the picture of an elephant and Ask
   What animal do you see in the picture?
   (elephant)
2. Say
   I am going to read the question. 
3. Point to each word and the picture as you Read
   Where is the elephant?
4. Read the question together
   Where is the elephant?

1. Point to the picture and Ask
   Where is the elephant in the picture?
   (outside the house, by the window)
2. Ask
   What is happening inside?
   (Animals are napping together. There is a napping pile of them.)
3. Ask
   Can the elephant join in the napping pile?
   (No)
4. Ask
   Why do you think so?
   (Because it is too big.)
5. Say
   In a situation like this, we can say “Oh no!”. 
6. Say
   Let’s say it with an expression: Oh no!
   (Oh no!)