Sight words are common words that are found in everyday print; they make up over 50% of all written material. There are many sight word lists circulating today. The most prominent lists were published separately by two PhD’s, Dolch and Fry.
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Dolch’s sight word list contains 220 service words. He categorized these words into the following five groups: pre-primer, primer, first, second and third. Dolch intentionally excluded nouns from this list. |
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Fry created a list containing the most common words in English. The first 100 words make up over 50% of all written material. His list contains 1,000 words, the table above includes the first 225. |
Sight Word List
The table below contains both Dolch and Fry’s sight word lists. This information was provided above in separate PDF files.
| Sight Word | Dolch (220 Sight Words) | Fry (Top 225 Instant Words) |
|---|---|---|
| a | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| about | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| add | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| after | Dolch 3: First | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| again | Dolch 3: First | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| air | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| all | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| also | na | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| always | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| am | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| America | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| an | Dolch 3: First | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| and | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| animal | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| another | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| answer | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| any | Dolch 3: First | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| are | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| around | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| as | Dolch 3: First | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| ask | Dolch 3: First | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| at | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| ate | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| away | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| back | na | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| be | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| because | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| been | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| before | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| below | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| best | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| better | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| between | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| big | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| black | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| blue | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | na |
| both | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| boy | na | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| bring | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| brown | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| but | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| buy | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| by | Dolch 3: First | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| call | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| came | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| can | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| carry | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| change | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| city | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| clean | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| cold | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| come | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| could | Dolch 3: First | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| country | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| cut | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| day | na | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| did | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| different | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| do | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| does | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| done | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| don't | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| down | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| draw | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| drink | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| each | na | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| earth | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| eat | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| eight | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| end | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| even | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| every | Dolch 3: First | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| eye | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| fall | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| far | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| farm | na | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| fast | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| father | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| find | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| first | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| five | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| fly | Dolch 3: First | na |
| follow | na | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| food | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| for | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| found | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| four | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| from | Dolch 3: First | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| full | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| funny | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | na |
| gave | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| get | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| give | Dolch 3: First | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| go | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| goes | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| going | Dolch 3: First | na |
| good | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| got | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| great | na | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| green | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| grow | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| had | Dolch 3: First | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| hand | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| has | Dolch 3: First | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| have | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| he | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| head | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| help | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| her | Dolch 3: First | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| here | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| high | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| him | Dolch 3: First | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| his | Dolch 3: First | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| hold | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| home | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| hot | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| house | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| how | Dolch 3: First | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| hurt | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| I | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| if | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| in | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| into | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| is | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| it | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| its | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| jump | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | na |
| just | Dolch 3: First | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| keep | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| kind | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| know | Dolch 3: First | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| land | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| large | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| last | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| laugh | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| learn | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| let | Dolch 3: First | na |
| letter | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| light | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| like | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| line | na | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| little | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| live | Dolch 3: First | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| long | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| look | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| made | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| make | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| man | na | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| many | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| may | Dolch 3: First | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| me | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| mean | na | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| men | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| more | na | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| most | na | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| mother | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| move | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| much | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| must | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| my | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| myself | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| name | na | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| near | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| need | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| never | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| new | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| no | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| not | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| now | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| number | na | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| of | Dolch 3: First | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| off | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| old | Dolch 3: First | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| on | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| once | Dolch 3: First | na |
| one | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| only | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| open | Dolch 3: First | na |
| or | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| other | na | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| our | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| out | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| over | Dolch 3: First | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| own | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| page | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| part | na | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| people | na | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| pick | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| picture | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| place | na | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| plant | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| play | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| please | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| point | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| pretty | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| pull | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| put | Dolch 3: First | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| ran | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| read | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| red | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | na |
| ride | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| right | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| round | Dolch 3: First | na |
| run | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | na |
| said | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| same | na | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| saw | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| say | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| school | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| see | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| sentence | na | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| set | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| seven | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| shall | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| she | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| should | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| show | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| sing | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| sit | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| six | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| sleep | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| small | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| so | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| some | Dolch 3: First | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| soon | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| sound | na | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| spell | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| start | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| still | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| stop | Dolch 3: First | na |
| story | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| study | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| such | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| take | Dolch 3: First | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| tell | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| ten | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| than | na | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| thank | Dolch 3: First | na |
| that | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| the | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| their | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| them | Dolch 3: First | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| then | Dolch 3: First | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| there | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| these | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| they | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| thing | na | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| think | Dolch 3: First | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| this | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| those | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| thought | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| three | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| through | na | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| time | na | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| to | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| today | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| together | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| too | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| tree | na | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| try | Dolch 5: Third | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| turn | na | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| two | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| under | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 9: Top 225 |
| up | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| upon | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| us | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| use | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| very | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| walk | Dolch 3: First | na |
| want | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| warm | Dolch 5: Third | na |
| was | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| wash | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| water | na | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| way | na | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| we | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| well | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| went | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| were | Dolch 3: First | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| what | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| when | Dolch 3: First | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| where | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 6: Top 150 |
| which | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| white | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| who | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 4: Top 100 |
| why | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 7: Top 175 |
| will | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| wish | Dolch 4: Second | na |
| with | Dolch 2: Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| word | na | Fry 2: Top 50 |
| work | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| world | na | Fry 8: Top 200 |
| would | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| write | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 3: Top 75 |
| year | na | Fry 5: Top 125 |
| yellow | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | na |
| yes | Dolch 2: Primer | na |
| you | Dolch 1: Pre-Primer | Fry 1: Top 25 |
| your | Dolch 4: Second | Fry 2: Top 50 |
Sight Word List
Another option is to contact your school to obtain a sight word list. If they do not have one readily available, consider using the lists below to assist your child in obtaining a sight word vocabulary.
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Kindergarten Sight Words
Our kindergarten curriculum identified 25 sight words that a child should automatically recognize by the end of kindergarten. They also provided additional words for a child who mastered the first list of sight words.
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First Grade Sight Words
By the end of first grade, a child should automatically recognize and correctly spell sight words.
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2nd Grade Sight Words
Sight words are no longer in vogue; the terminology changes from sight words to wall words. These words are typically displayed on a wall, students should spell these words correctly.
I work as a Nanny on an ad hoc basis and have one familie whose children watch sight words on TV. Being that I’m not ad advocate for using TV as a babysitter I decided to print out a list of words, bring my Scrabble Game with me tonight and see if I can get the boys interested.
For that reason I consulted your site and printed out words. Hopefully I will be able to teach them nouns and verbs, at least; being that the younger one is only 3, the other one 6, but has some difficulty concentrating. TV, for him, is an escape, and I would love to have him escape to a world of beautiful words.
This is very useful information. Thank you!
Thank you very much it helps me a lot in helping my children learn how to read.
This is very useful information. Thank you!
I have a son that is still having reading issues he has dyslexia so we are still working and due to schools being closed he has digressed backwards so I am starting fresh.