Understanding and mastering kindergarten sight words can significantly enhance reading comprehension and fluency. Therefore, parents and caregivers can support their child’s literacy development by teaching sight words to kindergarteners at home.
Want to give your kindergartener an advantage in literacy skills? In this guide, we will discuss kindergarten sight words and why they’re important. We will also share some practical (and fun) tips for teaching sight words to kindergarteners. Most importantly, we’ll explore a comprehensive kindergarten sight word list, including both the Dolch and Fry sight word lists - so you know exactly which sight words kindergarteners should know!
Are you ready to explore the world of kindergarten sight words and discover how they can transform your child’s early reading experience? Here we go!
Do you have a preschooler at home? Check out our Guide to Preschool Sight Words to discover which words your preschooler should know and how to teach these words at home.
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What are sight words for kindergarten?
Why are sight words important in kindergarten?
How many sight words for kindergarten are there?
What are sight words for kindergarten?
Kindergarten sight words are specific words that kindergarten children should recognize by sight - without needing to sound out. These words are typically among the most frequently used in the English language and appear often in reading materials.
Why should children be able to recognize sight words “by sight”?
Many sight words cannot be decoded using traditional phonetic rules, so they are often challenging for beginners to sound out. Therefore, children are encouraged to learn to identify these words instantly so they can read more fluently.
Why are sight words important in kindergarten?
Learning to recognize sight words is important in kindergarten for several reasons, all of which relate to reading fluency, comprehension, and overall reading proficiency.
Firstly, the ability to identify kindergarten sight words “at first sight” helps children read more smoothly and quickly, without frequent pauses. This fluency allows them to focus on deciphering the meaning of the text rather than getting bogged down by decoding each word. Thus, fluent reading enables kids to understand a story better - and enjoy it more!
Secondly, knowing sight words by sight can help boost a child's reading confidence. How? As they master these high-frequency words, they will experience a sense of achievement. This sense of accomplishment can help foster a love for reading and motivate your child to tackle more challenging texts.
Above all, kindergarten sight words are building blocks for more advanced reading skills. By effortlessly recognizing these words, kids can allocate more cognitive resources to decoding less familiar words and understanding the context and meaning of more complex stories.
How many sight words for kindergarten are there?
Widely recognized sight word lists, such as the Dolch Sight Words list and the Fry Sight Words list, recommend that children know around 40-50 sight words by the end of kindergarten.
That said, the number of sight words for kindergarten can vary depending on the list or educational approach used. In addition, each child is different and learns at a different pace. Thus, this number is not set in stone. Some children may recognize less than 40 sight words by the end of kindergarten, and some may remember more than 100—this number will not make or break their ultimate reading success.
So, what sight words should a kindergartener know? Here’s a comprehensive list.
Kindergarten Sight Words List
There are two widely recognized sight word lists - the Dolch Sight Words List and the Fry Sight Words List. These lists include hundreds of words! So, to help you identify which words your kindergartener should know, our educators have compiled a complete list of sight words for kindergarten.
Want to know more about the Dolch and Fry sight word lists, where these lists came from, and how many words are on each list? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Sight Words.
Dolch Kindergarten Sight Words List
The Dolch list focuses on the most common words in children's literature and includes a 52-word subset specifically tailored for kindergarteners. These words appear frequently in children's books for kindergarten, making them critical for reading fluency.
Here are the Dolch sight words recommended for kindergarteners:
- all
- am
- are
- at
- ate
- be
- black
- brown
- but
- came
- did
- do
- eat
- four
- get
- good
- have
- he
- into
- like
- must
- new
- no
- now
- on
- our
- out
- please
- pretty
- ran
- ride
- saw
- say
- she
- so
- soon
- that
- there
- they
- this
- too
- under
- want
- was
- well
- went
- what
- white
- who
- will
- with
- yes
Fry List of Sight Words for Kindergarten
The Fry Sight Words list contains 1,000 high-frequency words divided into groups of 100. The focus for kindergarteners is usually on the first 50 - 100 words. These words are selected based on their frequency in written English and are crucial for building reading skills at the kindergarten level.
Here are the Fry sight words recommended for kindergarteners:
- the
- of
- and
- a
- to
- in
- is
- you
- that
- it
- he
- was
- for
- on
- are
- as
- with
- his
- they
- I
- at
- be
- this
- have
- from
- or
- one
- had
- by
- words
- but
- not
- what
- all
- were
- we
- when
- your
- can
- said
- there
- use
- an
- each
- which
- she
- do
- how
- their
- if
- will
- up
- other
- about
- out
- many
- then
- them
- these
- so
- some
- her
- would
- make
- like
- him
- into
- time
- has
- look
- two
- more
- write
- go
- see
- number
- no
- way
- could
- people
- my
- than
- first
- water
- been
- called
- who
- am
- its
- now
- find
- long
- down
- day
- did
- get
- come
- made
- may
- part
Complete Kindergarten Sight Word List
The following is a combined list of kindergarten sight words that incorporates all the words from the Dolch and Fry lists. This comprehensive list provides a well-rounded set of words for kindergarteners to learn. So, be sure to use this kindergarten sight word list at home when practicing sight words with your child!
