Words a first grader should know

First Grade Sight Words List

Sight words are words that appear frequently in most of the text kids read, but can't easily be sounded out. Learning to recognize sight words through—you guessed it—sight is the easiest and quickest way for early readers to progress and become confident.

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These two tables list common sight words and cover not only words that first graders should recognize on sight by the end of the year, Table 2 includes words that they should be able to read, write and spell. So get crackin'!

Use these lists of common words to help children improve reading skills quickly by using the words in games. A sight words memory game is easy to make with paper and markers, or, make a hopping good time out of it with a physical word game that's good for outside and can be adapted to indoors.

Need more sight words practice? Download our sight words flashcards to help your child master over 100 new words.  

Learning sight words doesn't have to be all rote memorization. Our free online sight words games help make mastering new words fun, with silly interactive games full of themes and gameplay every kind of kid will love.

Check out our first grade resources page for more games, lesson plans, and worksheets that focus on literacy and word practice.

Next Article: 100 High-Frequency Words for Older Students

250+ Sight Words for First Graders That Kids Can Easily Learn

In Grade 1, children’s language skills develop rapidly. They learn to use more words and start putting them together to form simple sentences. As their vocabularies grow, they encounter more sight words. They are called ‘sight words’ because children should recognize and understand them as soon as they see them – without having to decode or use sounds to identify them. But what are they and which are the sight words for first graders?

What are Sight Words?

Sight Words for first graders are the most common words that children come across. They are usually short words, such as the, and, of, to, you, and I. These are high-frequency words that appear in any English text very often. Knowing these words helps children to improve their reading fluency and comprehension skills. It also hones their vocabulary development.

By the end of the first grade, children should know around 200 sight words – with spellings. The kids will often come across these words in the texts they read or speeches they hear. Creatively incorporating these sight words in different activities can help kids become better readers and writers. 

250 Most Common Sight Words for First Graders

Dr. Edward William Dolch, an educator, studied children’s books of his time and came up with 220 ‘service words’ that occurred most frequently in those books. He developed the list in the 1930s-40s and suggested the following sight words for 1^st graders: 

1. after	11. from	21. know	31. round
2. again	12. give	22. let	32. some
3. an	13. going	23. live	33. stop
4. any	14. had	24. May	34. take
5. as	15. has	25. of	35. thank
6. ask	16. her	26. old	36. them
7. by	17. him	27. once	37. then
8. could	18. his	28. open	38. think
9. every	19. how	29. over	39. walk
10. fly	20. just	30. put	40. were
			41. when

Dr. Edward Fry prepared his list of 1,000 most common words in the 1950s, which was updated in 1980. The list of 100 sight words for first grade students by Fry covers almost 90% of the words 6-7 year-olds will come across in stories, poems, and informational texts:

1. a	26. from	51. more	76. there
2. about	27. get	52. my	77. these
3. all	28. go	53. no	78. they
4. am	29. had	54. not	79. this
5. an	30. has	55. now	80. time
6. and	31. have	56. number	81. to
7. are	32. he	57. of	82. two
8. as	33. her	58. on	83. up
9. at	34. him	59. one	84. use
10. be	35. his	60. or	85. was
11. been	36. how	61. other	86. water
12. but	37. I	62. out	87. way
13. by	38. if	63. part	88. we
14. called	39. in	64. people	89. were
15. can	40. into	65. said	90. what
16. come	41. is	66. see	91. when
17. could	42. it	67. she	92. which
18. day	43. its	68. so	93. who
19. did	44. like	69. some	94. will
20. do	45. long	70. than	95. with
21. down	46. look	71. that	96. words
22. each	47. made	72. the	97. would
23. find	48. make	73. their	98. write
24. first	49. many	74. them	99. you
25. for	50. may	75. then	100. your

As you’ll notice, almost 18 words are common between these Dolch and Fry lists of sight words for first-grade students. Between them, we have a list of 123 first grade sight words.

