Effective literacy requires children to master both the phonics basis of written language and words learnt by ‘sight’. Analysis of written texts has identified the most commonly used words, many of which have irregular pronunciations and cannot be simply ‘sounded out’ with phonics. The Wonder Words* make up just over half of all words used in reading:• The Top 12 account for 25%.

Learn these first.

• Add the Super 20 and your child can read 33% of written texts.

• Complete the full Wonder Word 100 list and your child can read an amazing 50% of words used in reading.

Wonder Word Tips: • Avoid the temptation to speed

through the list. Introduce new words gradually, only 3-4 new words each time. Practice known words regularly.

• Get children to point out known words in the stories of My Reading Record and other texts.

• Download the Wonder Word Incentive Charts from: www.cathfamily.org/wonderwords and let your child place stickers on those words she/he mastered.

*Wonder Words are compiled from several sources.

© 2015 Cathfamily.org Exceprt from My Reading Record published annually by Livingwell Media. Used with Permission. This handout is one of a series of information sheets designed to help parents be the primary educators of their chidlren. It may be reproduced for personal and non-commercial purposes.www.cathfamily.org www.livingwellmedia.com.au

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Wonder Words

Top 12

Super 20

Incredible 68 an we go my no so if do up did all can she see him her two

has now out way may day use how who any new were your when word said what

like each their time will down side been find many then them come most over know long

make look more than call part other about which there would write these thing could water first

for on are with as

I his they be at

one have this from or

had by not but some

the of to

and a in

is it you

that he was

� I

� me

� my

� mine

� you

� your

� yours

� he

� his

� him

� she

� her

� it

� its

� we

� our

� us

� they

� their

� them

� a

� an

� the

� that

� this

� these

� who

� what

� when

� how

� where

� which

� why

� so

� and

� if

� or

� but

� yet

� because

� even

� as

� to

� not

� also

� other

� than

� just

� may

� at

� in

� of

� from

� by

� up

� with

� on

� for

� into

� over

� after

� down

� about

� out

� yes

� no

� now

� then

� can

� could

� will

� would

� only

� many

� each

� any

� every

� more

� most

� none

� some

� all

� here

� there

� am

� is

� was

� are

� were

� be

� been

� has

� have

� had

� do

� does

� did

� say

� says

� said

� get

� got

� go

� goes

� gone

� want

� make

� made

� know

� knew

� take

� took

� see

� saw

� come

� came

� think

� thought

� look

� give

� gave

� use

� used

� find

� found

� tell

� told

� ask

� time

� person

� people

� way

� thing

� man

� men

� world

� life

� hand

� part

� child

� children

� eye

� woman

� women

� place

� school

� word

� water

� way

� good

� bad

� large

� little

� great

� small

� big

� old

� young

� different

� same

� right

� high

� early

� next

� few

� new

� important

� own

� other

� long

� short

� zero

� one

� first

� two

� second

� three

� third

� four

� fourth

� five

� six

� seven

� eight

� nine

� ten

� last

� day

� week

� year

� yesterday

� today

� tomorrow

� Monday

� Tuesday

� Wednesday

� Thursday

� Friday

� Saturday

� Sunday

© 2015 Cathfamily.org Exceprt from My Reading Record published annually by Livingwell Media. Used with Permission. This handout is one of a series of information sheets designed to help parents be the primary educators of their chidlren. It may be reproduced for personal and non-commercial purposes.www.cathfamily.org www.livingwellmedia.com.au

.orgMaking the home the heart of the Church