There are many different sight word lists or high frequency word lists out there! For example, you may have heard of the Dolch list or the Fry list. Or perhaps your school or child's school uses an entirely different list.

The purpose of a high frequency word list is to specify words that will help young children learn to read and write. The words on the list are usually chosen because they appear frequently in beginning books. 

We want these words to eventually become sight words for students, meaning that they recognize them instantly, by sight.

To learn how to effectively teach high frequency words, check out this video:

 There is certainly no single "perfect" sight word list. However, if you need a list, please find Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade sight word lists below.

These words were chosen based upon their frequency of occurrence in beginning books, as well as what we've found to be developmentally appropriate and useful for students. They come from the From Sounds to Spelling phonics program, and we expect students to both read AND spell these words.

Early Kindergarten Sight Word List

a

I

we

see

look

at

the

like

can

my

you

he

she

go

is

and

to

Mid to Late Kindergarten Sight Word List

so

do

an

am

on

no

it

in

up

are

for

me

come

yes

play

Early 1st Grade Sight Word List

that

then

if

but

as

of

them

with

will

all

her

us

did

get

was

his

from

be

Mid to Late 1st Grade Sight Word List

they

back

each

first

want

this

have

jump

little

went

by

what

were

when

your

going

called

has

boy

girl

him

said

there

put

or

more

other

here

now

down

out

about

make

made

came

time

write

read

saw

one

use

some

yes

here

these

would

could

away

may

day

way

eat

because

been

than

too

two

who

find

very

many

off

Early 2nd Grade Sight Word List

four

into

our

thing

both

almost

kind

most

old

their

they’re

give

anything

any

only

sky

try

also

week

after

does

small

long

well

part

think

land

good

Mid to Late 2nd Grade Sight Word List

today

change

year

city

live

right

know

follow

show

move

new

place

over

under

able

which

something

people

across

again

another

animal

become

before

behind

air

large

letter

number

learn

different

door

world

work

picture

around

found

house

sound

thought

through

great

means

room

school

Phonics programs can help you organize and implement effective sight word instruction.

For more help with teaching sight words and phonics to Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade students, read about the From Sounds to Spelling phonics program at this link.