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:

• Pryor’s Free Sight Words Quiz
• Pryor’s Sight Words Course: How to Quickly Teach (and Master) Sight Words

Connect with Pryor Rayburn:

• Website: www.OrtonGillinghamMama.com
• Instagram: @OrtonGillinghamMama
• Email: Pryor@OrtonGillinghamMama

Connect with Me:

• Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
• Join our Facebook Community
• Sign up for my Newsletter
• Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom
• Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com
• Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership

Interested in Learning More about Morphology?

• Take our Course: Mastering Morphology: Foundations for Every Educator