Every year, parents ask us what they can do to help their children be better readers. One of the most important things that parents can do is to help their kids learn the sight words. Experts tell us that the Dolch Sight Word lists contain 50% of all the words children will need to read on their grade level. The First Grade Dolch Sight Word list is divided into three different sections: Pre-primer, Primer, and First Grade. We try to make sure the first graders have mastered the Pre-primer list by the end of November. The goal for mastery of the Primer list is the end of February. The first grade list should be mastered by the end of May. Of course, these are just goals.  Children learn at different rates. Some first graders could go on to the second and third grade lists. We just use this timeline as a rough guide.  Here are the lists.

 

Pre-Primer Words

 Primer Words First Grade Words Second Grade Words Third Grade Lists
a all after always about
and am again around better
away are an because bring
big at any been carry
blue ate ask before clean
can be as best cut
come black by both done
down brown could buy draw
find but every call drink
for came fly cold eight
funny did from does fall
go do give don't far
help eat going fast full
here four had first got
I get has five grow
in good her found hold
is have him gave hot
it he his goes hurt
jump into how green if
little like just its keep
look must know made kind
make new let many laugh
me no live off light
my now may or long
not on of pull much
one our old read myself
play out once right never
red please open sing only
run pretty over sit own
said ran put sleep pick
see ride round tell seven
the saw some their shall
three say stop these show
to she take those six
two so thank upon small
up soon them us start
we that then use ten
where there think very today
yellow they walk wash together
you this were which try
  too when why warm
  under   wish  
  want   work  
  was   would  
  well   write  
  went   your  
  what      
  white      
  who      
  will      
  with      
  yes      

 

There are many things you can do to help your child learn these sight words. Here are a few suggestions.

1. Make flash card and use them during commercials of your favorite TV shows.

2. Give your child a highlighter and have him find the words in the newspaper.

3. Use magnetic letters to write them on your refrigerator.

4. Write them in colored glue.

5. Write them in sand.

The possibilities are endless.