SplashLearn experts also recommend a list of 130 more sight words first graders can quickly learn:

1. before	26. animal	51. frog	76. stomach
2. funny	27. dog	52. crab	77. thigh
3. hers	28. cat	53. fox	78. knee
4. high	29. cow	54. camel	79. leg
5. jump	30. sheep	55. lion	80. feet
6. keep	31. rabbit	56. elephant	81. eat
7. learn	32. duck	57. girl	82. run
8. much	33. hen	58. boy	83. drink
9. only	34. horse	59. toy	84. walk
10. thing	35. pig	60. ball	85. chop
11. want	36. turkey	61. doll	86. sing
12. yours	37. chicken	62. ears	87. act
13. color	38. donkey	63. eyes	88. kick
14. yellow	39. goat	64. head	89. mix
15. orange	40. mouse	65. nose	90. sit
16. pink	41. deer	66. mouth
17. green	42. moose	67. teeth
18. blue	43. koala	68. neck
19. red	44. wolf	69. shoulder
20. black	45. bear	70. arm
21. white	46. snake	71. elbow
22. silver	47. bird	72. hand
23. gold	48. fish	73. fingers
24. brown	49. bat	74. thumb
25. purple	50. tiger	75. chest

Sight words for first graders to help with their math vocabulary include the following:

1. zero	11. nine	21. match	31. before
2. digit	12. ten	22. size	32. less
3. one	13. number	23. compare	33. plus
4. two	14. input	24. less than	34. minus
5. three	15. output	25. opposite	35. add
6. four	16. similar	26. more than	36. subtract
7. five	17. object	27. near	37. ones
8. six	18. sort	28. half	38. tens
9. seven	19. different	29. after	39. place value
10. eight	20. alike	30. equal	40. rule

Fun and Effective Ways to Help Grade 1 Students Learn Sight Words

Whether you are a parent or a teacher, you can use plenty of fun and effective ways to help first graders learn sight words. Below are some creative ideas:

Sight Word Games for First Graders to Play at Home or in Class

1. Hide and Seek (Find the Sight Words) Game:

• A list of 1st grade sight words
• A stopwatch

This is a great game to get the kids up and moving while they learn their sight words. It’s also a good way to get them to recognize sight words in different contexts.

1. Print out the list of sight words on individual slips of paper.
2. Stick them up around the room at different heights, ensuring they are within reach of the kids.
3. When you say “go,” the kids have to find as many sight words as they can and bring them to you in the allotted time.
4. The kid with the most sight words at the end of the game wins!

2. Word Ladder:

• A list of sight words for first graders
• A whiteboard or blackboard

This is a great way to help kids learn to recognize sight words in context.

1. Choose a sight word from the list.
2. Write it on the board.
3. Ask the kids to come up with a sentence that uses the word.
4. Write it down on the board.
5. Repeat with another sight word.

3. Make a Sight Word Book:

• A first grade sights word list
• Construction paper or cardstock
• Scissors
• Glue
• Pencils or crayons

This is a great way to help kids learn to recognize sight words in context.

1. Choose a sight word from the first grade sight words list.
2. Write it on a piece of construction paper or cardstock.
3. Ask the kids to come up with a sentence that uses the word.
4. Write it down under the sight word.
5. Ask the kids to illustrate their sentences.
6. Repeat with another sight word.

7. Once all the sight words have been used, cut out each page and staple them together to make a book.

8. Encourage the kids to read their books aloud in the class, to you, or somebody else.

4. Roll, Read, and Race Board Game:

• A list of sight words for Grade 1 students
• A dice
• A game board (you can make your own or use a commercially available one)
• Pawns or markers

This is a great way to help kids learn to recognize sight words in context. Reviewing math concepts such as numbers, addition, and subtraction is also fun.

1. Design the board game using a list of sight words.
2. Players take turns rolling the dice and moving their pawns or markers around the board.
3. If they land on a space with a sight word, they have to read it aloud. If they get it right, they can stay in that space. If they get it wrong, they have to move back to the previous space.
4. For Math, use numbers on the dice and spaces on the board. Players must add or subtract the numbers they rolled and move their pawns or markers to the new space.
5. The first player to reach the “Finish” space is the winner!

5. Simple and Easy Crossword Game:

• A list of sight words for 1^st graders
• A whiteboard or blackboard
• A marker or chalk

This is a great way to help kids learn to recognize sight words in context.

1. Make a simple crossword puzzle using the list of sight words.
2. Call out a sight word and ask the kids to find it in the puzzle and read it aloud.
3. Repeat with another sight word.

6. Bingo:

• A list of Grade 1 sight words
• Bingo cards (you can make your own or use a commercially available one)
• Markers or chips

This is a great way to help kids learn to recognize sight words in context.

1. Make a simple bingo card using the list of sight words.
2. Call out a sight word and ask the kids to find it on their bingo card and mark it with a marker or chip.
3. Repeat with another sight word until someone gets five in a row and calls out “Bingo!”.

