What is a sight word kindergarten

Kindergarten sight words are words that a child learns to recognize in their whole form, rather than sounding them out. These words usually appear frequently in texts or are difficult to decode. Some reading programs focus on sight words more than others.

The Good and the Beautiful kindergarten sight words are taught throughout our Level K Language Arts Reading Booster A program (which can be used separately of the course).

New Level K Language Arts with Reading Booster A Books

This post shares common kindergarten sight word lists (as well as flashcards and posters) and weighs the pros and cons of focusing on sight word memorization versus teaching phonics.

Kindergarten sight words games

The Good and the Beautiful Kindergarten Sight Words List

The Good and the Beautiful Kindergarten Sight Words list is a select number of targeted words for early readers that we find the most helpful to children in kindergarten level.

Download a free The Good and the Beautiful Kindergarten Sight Words poster and flashcards, plus activities!

Other Helpful Sight Word Lists

Dolch Sight Words List

Dolch sight words—perhaps the most common lists—are a set of 220 sight words first developed in the 1930s and often grouped by grade level.

Download a free Dolch Kindergarten Sight Words poster!

Fry Sight Words List

First created by Dr. Edward Fry in the 1950s, this list includes the most frequently used words.

Download a free Fry Kindergarten Sight Words poster!

Should Children Memorize Sight Words? 

Pros of Memorizing Sight Words If the most frequently used words in texts are memorized and the child doesn’t have to take time to stop and decode the words, the child can read more quickly and pleasantly.
Cons of Memorizing Sight Words Most of the Dolch and Fry kindergarten sight words can be easily decoded. 

Children have only a certain amount of time to learn each day. Time spent memorizing high-frequency words can instead be applied to a good phonics program that teaches the child how to decode and read those words as well as many others. 

Memorizing words can be just as hard and take just as long as learning to decode the words.

The Good and the Beautiful Philosophy on Kindergarten Sight Words The Good and the Beautiful, one of the most widely used homeschool curriculum programs, focuses on phonics, while having kindergarteners memorize a short list of the highest-frequency words and words that can’t be decoded easily. This method has proven successful with tens of thousands of children using The Good and The Beautiful Language Arts Courses.

A little bit of practice each day goes a long way—consistency is the key. Practice sight words daily if possible, but don’t introduce too many at once. Younger children do best with four to eight sight words at a time.

Teaching sight words can be easy and fun with the simple practice ideas found in our free activity download.

Kindergarten sight word games
Kindergarten sight word games

Find these games and more in this free sight words activity packet. Click the button below to download.

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As your child finishes preschool, kindergarten sight words become an important part of their education. By the time they finish the year, they should have mastery of a certain list of sight words. Kindergarten moves from strictly observational learning to more concrete and complex instruction. Sight words for kindergarten are a vital part of this learning. Your child’s knowledge of these words will impact their future success in reading. 

What Are Sight Words for Kindergarten?

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Sight words are words kindergarteners should know by the end of the year. They are words that are found frequently in written text. Your child should be able to instantly recognize them on sight, hence the name sight words. Kindergarten-level readers should not have to sound out or ask for help in reading the words. This refers to pronunciation, spelling, and differentiation in meaning. 

List of Sight Words for Kindergarten

  • A, am, an, and, any, are, at, away
  • Be, big, boy, but
  • Can, can’t, came, car, cat, come
  • Dad, day, did, do, dog, done, down
  • Eat
  • Find, for, fun
  • Get, girl, go, going, good, got
  • >Has, have, he, here, how
  • I, if, in, into, is, it
  • Jump, just
  • Like, little, look, long
  • Make, many, me, mom, must, my
  • Name, nice, new, no, not, now
  • Of, off, old, on, once, only, or, other, our, over
  • Play, please, pretty
  • Ran, read, ride, run
  • Say, said, see, she, sit, so, soon
  • That, the, there, they, this, to, too
  • Under, up, us
  • Very
  • Walk, want, was, we, well, went, what, when, where, who, why, with
  • Yes, you

Sight Words Cards Kindergarten

More Information about Sight Words

Apart from this kindergarten sight word list, your child should also be able to spell, write, read, and instantly recognize their name. Your child should also be able to recognize certain math words. These include one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten. Shape words are also important. Rectangle, square, triangle, and circle are a good place to start in kindergarten.

