Dolch Word Practice Lists

The Dolch sight word list contains the most commonly-used words in the English-language that must be easily recognized in order to achieve reading fluency. Also known as sight words or high frequency words, they account for 50 to 75 percent of the words that appear in schoolbooks, library books, newspapers, and magazines, so it’s important for children to learn the correct spelling and to recognize the words on Dolch word practice lists instantly by sight. This allows the child to concentrate on reading comprehension without having to stop and decode each word included in the Dolch Sight Words for Kids.

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Dolch Words Sample List
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Dolch word practice lists are divided according to the grade levels students are typically expected to learn and master the words. Sight word practice begins in pre-kindergarten, with words such as a, and, I, and you, and continues through Grade 3 with more complicated words such as laugh, light, shall, and together. Consistent sight word practice online and in-class via engaging games, activities, and lessons is vital to reading and writing development.

The Dolch sight word list was originally compiled by Edward William Dolch, and published in 1948. The list of 220 words includes:

  • 6 conjunctions – used to join clauses
  • 16 prepositions – used to introduce phrases
  • 26 pronouns – used to represent person or things
  • 34 adverbs – used to modify verbs
  • 46 adjectives – used to modify nouns
  • 92 verbs – used to denote action

Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was challenged to write and illustrate a children’s primer using the 220 Dolch words. The result wasThe Cat in the Hat.

Dr. Edward Fry expanded the Dolch list in 1996 and published a book titled Fry 1000 Instant Words. Fry’s Instant Words are typically studied in first through fifth grade.

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Pre-K Dolch Sight Word List 1: a, and, can, for, make, me, my, not, red, run

Pre-K Dolch Word Practice List 2: funny, go, here, help, I, in, is, it, jump, little

Pre-K Dolch Sight Word List 3: away, big, blue, come, down, find, look, one, play, said

Pre-K Dolch Sight Word List 4: see, the, three, to, two, up, we, where, yellow, you

Kindergarten – Dolch Sight Word List 1: ate, all, four, they, saw, please, good, now, under, into

Kindergarten – Dolch Word Practice List 2: soon, will, brown, like, have, came, pretty, well, are, too

Kindergarten – Dolch Sight Word List 3: yes, black, did, must, want, there, that, at, white, was

Kindergarten – Dolch Sight Word List 4: be, she, what, ran, went, no, our, get, eat, this, he

Kindergarten – Dolch Sight Word List 5: with, on, say, so, do, but, new, ride, who, am, out

1st Grade – Dolch Sight Word List 1: ask, from, of, give, just, any, how, an, as, his

1st Grade – Dolch Word Practice List 2: fly, her, had, could, after, again, every, him, going, has

1st Grade – Dolch Sight Word List 3: by, let, live, open, were, over, when, think, thank, once

1st Grade – Dolch High Frequency Word List 4: then, old, stop, round, put, some, walk, them, know, may, take

2nd Grade – Dolch Sight Word List 1: always, around, because, been, before, best, both, buy, call, cold

2nd Grade – Dolch Word Practice List 2: does, don’t, fast, first, five, found, gave, goes, green, its

2nd Grade – Dolch Sight Word List 3: made, many, pull, read, right, sing, sleep, tell, their, these

2nd Grade – Dolch Sight Word List 4: those, upon, very, wash, which, wish, work, would, write, your

3rd Grade – Dolch Sight Word List 1: about, better, bring, carry, clean, cut, done, draw, drink, eight

3rd Grade – Dolch Word Practice List 2: fall, far, full, got, grow, hold, hot, hurt, if, keep

3rd Grade – Dolch Sight Word List 3: kind, laugh, light, long, much, myself, never, only, own, pick

3rd Grade – Dolch Sight Word List 4: seven, shall, show, six, small, start, ten, today, together, warm

Dolch Noun Word List 1: bed, bell, box, boy, cake, car, cat, cow, day, dog

Dolch Noun Word List 2: doll, door, duck, eye, farm, girl, hill, pig, rain, ring

Dolch Noun Word List 3: fire, ball, time, leg, floor, way, toy, sun, back, feet

Dolch Noun Word List 4: top, fish, apple, baby, game, flower, egg, milk, tree, bear

Dolch Noun Word List 5: boat, window, brother, thing, school, morning, children, table, bird, birthday

Dolch Noun Word List 6: bread, chicken, farmer, father, man, men, Santa Claus, seed, sheep, wood

Dolch Noun Word List 7: Christmas, corn, garden, good-bye, grass, ground, horse, paper, party, water

Dolch Noun Word List 8: coat, hand, home, house, night, picture, squirrel, stick, street, watch

We offer many Dolch sight word games to help young students master these common words. Pairing games with our Dolch word practice lists helps make lessons fun and engaging!

Take a look at our sight word online games!

Spelling TeachMe helps students know and memorize spelling and vocabulary words.

Play Spelling TeachMe with a word list for Dolch nouns.

Dolch Sight Word Games

Alphabetize gives students practice putting words into alphabetical order.

Play Alphabetize with a 1st grade high frequency word list for First Grade Dolch words.

Dolch Word Practice Lists

Word Unscramble provides sight word practice online or in-person by rearranging letters to correctly spell words.

Play Word Unscramble with a word list for 3rd Grade Dolch words.

Sight Word Games

Missing Letter provides in-person or online sight word practice with recognizing letters to complete a word.

Play Missing Letter with a word list for 2nd Grade Dolch words.

Sight Word Online Games