A Parent of One of Your First-Grade Students Writes You

question 5

Essay

A parent of one of your first-grade students writes you the following email:
Dear Brian's Teacher,
I am worried about Brian's ability to learn to read because he tells me that he does not practice flash cards in school too much. I thought that being able to read sight words was the most important goal in teaching beginning readers.  I remember spending lots of time when I was in school practicing sight words on flash cards. Why is this no longer happening in first grade?
Sincerely,
Mrs. Martin  
Write a response to Mrs. Martin to explain your philosophy about teaching sight words. Be sure to include a theory or research study in your reply.

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Definitions:

Saliva

A watery secretion in the mouths of animals, produced by the salivary glands, which aids in digestion and oral hygiene.

Propulsive Movements

Bodily movements that drive or push something forward, typically referring to the contractions in the digestive tract moving food along.

Peristalsis

Rhythmic waves of muscular contraction and relaxation in the walls of hollow tubular organs, such as the ureter or parts of the digestive tract, that serve to move the contents through the tube.

Digestive Tract

The series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus, through which food is digested and nutrients absorbed.