7. Read Stories:

• A list of sight words you want to teach to first graders
• Stories that contain the sight words

This is a great way to help kids learn to recognize sight words in context.

1. Choose a story that contains several of the sight words on your list.
2. Read the story aloud to the kids.
3. Ask them to listen for the sight words and point them out as you read.
4. Repeat with another story.

8. Act It Out:

• A list of sight words 1^st grade students need to learn
• A whiteboard or blackboard
• A marker or chalk

This is a great way to help the first graders make connections between the words and their meanings.

1. Choose an action-oriented sight word from the list.
2. Call it out, and kids have to act it out. For example, if you say “jump”, the kids have to jump up and down.
3. This action-oriented game is fun, interactive, and helps the kids learn sight words in a meaningful way.
4. Repeat with another sight word.

Online Games to Promote Learning of Sight Words in First Grade

1.

Let your child join millions of learners at SplashLearn to practice sight words, identify them by sounds, decode them instantly, and get tested on their knowledge of words. As they play exciting games, they pick up new words and their confidence in reading grows manifold.

The learning program is free for teachers, while parents have a 7-day free trial and can then subscribe. The subscription plans start at just $4.99 per month.

2. Bingo Card Creator at SightWords

You can create Bingo cards using the sight word for first graders using this web app for the game mentioned above. You can choose how many Bingo cards you want to create, their layout, the grade of your child, whether you want to create Dolch sight words or Fry sight words. 

Print out the Bingo cards displayed on the screen in PDF format. This site is free for everyone.

3. Sight Words Hopper at Education.com

Kindergarten and Grade 1 students love to help Cuz-Cuz jump over mud puddles. As the narrator reads the high-frequency words or sight words lying in puddles, kids have to jump over the right puddle.

You can try it for free, but to get unlimited access to all its fun and interactive games, you have to subscribe to it. The subscription starts at $5 per month.

4. Illustrated Story at Edoki Academy

Meant for gifted students, the children must read words, understand their meanings, and choose the correct pictures to illustrate the simple sentences they see. After all, this is how elementary school students can develop reading skills.

You can try it for free for one week and then subscribe. The subscription to Edoki Club starts at $3.50 per month.

5. Out of Sight Words at ABCya.com

This quirky game asks children to read a sight word and find a corresponding image. This game uses 220 words from the Dolch Word List and includes nouns, pronounces, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, and prepositions.

You can use it for free but have to subscribe to it for an ad-free experience. The premium version also offers several other features, such as setting a timer for the games, controlling the access of games, etc. The subscription starts at $5.83 per month.

We hope you and your first graders enjoy these games and activities to learn new sight words. Learning sight words is an important step in a child’s reading development, and these activities will give them a head start!

Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions. We would love to hear from you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we teach students sight words?

Sight words frequently occur in the text but are difficult to sound out using phonics rules. They must be learned by sight to become fluent readers.

What are some tips for teaching sight words at home?

There are many ways to incorporate sight words into your everyday routine at home. Read aloud to your child daily and point out sight words as you come across them. With time, you can ask them to read the sight word when you come across one.

You can also make a game out of it by hiding sight words around the house and having them search for them. Finally, you can create a sight word wall in your home where you post new words for your child to learn.

Can I skip sight words for my first grader if they are already good at reading?

Sight words should not be skipped, as they are important to a child’s reading development. If your child is already good at reading, you can challenge them by asking them to read longer texts incorporating more sight words. You can also ask them to use the words in their sentences.

How many words per minute a first-grader should read

Children come to the first grade with very different skill levels. Someone already fluently reads whole stories, the other can barely read a line by syllables. Many parents diligently teach their children to read before school. And it is no accident: despite the fact that there are no official requirements for reading standards for a child entering school, testing a child for reading speed in the first grade will begin at the end of the first half of the year. According to the indicative norms of the Federal State Educational Standard, a first-grader should read 25-30 words per minute in the first half of the year and 30-40 in the second. Note that the norms are indicative, so gymnasiums, for example, can raise the bar higher, and correctional schools, on the contrary, lower it a little. Here are some tips on how to make learning to read effective and comfortable for you and your child.

Don't chase reading speed

That's right. After all, if you train a child precisely on the speed of pronunciation of words, then he will be able to learn how to quickly read the text, but he will not understand what he read. Don't do your child a disservice. School performance is, of course, important, but not only the praise of the teacher is at stake, but also the development of the child. Therefore, when teaching a child to read, pay attention to the semantic content of the text, discuss with him the characters, their words and deeds, together recall the events of previously read books. Speed ​​will be gained gradually, thanks to constant practice and several useful exercises.