Sight words can also include colors. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, and white are important. (Rest assured your child won’t have to worry about spelling the word “turquoise” or “cyan” in kindergarten.) Sight words list vocabulary seen at a high frequency in text. Without knowledge of these, their reading efficiency will be seriously slowed.

Sight Word Examples Info:

For example, if your child has trouble differentiating between “of” and “off,” they will face some confusion. They must know not only the difference of spelling, but the difference of meaning. It is also important that they understand the variation in pronunciation. Despite the similarities of the two words, they sound different when spoken. Getting comfortable with a list of sight words for kindergarten will alleviate these concerns.

kindergarten sight words_ list and Info_img6

Please note that this is only meant as an example of a sight words list for kindergarten. You may find others that have fewer words, more words, or slightly different words. You can find plenty of other examples on any educational pre-k or kindergarten site. Words list basic vocabulary and above all should create the essential framework of reading skills that your child can build upon.  

What Should a Child Know by Kindergarten?

By the time your child enters kindergarten, they should have an understanding of basic colors. They should be able to count to ten on their fingers. They should be comfortable with the entirety of the alphabet.

Additionally, they should have some practice with writing, reading, and spelling their name. They should have the ability to recognize the most basic sight words. A few examples of these are he, she, the, and it. 

Observation and

should be encouraged as early and as often as possible. The ability to identify objects and make observations will help them immensely with kindergarten sight words.

For example, knowing an object is blue will help connect the spelling and structure of the word blue to the color itself. This extends to identifying the object as a blue hat. They can then associate the object and the color to their corresponding words, and so on. 

How Many Sight Words Should a Kindergartener Know?

Most children know approximately 50 sight words by the end of kindergarten. However, learning more is always helpful. If your child is comfortable with at least 50 words, try incorporating some new vocabulary to their sight word list. For kindergarten students, be aware that trying to learn too many at the same time may hurt rather than help.

kindergarten sight words_ list and Info_img7

Avoid studying a high number of sight words at a time. Instead, focus on groups of words. For example, if you’re studying over the summer, find or create a list of sight words for kindergarteners. If the list has 100 words, split them into groups of 10 or 20. This will ensure a steady and comfortable rate of learning and practice. 

Fun Ways to Practice Kindergarten Sight Words

There are endless ways to study kindergarten sight words. Keep in mind that the suggestions below are just that: suggestions. They are not concrete and can be changed in any way to best fit your child and household.

Word hunting game

Use

or cutouts of kindergarten sight words. Hide them around your child’s room or the house. As they find words, have them call out the words. This involves not just reading, but exciting hide-and-seek feeling. Just make sure to hide the words in places that your child can reach!

Word searches

A fun twist on the traditional worksheet,word searches are perfect for students who love puzzles. You can print some out or make one up at home. If you’re making one, be careful that you spell the words correctly. Additionally, avoid writing backward words. Your child is still learning to read from left to right, after all. 

kindergarten sight words_ list and Info_img8

Coloring pages

to help your student learn kindergarten sight words come in many forms. Some may display a matching game, wherein your child must find matching sight words in a table and color them in.

Some have pictures with a corresponding phrase that they must read aloud and fill in with the appropriate sight word. Others still are created similarly to “color by number” activities. A key is given with a list of sight words and colors assigned to them.

A simple illustration alongside the key will have words written in the spaces. For example, if your child is coloring a tree, the key will say something like “boy = brown” and “the = green.”

The trunk of the tree will have the word “boy” written inside of it, while the leaves will say “the.” Activities like this require your child to read as they proceed. As they complete the activity, encourage them to read the words out loud.

For even more ways to study, consider joining ArgoPrep’s subscription program. Their high-quality educational content is both interactive and expertly designed to guarantee your child’s success.

