51. Rethinking Sight Words with Pryor Rayburn, Orton Gillingham Mama

In this episode of Literacy in Color, Michelle sits down with THE Orton Gillingham Mama, Pryor Rayburn to take a deep dive into the hot-button world of sight words and high-frequency word instruction.

Pryor busts through common myths, clears up confusing terminology, and explores brain-based practices for teaching high frequency words through the lens of orthographic mapping. Whether you’ve relied on word lists, flashcards, or shape-based strategies in the past, this conversation will help you rethink your approach with evidence and intention.

Key Takeaways:

  • What sight words, high-frequency words, heart words, and red words really mean
  • Why memorization isn’t the goal—and how orthographic mapping is the key
  • How to move beyond visual memory and shape-based cues
  • The missing pieces in popular “heart word” methods—and how to fix them
  • How to anchor meaning, teach irregular spellings, and bring context to every word
  • Classroom-ready routines and tweaks for kinder through upper elementary

Resources Mentioned:

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