- a
- about
- all
- am
- an
- and
- are
- as
- at
- ate
- be
- been
- black
- brown
- but
- by
- called
- came
- can
- come
- could
- day
- did
- do
- down
- each
- eat
- find
- first
- for
- four
- from
- get
- go
- good
- had
- has
- have
- he
- her
- him
- his
- how
- I
- if
- in
- into
- is
- it
- its
- like
- long
- look
- made
- make
- many
- may
- more
- must
- my
- new
- no
- not
- now
- number
- of
- on
- one
- or
- other
- our
- out
- part
- people
- please
- pretty
- ran
- ride
- said
- saw
- say
- see
- she
- so
- some
- soon
- than
- that
- the
- their
- them
- then
- there
- these
- they
- this
- time
- to
- too
- two
- under
- up
- use
- want
- was
- water
- way
- we
- well
- went
- were
- what
- when
- which
- white
- who
- will
- with
- words
- would
- write
- yes
- you
- your
Ready to start practicing these kindergarten sight words at home with your child? Let’s explore some practical (and fun) ways to teach sight words to kindergarteners!
How to Teach Sight Words to Kindergarten Kids
Teaching sight words for kindergarten requires a combination of engaging strategies and consistent practice. By incorporating various methods, parents and caretakers can help young learners master these essential words.
Here are some effective and fun ways to teach sight words to kindergarteners.
Flash Cards
Flash cards are a classic and highly effective tool for teaching sight words. They provide a visual aid that helps children recognize and remember words quickly.
Here are some tips for making flashcard practice fun and engaging for kindergarteners.
- Use colorful flashcards to make practice more exciting
- Add pictures to help reinforce memory by linking the word to its meaning
- Turn flashcard practice into a game by timing how quickly your child can identify the words
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Many studies have shown that flashcards are effective for teaching sight words, as they enhance memory through repetition. However, one criticism of flashcards is that they present words in isolation, without context. This can make it harder for children to understand how to use the words in sentences or recognize them in different contexts. Flashcards also emphasize rote learning, meaning children do not develop a deeper understanding of the words. Therefore, parents and caregivers should use flashcards in conjunction with other teaching methods, such as interactive reading and games, that provide context.
Sight Words Games
Games are another excellent way to make learning sight words for kindergarten fun and interactive.
Here are some simple game ideas.
- Sight Word Bingo - Create bingo cards with sight words. Then, call out words using your deck of kindergarten sight word flashcards. Have players mark the words on their cards and aim to complete a row or column.
- Word Hunt - Hide sight word flashcards around the room and have your children find and read each word aloud as they discover them.
- Memory Match - Create pairs of sight word cards and play a memory-matching game. Turn over two cards at a time and try to find matching pairs.
Worksheets
Worksheets are a valuable resource for teaching sight words. They provide structured practice and are fun and easy to use at home.
Some of the best types of worksheets for teaching kindergarten sight words include:
- Word tracing
- Word searches
- Sentence completion
Kindergarten Sight Words Decoration
Decorating your child’s bedroom or play area with sight words can provide constant visual reinforcement. Plus, fun and colorful decorations can make any space more inviting.
Here are some sight word decoration ideas.
- Word wall - Create colorful sight word cards and put them on a home wall.
- Themed decorations - Pick a theme that interests your child (e.g., animals, superheroes, fairy tales) and use this theme to create sight word posters and displays.
- Interactive charts - Create a chart with a list of kindergarten sight words and have your child add stars or stickers each time they master a new word.
Sight Word Books for Kindergarten
Books that focus on sight words for kindergarten are a fantastic resource for helping children learn to recognize and read these words in context.
Here are some ways to ensure you are using sight word books effectively.
- Choose the right books - Look for books that are designed for kindergarteners and incorporate sight words in simple, repetitive text. This helps children recognize and remember the words through repeated exposure.
Want to know more about choosing the right books for your child? Check out these reading resources for parents:
- What Makes a Good Children's Book
- Finding a Just Right Book
- Read together - Spend time reading sight word books with your child, pointing out and reading the sight words together. This shared activity reinforces word recognition and makes reading a fun and bonding experience.
If you don’t have time to read with your child every day, you’re not alone. It can be challenging to find the time when life is so busy. But there’s an easy solution! Read aloud books for kindergarten kids allow your child to follow along with the words as they listen to a professional narrator read the story out loud. These books are the perfect solution for days when you don’t have the time.
- Encourage independent reading - As children become more familiar with kindergarten sight words, encourage them to read sight word books on their own. Provide a variety of books that include the sight words they are learning.
Tips and Tricks for Parents
Below are some of our favorite tips and tricks for teaching sight words to kindergarteners at home.
Consistency is key, so encourage daily practice, but keep sessions short (around 10 - 15 minutes).
- Use a multisensory approach to make learning more fun and memorable. For example, use a combination of visual flashcards, auditory reading activities, and other activities that involve movement, like word hunts.
- Personalize at-home learning activities to suit your child's interests and learning style. For example, if your child loves animals, play animal-themed sight word games.
- Use technology, like reading apps, online games, and videos, to make learning more interactive.
The Role of Technology
Technology is a valuable tool for teaching kindergarten sight words. Educational and reading apps for kids and other digital platforms offer an interactive and engaging learning experience. Additionally, technology makes learning sight words accessible anytime and anywhere. Digital resources can be used at home or on the go, fitting seamlessly into busy schedules.
One of the best interactive tools for teaching sight words for kindergarten is digital and read aloud books. These books combine text with visual and audio elements, catering to various learning styles and enhancing comprehension and retention.
Teach Kindergarten Sight Word Practice with Booka
Are you looking for a tool to help you teach kindergarten sight words at home? Countless parents and caregivers worldwide use Booka to make sight word learning fun and easy.
With a vast library of books for kindergarteners, Booka makes it simple for young readers to practice sight words in context - for better memory and recognition.
Best of all, Booka’s Read To Me feature allows kindergarteners to follow along with the words in a story while a professional narrator reads aloud. So, even when you don’t have the time to read with your child, they can still get the practice they need to become a proficient reader!
Download Booka today to see why parents and kids love the Booka reading app!