Table of Contents

  1. Why do they call it kindergarten?
  2. What do you call a child in kindergarten?
  3. What does Kindergarten mean in English?
  4. What goes after kindergarten?
  5. What grade is a 5 year old in USA?
  6. Is kindergarten and preschool the same?
  7. Is reception a kindergarten?
  8. What’s the difference between Reception and Year 1?
  9. How old is a child in Year 1?
  10. What should a child know by the end of Year 6?
  11. What year is Year 6 in America?
  12. What should a child know by the end of Year 1?
  13. What is a common exception word Year 1?
  14. What maths should a reception child know?
  15. How old is year7?
  16. What year is a 13 year old in?
  17. What age is Year 13 at school?
  18. How old is a Year 12 student?
  19. Can you be 19 in the 12th grade?
  20. What grade is a 12 year old?

Sight words are words that your students learn to read and place in their “sight word bank”. This means that they are able to read the word by sight, no longer needing to use decoding skills or phonics patterns to help them read.

Why do they call it kindergarten?

Froebel called for German women to come together and support the kindergarten. Because he described children as plants and teachers as gardeners, the term kindergarten emerged, kinder meaning child and garten meaning garden (Headley, 1965). He felt that children should learn through play.

What do you call a child in kindergarten?

1 : a child attending or of an age to attend kindergarten. 2 : a teacher at a kindergarten.

What does Kindergarten mean in English?

The word kindergarten comes from the German language. Kinder means children and garten means garden. Hence, he founded an early education program for young children, which he called kindergarten.

What goes after kindergarten?

The first year of primary education is commonly referred to as kindergarten and begins at or around age 5 or 6. Subsequent years are usually numbered being referred to as first grade, second grade, and so forth. Some elementary schools graduate after the 4th or 5th grade and transition students into a middle school.

What grade is a 5 year old in USA?

Age Requirements & Grades

Birth Date Age US Grade
Sept. 1, 2016 – Aug. 31, 2017 4-5 Junior Kindergarten
Sept. 1, 2015 – Aug. 31, 2016 5-6 Kindergarten
Sept. 1, 2014 – Aug. 31, 2015 6-7 Grade 1
Sept. 1, 2013 – Aug. 31, 2014 7-8 Grade 2

Is kindergarten and preschool the same?

The main difference between the two is the children’s age and their developmental abilities. In preschool, a student is between the age of 2 to 4 years old, while a child in pre-kindergarten is 4 to 5 years old. Children in pre-k programs are focused on getting ready for kindergarten.

Is reception a kindergarten?

Pupils in Reception are usually aged between four and five. Children start school either in the term or in the academic year in which they reach five, depending on the policy of the Local Education Authority. Reception is the final part of the Early Years Foundation Stage of education.

What’s the difference between Reception and Year 1?

‘ Indeed, the NFER’s research found that children described Reception as a period centred around play, whereas they said that Year 1 was all about ‘work, work, work’.

How old is a child in Year 1?

Key stages

Child’s age Year Key stage
3 to 4 Early years
4 to 5 Reception Early years
5 to 6 Year 1 KS1
6 to 7 Year 2 KS1

What should a child know by the end of Year 6?

Year 6 children will learn about square, prime and negative numbers. They will be multiplying and dividing with numbers up to four digits, using formal, efficient methods. They will be doing more complicated work with fractions, decimals and percentages.

What year is Year 6 in America?

Year / Grade Placement

Age UK Years US/International Grades
9 – 10 Year 5 4th Grade
10 – 11 Year 6 5th Grade
11 – 12 Year 7 6th Grade
12 – 13 Year 8 7th Grade

What should a child know by the end of Year 1?

In Year 1, children will need to count forwards and backwards up to 100. They will need to know their addition and subtraction facts to 20. Children will need to find half and a quarter of a shape or quantity. They will start to measure using standard units and will learn to tell the time to the hour and half-hour.

What is a common exception word Year 1?

Common exception words are words where the usual spelling rule doesn’t apply; such as the common exception words “friend”, “there”, “they” and “said”. Some of these exception words are used frequently, therefore children are introduced to common exception words in year 1 and year 2.

What maths should a reception child know?

Reception maths – your child will be:

  • Counting up to ten and beyond, using cardinal numbers.
  • Recognising the numbers 1 to 9.
  • Counting aloud in ones, twos, fives, tens.
  • Estimating a number of objects and checking by counting.
  • Matching and comparing the number of objects in two groups.

How old is year7?