Choose the right literature

It is better to start learning to read with books "by age", well illustrated, with large letters and not too long words - consisting of two or three syllables. In addition, it is important that all the words in the book are familiar to the child.

Do not overdo it

Do not start learning to read too early, experts advise not to do this before the age of 5, because the child's body during this period absorbs all the impressions of the surrounding world, but is not yet ready to perceive the text. But he will be happy to listen to your reading and from an early age he will perceive a book in his hands as something obviously fascinating. Do not force a child to read, do not turn the joy of reading into a duty. Try not to intimidate him with upcoming checks, otherwise interest will instantly turn into a routine. Learning to read for a child is a lot of work. If the child is tired, there is nothing wrong with you reading aloud to him.

Learn by playing

You can collect words from cubes with spellings written on them. You can guess cards with inscriptions and drawings. Or read stories in which some words are replaced by pictures. In any case, the process of reading at first should include something else besides reading itself. A game element that will support the interest of the child and will not let him run out of steam at the very beginning of learning.

Game exercises for developing reading speed

If your child has already learned to read whole words and combine them into sentences, it's time to think about developing reading speed.

Play animals with him: try to imagine and show how a horse gallops, how a horse speaks and how a horse reads? How does a turtle work? And the tiger?

Try to read by roles on behalf of different characters in the story. Surely they will have not only different timbres, but also different pronunciation speeds.

Read with the child in turn and gradually increase the pace of reading your piece, the child, in turn, will repeat after you and will learn to read faster.

Following the tips above will help your child read as many words per minute as a grade 1 student should on the first test, without losing the meaning of what they read and without losing interest in the book.

What a child should know and be able to do by the first grade

In the first grade, parents usually begin to collect their children as early as six months in advance. There are so many things to buy for school: uniforms, satchels, textbooks, notebooks, stationery. At the same time, the child, realizing, begins to hastily develop: to teach to read, write, count, learn poetry. To be no worse than others. Of course, there is a conditional norm of what a child should be able to do before school, and it would be nice to reach this level. But it is even more important not to kill his interest in studies that have not yet begun with his efforts. At the age of seven, a child is interested in everything in the world, he actively explores the world and looks forward to going to school as an exciting and exciting adventure. The best thing you, as a loving mother (or father), can do in such a situation is not to deprive him of this joy, which means trying to calm down yourself and not let your anxiety spread to the child. The life of a first grader is changing a lot, and you will be there and help him prepare for these changes.

First of all, of course, a first grader must learn not to miss the lessons. And this means that the school regime of the day should begin to be established in advance. You can give your child a personal alarm clock, which he himself will start every night before going to bed. This will give the first grader a pleasant feeling of independence, he will know that you trust him. Of course, you will also need to get up early to help your child get ready for school. It's to help. No need to do everything for him, let him take a sip of this adulthood, play mom or dad going to work.

There are no formal requirements for what a child must know before going to school. However, there is a basic set of knowledge and skills that it would be good to master by this time, so that the development of the school curriculum is more effective, and the child feels confident in a new environment.

The ability to tell about himself and his family

A first-grader must be able to give his last name, first name and patronymic, age and date of birth. Say the names and professions of parents and other family members. Talk about pets. Know in which city and country he lives.

Knowledge of nature

Ability to distinguish between seasons. Understanding what time of year this or that weather phenomenon is typical: for example, it usually snows in winter. The ability to name several plants and animals, birds.

Spatio-temporal thinking

Understanding where the right hand is and where the left hand is. How many days are there in a week, and how is night different from day. The ability to distinguish future events from past events.

General knowledge

By the first grade, most children can read and memorize short texts consisting of simple sentences. Knows the numbers of the first ten and will easily understand which is greater: 2 or 9. Distinguish a triangle from a circle and easily name the colors of toys. Will be able to group objects by color and shape and find extra or missing items.

Communication skills

Even if a child is erudite, finding himself among unfamiliar children and a teacher, he may be embarrassed, frightened and unable to speak. It happens that children at home chat - you can’t stop, but at school they are silent all the time. This is caused by fear of strangers and an unusual situation. Therefore, it is important to prepare the child in advance for such a change, to talk about school - as a space where everything is different, but in which it is safe to be yourself. You can share your joyful school experience.

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