We all know that being able to read is important, but where do we start? First grade sight words! Sight words in first grade appear frequently in the English Language. They are words like it, are, and, the, an, her, etc., and are very commonly used in literature, poetry, and informational texts. Sight words in the first grade are:
Sight words or sight vocabulary are words that kids begin to recognize by sight before they learn about phoneme blends and phonics. So, sight words are hugely important for creating proficient and fluent children. But how do we help our children learn sight words in the first grade? Carry on reading, and we'll give you some first-grade Dolch sight words, common core early reader sight words, plenty of tips and tricks, and meaningful, fun activities to encourage your readers on their reading journeys!
By teaching first-grade sight words to kids, we allow them to discover new sets of words, improve their vocabulary, and develop their communication skills. The Dolch first-grade sight lists are common words created by Edward William Dolch in 1936 that frequently appeared in children's books at the time, and now they are used to teach first-grade readers high-frequency words without forced memorization. You can use this sight word list for first graders in many ways, so check out our fun game and activity ideas to inspire and engage your children's vocabulary development. We also have an interactive page full of flashcards and drag-and-drop games to try.
According to Dolch, here are some of the most common first-grade sight words.
after | walk | again |
just | the | said |
of | an | any |
know | were | then |
when | stop | some |
every | his | her |
him | how | when |
think | live | once |
from | take | many |
fly | as | give |
thank | how | yes |
over | open | ask |
old | round | may |
Here is a list of common colors for first graders to help them read and identify colors.
white | red | blue |
purple | green | yellow |
orange | pink | black |
Not sure how to help children learn sight words with simple sentences? Here are some simple sentences using Dolch sight words suitable for first-grade learners. You can use them in small reading groups or at home to improve your children's sight word fluency.
Flip the flashcard for more example sentences using the first-grade Dolch sight words.
The other word list to familiarize yourself with is the updated Common Core Standards sight word list. These are high-frequency words that children will see in newspapers, books, online, and in articles and help children achieve the CCSS RF.1.3a, CCSS RF.1.3b, and CCSS RF.1.3c. They are also a more modern and updated version of the Dolch and Fry first-grade sight word lists and adhere to the common core standards. They use a combination of Dolch and Fry word lists, but be aware that different states use slightly different state curricula, so check first. Here are some examples.
old | by | after |
going | stop | may |
fly | round | children |
walk | again | thank |
would | sheep | farmer |
letter | box | open |
feet | shoe | time |
flower | very | bird |
Learning to read is an important life skill, and starting early with word recognition through high-frequency words for first graders will help their reading fluency and comprehension in the long term. Sight word lists are also a great resource to have on hand for struggling readers, foreign language learners, and English as additional language learners. Mastering them and building proficient children can be difficult, though, especially if your child or student lacks confidence, so here are some tips.
Check out our frequently asked questions regarding sight words for first graders.
What are sight words?
Why are sight words important to learn?
When should you start teaching sight words?
What are the differences between sight words and phonics?
Which comes first, sight words or phonics?
How many sight words should a first-grader know?