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Sight words list
Word list sight word worksheet, All 220 Dolch service words · 3 pages
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Sight words are the very common words a reader should know instantly, without sounding out: the, said, was, of, could. Many of them break the usual phonics rules, and together they make up a large share of everything kids read. This printable shows all 220 Dolch service words in order, from the 40 pre-primer words through the 41 third grade words, with a check circle beside each one.
Use the list as a quick check: point to each word and give your child about three seconds. Check the ones read instantly, then practice the rest a few at a time with the worksheets and flash cards below. If your school uses Fry's Instant Words instead, the first 100 Fry words cover most of the same ground in frequency order.
Tips for using it
- Check off words over several short sessions instead of reading all 220 in one sitting.
- Words with tricky spellings (said, was, of, one) need the most practice. Mark them and make a custom worksheet.
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What are sight words?
Sight words are high-frequency words that readers recognize instantly. Some can't be sounded out with beginning phonics (said, of, one), and others are decodable but so common that kids need to know them automatically to read smoothly.
How many sight words are there?
There is no single official number. The Dolch list has 220 service words plus 95 nouns, and Fry's Instant Words list has 1,000 words. Most schools focus on the Dolch words or the first 100 to 300 Fry words in kindergarten through 2nd grade.
What is the difference between Dolch and Fry sight words?
Dolch (1936, published in his 1948 book) is 220 service words grouped by grade level plus 95 nouns, drawn from children's books of his time. Fry (updated in 1980) ranks 1,000 words by how often they appear in reading material, in groups of 100. About half the Dolch words are in Fry's first 100.