How do I Know Which Sight Words to Teach my Child? | Child1st Publications

How Do I Know Which Sight Words to Teach My Child?

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Introduction

Sight Words are a critical building block of your child’s ability to read. However, knowing which words they should know, and when they need to know them, can be an intimidating task.

While there is no single right answer, this guide will help you to understand which words your child is likely to encounter and when they will encounter them. If you can provide your child with the relevant high frequency words before they try reading them, their chances of succeeding increase greatly.

 

Roadmap of Preschool through 3rd Grade

The Challenge

Before we start the guide, it is important to note that not all children learn at the same pace, and what words your child will encounter can vary widely. Therefore, we do recommend that whenever possible, you avoid strict grade levels when it comes to reading. Many children vary greatly so assigning a single grade level can be tricky, it is best to allow them to learn in an organic manner that encourages curiosity and wonder as much as possible. A system such as SnapWords® is a great way to allow this organic learning to happen.

All that being said, we understand that in school it is important for your child to know certain words for both testing purposes and the need to understand the words they are likely to encounter. Continue to follow this guide to get an idea of what most children will encounter in each grade so you can ensure your child has the tools they need to succeed.

 

Guide that shows which SnapWords to teach in each grade

The Main Lists

Within the world of high-frequency words, sight words, snap words, or whatever term you are familiar with, there are three main lists: Dolch, Fry, and Fountas & Pinnell. The Dolch list contains 220 words while Fry's complete list contains 1,000 words, though most schools use a smaller subset of 300 Fry words. Both of these lists are widely used in schools for grades K-2. Similar in nature to Dolce and Fry, Fountas & Pinnell word lists are grouped by level in relation to their proprietary reading system. 

Additionally, there are other lists such as the the story book list, or our SnapWords® list.

Check out this guide to see how SnapWords® lines up with the main three lists.

 

Which List Should I Teach?

It is impossible to tell you exactly which one you should teach because each school system may use a different list. Instead, we recommend finding out what your school system uses for testing as well as words they are likely to encounter in material, and then choose the list that lines up the best with those requirements.

If you homeschool your child, we recommend choosing a list based on the other resources you are teaching. Try to choose the list that has the most overlap with your curriculum so your child can flourish in their other subjects more easily.

If you are not tied to any particular systems and simply want to help your child gain reading fluency, we recommend starting with our SnapWords® List A and working your way through the system.

While we try to avoid strict grade levels, SnapWords® generally can be categorized as follows:

  • Preschool - 1st Grade: List A and Numbers, Colors, Days, Months, & Seasons
  • 1st Grade - 2nd Grade: Lists B, C, F, & Nouns 1
  • 2nd Grade - 3rd Grade (and beyond): Lists D, E, G, Nouns 2, & Verbs

 

Preschool

List of words found in most preschool material:

a and away big blue can come
down find for funny go help here
I 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

List of words found in most kindergarten material:

all am are at ate be black
brown but came did do eat four
get good have he like must new
now no 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

 

1st Grade

List of words found in most 1st grade material:

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

 

2nd Grade

List of words found in most 2nd grade material:

always around because been before best both
buy call cold does don't 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

3rd Grade

List of words found in most 3rd grade material:

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

 

4th Grade

List of words found in most 4th grade material:

above across address area become birds body
breakfast color complete course didn't different dog
during early easy ever fish floor friends
front gone grew heard horse knew knife
mark mean music nothing order people piece
plain problem questions quiet red room ship
short since stand sun sure today told
top true usually wear wonder world yard

 

5th Grade and Beyond

List of words found in most 5th grade material:

afternoon already although beautiful carefully chance compare
consider corner details determine difficult division electric
entire equation everything experience factories finish guess
happiness impossible machine material movement neither ought
particular pattern prepared process produce rather silent
speak substance suggest supply though thousand tomorrow
underline understand weather whose wrong yet

 

Conclusion

Helping your child obtain sight word fluency for the high-frequency words they will encounter can help them flourish in all aspects of school and life beyond. If you or someone you know is looking for a fun and engaging way to teach sight words, check out our original SnapWords® today.

Check out or other blogs below to learn more about helping your child truly flourish in school. Take the next step today, get a free sample or talk to our awesome team to get help.


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