Children entering Year 7 are generally aged between 10½ and 12. Year 7 pupils are educated in full primary schools, intermediate schools, and in some areas area schools or combined intermediate and secondary schools.

What year is a 13 year old in?

Your child’s year group

Date of birth School year 2020-2021 Age
September 2005 – August 2006 Year 10 14 – 15
September 2006 – August 2007 Year 9 13 – 14
September 2007 – August 2008 Year 8 12 – 13
September 2008 – August 2009 Year 7 11 – 12

What age is Year 13 at school?

Students entering Year 13 are usually aged between 16.5 and 18. A student may stay in Year Thirteen until the end of the calendar year following their 19th birthday. Year Thirteen pupils are educated in secondary schools or in area schools.

How old is a Year 12 student?

Students in Year 12 are aged between 15 and 16.

Can you be 19 in the 12th grade?

No, most 12th graders here in the US are 18 when they graduate. There is a relatively small group of kids who will turn 19 by graduation, but they are in the minority and usually comprise of students who were either kept back an extra year earlier or who failed a year and had to repeat.

What grade is a 12 year old?

Grade 7

It’s important for beginning readers to develop a bank of sight words to support their early reading. If you’re wondering how to teach sight words to kindergarteners and preschoolers, it’s a task that can be done, but it will definitely take time. Read on for some great tips to get them started early.

Beginning readers should develop sight words to support early reading. Here are tips on how to teach sight words to kindergarteners & pre-k

What are Kindergarten Sight Words?

Sight words are also referred to as “high frequency words” because they are words that appear most frequently in texts. 

Some examples of early sight words are “the,” “I,” “a,” and “am.” As children progress with their reading, they can begin to work towards recognizing longer sight words, such as “they,” “said,” “where,” and “have.”

The goal is for children to recognize sight words instantly, without needing to devote much effort to sound them out. This frees up their efforts for words that require more strategies to solve. 

For example, a book written for a beginning reader may include the sentence starter, “I am” on each page, with endings such as “swimming” or “running” completing each sentence. Children with a well-developed bank of sight words can instantly and effortlessly recognize the words “I” and “am.” 

This allows them to focus their word-solving strategies on the final word in the sentence. They may use strategies such as making the first sound and looking at the picture cue.

Beginning readers should develop sight words to support early reading. Here are tips on how to teach sight words to kindergarteners & pre-k

When to Teach Kindergarten Sight Words

Not every child is ready for sight words at the same time. Similar to talking and walking, learning sight words is a developmental stage that children begin at different ages. Usually, it should not be before about five years of age. 

Before learning sight words, make sure the child has developed pre-reading behavior. Once your child begins showing an interest in letters and words, it indicates that a child is growing closer to reading.

Children are not required to recognize every letter before they begin learning sight words. A few letters and their sounds will let them get started with pre-primer sight words.

How to Teach Sight Words to Kindergarten

It can take time for children to learn sight words depending on their age, motivation, and cognitive skills. However, teaching kindergarten sight words with the right strategies can help any child to improve quickly. 

If you’re looking for how to teach sight words to kindergarteners or preschoolers, here are some great tips and strategies to do so.

My Favorite Tips to Teach Kindergarten Sight Words

1. Start with a Small List of Words

It is easy to find lists of sight words to begin introducing to young children. However, it is important that educators do not overwhelm beginning readers with long lists of words to learn. Start with one or two words that you would like to focus on. Give children many opportunities to practice these words and solidify their learning, before introducing more words.

2. Make it Motivating

Children can be motivated to learn sight words that hold personal significance to them. For example, a child may enjoy learning how to read the word “mom” or “dad.” 

Also, achieving quick success with sight words can motivate children to keep reading. Learning sight words like “I” and “a” may be easier than other words and give children an instant boost in their reading confidence. 

3. Don’t Introduce Visually Similar Words Together

Keep in mind that children who are learning to read may find visually similar words confusing. For example, it is not uncommon for beginning readers to mix up the words “the” and “here.” 

To cut back on the confusion, do not introduce visually similar words at the same time. Also, make sure that children have a solid recall of the first word before introducing the second.

