Dolch sight words
Dolch sight words are the small, high-frequency words that appear again and again in early readers, such as the, said, and they. Many cannot be sounded out letter by letter, so children build automatic recognition through repeated practice.
Pre-kindergarten
The pre-kindergarten Dolch list introduces the earliest sight words children hear in read-alouds, songs, and classroom routines, before formal reading instruction begins. Familiarity with these words gives young learners a head start when they start connecting print to meaning.
| and | away |
| big | blue |
| can | come |
| down | find |
| for | funny |
| go | help |
| here | in |
| is | it |
| jump | little |
| look | make |
| me | my |
| not | one |
| play | red |
| run | said |
| see | the |
| three | to |
| two | up |
| we | where |
| yellow | you |
Kindergarten
The kindergarten Dolch list covers the sight words children meet in their first year of reading, in classroom stories, homework, and beginning books. Practicing this list builds a foundation before harder texts add longer and less predictable words.
| all | am |
| are | at |
| ate | be |
| black | brown |
| but | came |
| did | do |
| eat | four |
| get | good |
| have | he |
| into | like |
| must | new |
| no | now |
| our | out |
| please | pretty |
| ride | saw |
| say | she |
| so | soon |
| that | there |
| too | under |
| want | was |
| well | went |
| what | white |
| who | will |
| with | yes |
First grade
The first-grade list adds words children encounter as texts grow longer and sentences become more varied. Short, focused practice on this list helps readers recognize common words on sight instead of stopping to puzzle out each one.
| after | again |
| an | any |
| as | ask |
| by | could |
| every | fly |
| from | give |
| going | had |
| has | her |
| him | his |
| just | know |
| let | like |
| live | may |
| of | old |
| open | over |
| put | round |
| sing | some |
| stop | take |
| thank | them |
| then | think |
| walk | were |
| when |
Second grade
The second-grade Dolch list rounds out the core sight-word set for early elementary reading. Learners who know these words can follow chapter books and classroom passages with more confidence and less frustration.
| always | around |
| because | been |
| before | best |
| both | buy |
| call | clean |
| cold | does |
| don't | fast |
| first | five |
| found | gave |
| goes | green |
| its | made |
| many | off |
| or | pull |
| read | right |
| sit | sleep |
| their | those |
| together | us |
| use | very |
| wash | which |
| why | wish |
| work | would |
| write | your |
Third grade
The third-grade Dolch list adds more challenging sight words that appear in upper elementary texts. Practicing this list helps fluent readers keep pace with longer passages and less familiar vocabulary.
| about | bring |
| carry | cut |
| done | draw |
| drink | eight |
| fall | far |
| full | got |
| grow | hold |
| hot | hurt |
| if | keep |
| kind | laugh |
| light | long |
| much | never |
| only | own |
| pick | seven |
| shall | show |
| small | start |
| ten | today |
| try | upon |
| warm |