K-3 Teacher Resources Home
Sight Word Games and Activities
DOLCH SIGHT WORDS - ABOUT ...

In 1948, Edward Dolch PhD published the Dolch Sight Word List, a 220 high frequency word list.  They have basically stood the test of time and are still one of the most recognized sight word lists used in schools today.

That being said, there are however, now, many more sight word lists coming on the market. Unfortunately, we cannot use their sight word lists as they are heavily protected by copyright.

The following dolch list still continues to be a very STURDY sight word list though and will serve your student's sight word needs perfectly well!

Download the A4 Dolch Sight Word List of Words

These 220 Dolch sight words cards are downloadable from our membership site in 4 different sizes - 21cm x 7cm / 14cm x 5 cm / A4 Supersize / Mini Words  (see below for printing colour coding ideas)

The words are listed in order of frequency. The grouping is a guide only and helps to mark the cards so they do not mix up. Some Teachers use this as an indication of words to learn in each year level from Prep - 3, but it really is just a guide.

All words from this list should be known at a glance, definitely by the time a child is 7-8 years old. Please note though that I have found that eventhough a child can read these words quickly - they still have some trouble actually spelling them in their writing - so be aware of this and continue to use these in phonics lessons also!

'101 Ways to Use Word Cards' lists some fantastic FUN sight word activity ideas

I make these cards up using the following colours - it doesn't matter what colours they are really.

Dolch Sight Word List 1 (green)- 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

Dolch Sight Word List 2 (pink)-  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

Dolch Sight Word List 3 (orange) -  after, again, an, any, as, ask, by, could, every, fly, from, give, giving, 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

Dolch Sight Word List 4 (yellow) -  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

Dolch Sight Word List 5 (blue) - 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

Download the Printable Dolch Word List

Back to Sight Word Games and Activities from this About Dolch Sight Words page...