4. Practice Makes Perfect

As you introduce new sight words, it is very beneficial to continue revisiting previously learned words. Even if they seem to have mastered a word, once you introduce new words, they may forget what was previously learned.

Continue to go back and reteach or quiz your children on previously learned words to make sure that they still remember them.

Worksheets can provide children with a variety of ways to review their growing bank of sight words. Coloring, matching, writing, and reading activities all help to solidify their sight word recognition.

5. Use Books for Carry Over

A key component of learning sight words is to recognize them in context. Some children may be able to identify a sight word within a list of words or on flashcards, but when it comes up in a book, they have trouble. 

Children should be exposed to a variety of books at their current reading level that include sight words they have been practicing. Choosing “just right” books is important. 

Asking children to read books that are far too difficult can create frustration. To learn new words, practice word-solving strategies, and sight word recognition, children need experience reading books at their instructional level – not too hard, and not too easy.

Beginning readers should develop sight words to support early reading. Here are tips on how to teach sight words to kindergarteners & pre-k

As you introduce sight words, pair them with books that are filled with the words you’re focusing on. There are many texts written specifically for beginning readers that use patterns and repetition to teach sight words. 

The goal is to provide children with lots of exposure to new words and to do so in a context where they can achieve success.

Beginning readers should read the same book more than once, providing them with more opportunities for practice and developing confidence in their reading. 

6. Pair Reading and Writing with Sight Words

Another great strategy for how to teach sight words is to take advantage of the relationship between reading and writing. When children learn how to write a word, they can typically read it as well. 

As you’re teaching sight words and incorporating the use of leveled texts, consider ways to involve writing as well. One way is to use a sentence stem from a book children have just read. 

Using the earlier example of a patterned text that begins each page with “I am,” children could write their own “I am” sentence after reading the book. This provides them with practice writing two sight words. 

Letting them choose their own ending for the sentence allows them to personalize their writing. Some children may wish to go a step further than writing one sentence and can create their own “I am” book.

7. Use Sensory Items For Writing Sight Words

Beginning readers should develop sight words to support early reading. Here are tips on how to teach sight words to kindergarteners & pre-k

Preschoolers and kindergarteners may enjoy exploring different modalities to write words. Have them experiment with chalk, whiteboard markers, or pastels. 

They can also practice writing their words in salt trays, shaving cream, or sand. In addition to writing sight words, children can build the words using materials like magnetic letters, letter tiles, or stamps.

Beginning readers should develop sight words to support early reading. Here are tips on how to teach sight words to kindergarteners & pre-k

8. Use Visual Cues (Word Wall)

A great tool to help children remember how to write sight words is a word wall. This is a visual display of words they have been introduced to. 

Word walls can be put up on a wall or bulletin board or can be a small, personal chart kept at a child’s table or desk. It’s important to make sure that words are displayed clearly, with the letters formed correctly. Beginning readers and writers can find fancy print confusing.

Word walls are also a great way to keep track of which sight words you have introduced. They also provide another way for children to review their words.

Related Post: Printable Sight Word Flashcards

Easy Activities for Learning Kindergarten Sight Words

Sight word activities are the perfect way to introduce and reinforce kindergarten sight words. The activities can be simple to put together and still have a big impact. Here are a few of my favorites!

1. Roll & Read

This Roll & Read Activity is super simple! All you need is some dice and the FREE printable. The children roll the dice, and then read the words in the column matching the number on the dice. You can use the free printable, or make your own worksheet with any sight words you are currently working on.

2. Sight Word Easter Egg Hunt

This would be the perfect activity for spring time – but really any time is a great time for egg activities! Simply write the sight words on the paper in the shape of an egg. Next hide the words inside the easter eggs, as your kids (or students) read the word, have them find the match on the paper.

3. Sight Word Parking Lot

This activity from Juggling with Kids looks so much fun! Make a little parking lot with sight words, call out a word and your little one can park the car in the correct spot. What a fun way to learn kindergarten sight words!

4. Magic Sight Words

Write sight words in white crayons on white paper. Give your students some crayons, watercolors, or markers, and let them color the sheet of paper. Watch as they are amazed at the magic word that appears! Have them read the word they just revealed.

5. Playdough Sight Words

Playdough makes everything fun! Have your kiddos form their sight words from playdough, and read the sight word they created.

