MORE WALLS: The Jiffy Words

Search & Say Exercises

Here are drills for 200 of the most common words in English.
Just about anything we read is loaded with these common, often rule-breaking words.

Repetition is the key.

'Authentic reasons' to repeat.

The Jiffy Word Search & Say Exercises.

Students need to name these words ‘in a jiffy.’ Repetition is the key.

The Search & Say exercises are one way to rehearse Rapid-Accurate Naming for Jiffy Words.

Other options are:

1. Drill games with flash cards.
2. Do have your student read, re-read, and re-re-read, familiar text. (It will be loaded with Jiffy Words.) Once your student can read a selection smoothly, seven times is not too many times to re-read it.

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Children may be more willing to re-read text which they already know how to read well, if there is some 'authentic reason' to do it. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Have your student read the text to Dad, to little brother, to the dog. Call Grandma and read it to her over the phone.
3. Have your student read it into a tape recorder. Record it in a low voice; a high voice.
4. Have your student read it into a voice-changing device. I have a toy 'microphone' that adds a tinny, echo-y quality.

5. Get out a stopwatch, and have your student read a selection as you time him/her. Let your student 'warm up' first; then time the selection two or more times.

(Add one second to the time for each stumble or boo-boo, to encourage accurate practice.)

Write down the day's 'personal best' time at the bottom of the selection. (You can use a sticky note.)

Next day: Let your student re-read one or more times--can he beat yesterday's 'personal best' time?

6. Have your student read the text to you so that you can type it into the computer. Then . . .

7. Print it out in a new color, or a new font. Have your student read the new 'version.'

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The Jiffy Word
Search & Say Exercises

Search & Say exercises are not a 'reading method,' but a tool for successful rehearsal.

Like any tools, Search & Say Exercises depend on your ability to use them correctly.

Be sure to read the MORE WALLS section, 'About Jiffy Words' and 'Introducing the Search & Say Exercise,' before you use these exercises.

Make sure your child • Points to the word and •Says the word on each line of the exercise.

Remember:

• Choose a word, below, from your student's current story.
• Make it fun for your student to practice accurately.
• Add to your student's Jiffy Word 'collection' at the pace of the student's success.

These PDF Search & Say pages will open with Acrobat Reader.

Complete Jiffy Word list in PDF format.

Jiffy Word Exercises in PDF format:

a / plain a about after again against all also always am / plain a an and/plain a another any are /plain a around as ask at ate away back be being because been before best better between big both but buy by came can come could course day did do does done don’t down each eight enough even

every far fast few first for found full get great go goes good got had has have he her here high him his how I if in into is it it's / its just kind know last laugh life light like little live long look made make man many may

me men might more most Mr. Mrs. much must my never new night no not nothing now of off old on one only or other our out over own people play put read right said same saw say school see she should since small so some still stop such take

thank than that the their them then there they thing think this those though thought three through time to today told too try two under up upon us very walk want was we well were what when where which while who will with work would write year years yes you your

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