1st grade sight words

What is this skill?

First grade sight words are the common words a child needs to read without stopping: after, from, could, again, them, know, every, thank, once, walk. By now many children can sound out simple words, so this list leans toward the words that are harder to decode. Could has a silent l. Know starts with a silent k. Once starts with a sound that sounds like w, and no letter in it seems to explain that.

Most questions say a word aloud and ask a child to find it among four choices that look alike, such as them, then, they and this. Others show a word on a card and ask if it says a given word, including the trap of were and where. In the hardest ones, a child builds a sentence from loose words, like "Could you give them some?" Since the word is spoken in most questions, use the Hear it button, or read the line to your child.

Why it matters

First grade books get longer quickly, and small words are what hold their sentences together. A child who has to pause at from, could and them loses the thread of a sentence that is otherwise easy. Getting these words to automatic is what turns slow, word-by-word reading into something that sounds like speech.

There is also a spelling connection, since the same words start appearing in a child's own writing. Noticing that could has an l nobody says, or that once is one with a c in it, helps a child remember the printed word, which supports both reading and spelling.

Common mistakes

• Confusing words that differ by one letter: them and then, were and where, from and form. Ask your child to look at the end of the word, not just the start, and to read the sentence again to hear if it makes sense.
• Sounding out a word that does not follow the usual pattern, such as saying the l in walk. Say plainly that this word plays a trick, and show which letter is the odd one. Children remember a word better when they know why it is odd.
• Reading well in isolation and slowly in a book. If a word is fast on a card and slow on a page, it is not yet automatic. Keep it in the mix for a while and look for it in real reading.

How to help at home

• Keep a small stack of words your child is working on. Put a word in the "know it" pile only after it is read quickly on three different days.
• Write a silly message on a sticky note using this week's words and leave it in a lunch box or on a pillow.
• Play go fish with two sets of word cards. Your child has to read the word to ask for it, and it does not feel like practice.
• Use the free Dolch list and flash cards linked on this page for paper practice, and focus on the words that keep tripping your child up.

Worked examples

These are real questions from the Tutorsaurus 1st grade sight words practice, with the answers worked out.

1. Example 1

   Tap the word you hear.

   The app reads this aloud: “Tap the word: stop.”

   Choices: stop, top, step, spot

   Answer: stop. This word is "stop." S-t-o-p spells stop.

2. Example 2

   Does this say 'where'?

   were

   Answer: No. This word is "were." W-e-r-e spells were. Where has an h.

3. Example 3

   Make the sentence.

   The pieces, mixed up: give / some? / Could / them / you

   Answer: Could you give them some? The sentence is "Could you give them some?"

This practice is best on a screen, because the word is said aloud. For paper, the printable word lists and flash cards are here: Dolch 1st grade sight words.