Kindergarten Sight Word Games

After introducing a new word, we don’t want to abandon it before a child has had adequate opportunities to solidify its recall. Sight word games are a great way to teach sight words by reviewing and adding new words.

Beginning readers should develop sight words to support early reading. Here are tips on how to teach sight words to kindergarteners & pre-k

1. Memory

One example of a sight word game is Memory. Each word needs to be written on two flashcards. All the flashcards are turned over, face down. 

Each player takes turns choosing two cards. If they match, the player keeps the cards and gets another turn. If they don’t match, the player flips the cards back over and the next player has a turn. 

The game ends once all the cards have been matched. The winner is the player with the most matches.

Another simple sight word game is Zoom. A sight word is written on each flash card. The same word can be written on a couple flashcards if you like. 

The word “zoom” is printed on several flashcards. Players take turns choosing a card from the deck. If they choose a sight word, they read the word then place the card in their own pile. 

If they choose a “zoom” card, they get to steal everyone’s cards. Once all the cards have been chosen, the player with the biggest pile wins.

2. Sight Word Bingo

Sight Word Bingo is another way for children to review their sight words. Bingo cards made for dry-erase markers can be reused but paper and pencil also work. 

Each player needs a bingo card that has a different sight word in each box. You also need a deck of flashcards with each word written on a card. 

One person chooses a card and reads the sight word. The players look at their bingo card to see if they have the word, If so, they check it off. 

Cards continue to be chosen until a player gets “bingo.” This may be one line of words, words that create an “X” on the card, words in the four corners of the card, or even every word on the card.

Related Post: Sight Word Bingo Printables

3. YIKES!

This game could not be any simpler! All you need is a cup, some craft sticks, and a marker! Simply write the words you are practicing on the craft sticks, and add a few sticks with the word YIKES! Each child pulls out a stick and reads the word on the card. The play continues as each child reads the words on their stick. When a YIKES stick is pulled, the child is out for this round!

4. Bowling for Sight Words

This is a cute and easy game for teaching kindergarten sightwords! Simply write a few sightwords on the bowling pins, the kids can take turn rolling the ball and knocking down the pins. The child who rolls the ball must read the word on the pins that are knocked down. If they read them correctly they keep the pin! Whoever has the most pins will win the game!

5. Sight Word Hide and Seek

For this activity, print out some sight word flash cards, laminate and cut out for durability, then hide the cards around the house (or classroom) when the kids find the words they must read them to you. Great idea to get those bodies moving!

Apps to Practice Kindergarten Sight Words

Althought I think hands on activities are the best choice for learning sight words, apps do have their place in the world as well. Here are a few of my top pics for apps that will help you practice Kindergarten sight words.

1. Reading Ninja

You can get Reading Ninja on Itunes for just .99 this game is perfect for learning three letter Kindergarten Sight Word – definitely one of my favorites for beginners.

2. Learn Sight Words

This app is FREE in the app store, and is perfect for practicing sight words. Your little one can practice over 300 sight words using this app – with or without sound.

3. Meet the Sight Words

This is a perfect app for little ones to be engaged in! They simply need to choose the sight word that is called out. If they get the answer correct they are celebrated by super fun letters.


Introducing children to sight words is an essential part of teaching them to read. Watching their bank of known words develop is exciting to see! As they accumulate more words that they can instantly recognize, their confidence in both reading and writing will grow.

Now that you know how to teach sight words to kindergarteners and preschoolers, you can get your children and students learning and reading in no time! Be consistent with the above strategies and they’ll love learning to read and write.

Author Bio

Alesia is a founder of PrimaryLearning.org, an educational website that helps elementary school teachers and homeschool parents with hands-on worksheets, activities, and thoughtful articles.

Related posts:

If you’ve got a child in kindergarten, you’ll want to get familiar with kindergarten sight words and learn how to teach your child to read & learn sight words.

Free printable list of Kindergarten sight words

As a child play therapist and teacher, I understand how important it is to understand what sight words are, as well as understanding which activities, games, and apps are best to use to teach them.

This post has been updated to include more Kindergarten Sight Word Resources for parents and teachers (like this Kindergarten Sight Word Bundle Packet). 

