The Complete Sight Words List by Grade Level (K-5)

Sight words are the workhorses of the English language. These high-frequency words, many of which break standard phonics rules, make up between 50 and 75 percent of all text children encounter. Mastering sight words is one of the single most impactful things a child can do for their reading fluency and spelling accuracy. This guide covers both the Dolch and Fry word lists from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Dolch vs. Fry: Understanding the Two Major Lists

Two sight word lists dominate American literacy education.

The Dolch List (220 words + 95 nouns): Created by Edward William Dolch in 1936. The list focuses on service words like articles, prepositions, and common verbs. Despite being nearly 90 years old, the Dolch list remains remarkably relevant because function words change very slowly.

The Fry List (1,000 words): Developed by Edward Fry in 1957 and updated in 1980. The first 100 Fry words alone account for approximately 50 percent of all written material. The list is divided into ten groups of 100 words, roughly corresponding to grade levels.

Most teachers use a combination of both lists, with Dolch words forming the foundation in K-2 and Fry words extending through the upper elementary grades.

Kindergarten Sight Words

Kindergarteners should master approximately 50 to 75 sight words by year end:

Dolch Pre-Primer and Primer words (92 words): a, all, am, and, are, at, ate, away, be, big, black, blue, brown, but, came, can, come, did, do, down, eat, find, for, four, funny, get, go, good, have, he, help, here, I, in, into, is, it, jump, like, little, look, make, me, must, my, new, no, not, now, on, one, our, out, play, please, pretty, ran, red, ride, run, said, saw, say, see, she, so, soon, that, the, there, they, this, three, to, too, two, under, up, want, was, we, well, went, what, where, white, who, will, with, yellow, yes, you.

At this stage, focus on instant recognition over spelling. Use flashcards, word walls, and point-and-read games.

First Grade Sight Words

First graders should add approximately 100 new words:

Dolch First Grade words (41 additional): after, again, an, any, as, ask, by, could, every, fly, from, give, going, had, has, her, him, his, how, just, know, let, live, may, of, old, once, open, over, put, round, some, stop, take, thank, them, then, think, walk, were, when.

At this level, children should begin actively spelling these words. Multi-sensory approaches are critical.

Second Grade Sight Words

Second graders master more complex words with irregular spellings:

Dolch Second Grade words (46 additional): always, around, because, been, before, best, both, buy, call, cold, does, fast, first, five, found, gave, goes, green, its, made, many, off, or, pull, read, right, sing, sit, sleep, tell, their, these, those, upon, us, use, very, wash, which, why, wish, work, would, write, your.

Introduce word families and pattern grouping. Words that share patterns (could, would, should) should be taught together.

Third Grade Sight Words

Third grade marks the transition from learning to read to reading to learn:

Dolch Third Grade words (41 additional): about, better, bring, carry, clean, cut, done, draw, drink, eight, fall, far, full, got, grow, hold, hot, hurt, if, keep, kind, laugh, light, long, much, myself, never, only, own, pick, seven, shall, show, six, small, start, ten, today, together, try, warm.

By third grade, the focus shifts from recognition to fluent use in writing. Personalized word lists based on each child's specific trouble words become more important.

Fourth Grade Sight Words

Fourth graders encounter increasingly sophisticated vocabulary. At this level, spelling instruction should emphasize etymology and word origins. Understanding that sign and signal share a Latin root helps children remember the silent g. Greek and Latin roots become powerful tools for decoding and spelling unfamiliar words.

Fifth Grade Sight Words

The Fry Ninth and Tenth 100 complete the 1,000-word list. Fifth graders should have automatic mastery of all 1,000 Fry words and the complete Dolch list. Practice now focuses on content-area vocabulary, multi-syllable words, and words with complex etymologies.

Research-Backed Practice Strategies

Regardless of grade level, these strategies consistently produce the best results:

• Spaced repetition: Review words at increasing intervals rather than cramming. EZSpell's SM-2 algorithm automates this process.
• Multi-sensory practice: Combine seeing, hearing, saying, and writing/typing words.
• Contextual practice: Study words in sentences, not just in isolation.
• Self-testing: Have children test themselves rather than just re-reading word lists.
• Word walls: Display current sight words prominently at home or in the classroom.
• Personalized lists: Target each child's specific trouble words.

Free Digital Practice Tools

EZSpell's free Sight Words Flashcard tool lets children practice any grade level's sight words with audio pronunciation, spaced repetition scheduling, and progress tracking. The tool automatically identifies which words need more practice and adjusts accordingly. No account required for basic flashcard access. Practice sight words with our free flashcard tool and watch your child's reading fluency take off.