Nov 19, 2026

Please join us with guest host Anshu Sharma from Edmonton Catholic School District LINC Program on Thursday, November 19th at 4 PM (Alberta Time).

Teaching sight words is often associated with memorization and repetition, but how can we help learners move beyond simply remembering words to using them confidently in real-life situations?

In this interactive session, we will explore a practical, meaning-based approach to sight word instruction, drawing on classroom experiences and examining how learners develop connections among a word’s spelling, pronunciation, and meaning through a sequence of engaging, low-prep activities.

Drawing on classroom examples and authentic learning materials, this session will demonstrate how activities such as noticing, listening, speaking, reading, writing, and meaningful language use can support word recognition, retention, and transfer. By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical ideas and ready-to-use strategies for teaching sight words in literacy and low-level ESL/LINC classrooms.

Discussion Questions:

Participants will have opportunities to discuss the following questions during breakout sessions:

1. What strategies do you currently use to teach sight words, and what has worked well for your learners?
2. How do you make sight word learning easier and more meaningful for learners who struggle with it?
3. How can sight word instruction be connected to authentic tasks and real-life language use?

Please email DonnaClarke@Immigrant-Education.ca for the Zoom link.

ATEAL Chapter: Provincial