Sight words are words that kindergarteners will see the most. Sight words are a commonly used term that usually refers to a set of words that reappears on almost any page of text.  

Kindergarten Sight Words and How to Teach Them

little girl writing Kindergarten Sight Words at a school table

These high-frequency words are seen often.  In fact, between 50-75% of your child’s text will include sight words from pre-primer & primer Dolch word lists.

What are sight words?

To become a great reader, children must master their sight words. It is essential to learn their sight words and to continue to practice them. Once your child has mastered them, it is time to move onto the next list.

When your child is looking at these words on a daily basis, they will learn them quickly.  Repetition is the key to fluency (reading smoothly, without a lot of pauses), so practicing these words over and over will help to achieve that goal. Here is a FREE printable list of Kindergarten Sight Words (click here, and I will send you the list)

Or if you really want the complete package, get this Kindergarten Sight Word Bundle Packet. As a child play therapist, I put this packet together so you can help your child learn sight words. You can print it over and over again to help your child learn his or her sight words.

How many sight words are there?

There are 52 sight words that are typically taught in kindergarten.

The Kindergarten Sight Words are:

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.

These are the 52 most commonly seen words in kindergarten level books. When a child is able to master those words, it not only makes it easier for them to read the words, it also improves their fluency or how quickly and smoothly they can read a passage.

How to Teach Kindergarten Sight Words

To begin, simply introduce your child to the list (show your child, hang it up, read them).

Read all of the words to your child (every day) and explain that he will be learning a new word every day (or every other day). Be excited about it.

On day one, see if your child knows any of the words. If they do, put a sticker, a checkmark, or a smiley face to the left of the word (there is space for that). If not, that’s OK! He will.

Every single day, go over the new word, as well as the OLD words that they know. I start by going over the old words with the sticker and then picking a new word. I say it, spell it, say it again, and ask my child to repeat it.

During the day, we will talk about that word and go back to the wall where it is hanging to look at it. I do this at least three times. I keep my chart in the pantry, so anytime our kids eat a snack or want to grab something, they see the words.

Continue to add a sticker, checkmark, or a smiley face to their new words, until the whole list has been completed. From then on, you can just review them every day or every few days.

As the days go on, find these words in other areas (words in books, service words on signs, flash cards before bed…)

Related: YOU ARE WELCOME TO DOWNLOAD THIS SIGHT WORD CHECKLIST ↓ (free) by clicking here. 

checklist for kindergarten sight words

SIGHT WORDS TO TRACE

Tracing kindergarten sight words gives children a chance to engage with the words in a new and different way. By combining multiple learning styles in one lesson, kids are more likely to learn and recall their sight words. Here are a couple of methods for creating kindergarten sight words to trace.

  • Rainbow Writing: At the beginning of the school year, have students trace the sight words in three different colors. This repetition helps them develop motor memory while also solidifying the spelling of the word. As the school year progresses, have students write the words independently in three colors. They can overlap the colors or write them three separate times.
  • Dry Erase Words: Kids love writing with different writing tools, so dry erase markers always make things more fun!
     – Print out the kindergarten sight words you’d like students to practice on a sheet of heavy cardstock.
     – Slip the cardstock into a transparent page protector and clip it to a clipboard.
     – Then, with a dry erase marker, students can trace the sight words on the page protector.
    If they make a mistake, it can be erased with a tissue or an old sock!
Traceable Kindergarten Sight words

SIGHT WORDS TO PRINT 

Technology has made even the youngest students digitally savvy. If you have access to a computer or tablet and a printer, have your students type their kindergarten sight words and print them out.

Kids love working in word processing programs and learning how to type. They can print the words in different colors, fonts, and sizes. Use the sight words they printed to decorate the room or as part of their reading folder.

If you minimize the page size, you could even use their printed words as Kindergarten sight word flashcards!

 rainbow writing Kindergarten sight words
SIGHT WORDS IN SENTENCES

Learning sight words are important, but kids need to learn how to identify those words in sentences.

For early readers, being able to pick out kindergarten sight words in sentences means they have a complete understanding of the word.

Not only can they trace and write the word, but they can pick it out amidst other words. This is an important skill as they continue to develop their reading abilities.

How do you find them? 

One way to help kids identify their sight words in sentences is to play a modified version of I Spy. Instead of looking for objects, they are tasked with finding sight words. Give them a highlighter or highlighter tape to cover the word once they have found it.

Since kindergarteners have a limited reading vocabulary, make the sentences as uncomplicated as possible. Even three-word sentences allow students to practice finding and identifying sight words. If you want to make it more challenging, add a couple of sight words in each sentence!

KINDERGARTEN SIGHT WORDS WITH PICTURES

Kindergarten sight words are basic words that are seen the most frequently in grade-level books. Many of the words are hard to illustrate because of their simplicity. One way to create flashcards of kindergarten sight words with pictures is to have students decorate them or create an illustration that helps them remember the word.

For example, they may draw someone crawling under a table, or they might draw a picture of a toy that has fallen under a bed to illustrate the word “UNDER.”  

Whatever image helps them remember the word is fine to use. The goal is to help them learn the words so there is no right or wrong.

KINDERGARTEN SIGHT WORD FLASHCARDS

Kindergarten sight word flashcards are especially helpful for quick practice. They can be useful for reviewing words at home or on the go.

Some people even uploaded them as virtual flashcards to a tablet or smartphone to be practiced while in the car, visiting relatives, or on vacation.

Kindergarten Sight Words in printable flashcards

It doesn’t matter if you print them out to review alone, study them from a device, or turn them into a game; sight word flashcards are a great way to reinforce kindergarten vocabulary.

When using Kindergarten Sight Word Flashcards, start with three sight words. When your child knows these three words, add one additional word at a time to the existing words the child already knows.

If you add more, your child will likely become frustrated – and we want this to be fun! Continue adding one word at a time until your child can recognize all Kindergarten sight words.

Kindergarten Sight Word list

Sight Word Games and Sight Word Apps

Learning is always more effective when it’s turned into a game! Here are some of our favorite sight word games and apps.

Sight Word Games

  • Go on a Word Hunt: Look for sight words in your Kindergartener’s favorite book! Count how many you can find. You could also print out a list of kindergarten sight words and put a checkmark next to each one you find.
  • Sight Word Hopscotch: Draw a hopscotch board on the sidewalk with chalk and write different sight words in each square. As your child hops from square to square, have him call out the sight word he’s jumping to.
  • Sight Word Water Balloon Smash: Fill water balloons and write sight words on each balloon in a permanent marker. On the sidewalk, write the sight words in chalk. Have your child choose a balloon, match it to the word on the sidewalk, and smash it on the chalked word. Not only is it a lot of fun, but it’s also a great way to stay cool.
  • There are more Games in this Kindergarten Sight Word Bundle Packet, like these puzzles, etc.

writing sight words in sugar

Sight Word Apps

  • Sight Words by Photo TouchFree.  This no-frills sight word app lets kids match the sight words and progress through the different levels.
  • Sight Words List by Innovative Mobile Apps – $1.39. Bright and simple, this app lets you use pre-built lists of sight words or create your own. There are also challenges where kids can pick the sight word out of a group of words. The clear font makes the words easy to read.
  • Sight Words: Kids Learn by Teacher Created Materials – Free. This sight words app features more frills than the two above. The pictures are colorful, the font is clear, and there are multiple games to help students practice their sight words.
  • Print this FREE Kindergarten sight word list – Hang it by your door or on your refrigerator.  Review the list daily until your child can read them fluently and confidently.

You’ll also want to think about helping them even more by using this Kindergarten Sight Word Bundle Packet.

This printable packet is easy to use; you can download it and print it over & over to help your child.  The kids love it & they learn so much from the repetition of seeing the same words again & again.   It’s a great way to help your child learn their sight words, which helps them to learn to read well.

kindergarten sight words worksheet packet

→GRAB YOUR FREE SIGHT WORD CHECKLIST HERE.← 

See these other posts to get your child ready for school

  • Teach kids their name and number with ONE tip
  • How to read to your preschooler
  • 5 practical, time-saving tips for school mornings
5 non academic skills to learn before kindergarten
wait to send child to Kindergarten
What your child’s teacher wishes you knew about reading

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