The Dolch sight word list is the most widely used high-frequency word list in American early reading instruction. Developed by Dr. Edward William Dolch in 1948, the list contains 220 service words plus 95 high-frequency nouns.
Why these words matter: The 220 Dolch words account for approximately 50–75% of all words appearing in children’s books. A child who can read these automatically reads noticeably faster and with greater comprehension.
Pre-Primer Dolch Words (40 words)
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
How to teach Pre-Primer words: Start with just 3–5 words at a time. Use flashcard drills (see-say-spell), simple sentences, and games. Aim for instant recognition (under 1 second per word) before moving on.
Primer Dolch Words (52 words)
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
Grade 1 Dolch Words (41 words)
after · again · an · any · 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 · think · walk · were · when
Grade 2 Dolch Words (46 words)
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
Grade 3 Dolch Words (41 words)
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
Dolch Noun List (95 words)
apple · baby · back · ball · bear · bed · bell · bird · birthday · boat · box · boy · bread · brother · cake · car · cat · chair · chicken · children · Christmas · coat · corn · cow · day · dog · doll · door · duck · egg · eye · farm · farmer · father · feet · fire · fish · floor · flower · fly · foot · game · garden · girl · grass · ground · hand · head · hill · home · horse · house · kitty · leg · letter · man · men · milk · money · morning · mother · name · nest · night · paper · party · picture · pig · rabbit · rain · ring · robin · school · seed · sheep · shoe · sister · snow · song · squirrel · stick · street · sun · table · thing · time · top · toy · tree · watch · water · way · wind · window · wood
How to Teach Dolch Sight Words Effectively
The Flashcard Method
- Introduce 3–5 new words per week (not more).
- Show the word card; say the word clearly.
- Have your child spell the word aloud while looking at it.
- Say the word again.
- Review all known words before introducing new ones.
The Sentence Method
Seeing words in context helps cement them:
- “The cat sat on the mat.” (the)
- “Said the bird, ‘I can fly.’” (said)
Games That Work
- Go Fish with duplicate word cards
- Memory / Concentration — match word to word
- Bingo — fill in a grid, parent calls words
- Word Wall — sticky notes on the wall, add words weekly
How Long Does It Take?
| Pace | New Words/Week | Time to Master Pre-K + Primer (92 words) |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | 2/week | ~46 weeks |
| Average | 3–5/week | 18–30 weeks |
| Fast | 6–8/week | 12–15 weeks |
Most children master the Pre-Primer and Primer lists (92 words) by the end of kindergarten with consistent practice. The full 220 words are typically complete by end of second grade.
Dolch vs. Fry Sight Words
| Dolch | Fry | |
|---|---|---|
| Total words | 220 service + 95 nouns | 1,000 words |
| Year created | 1948 | 1957 |
| Organization | By grade level | By frequency rank |
Our recommendation: Use the Dolch list for Pre-K through Grade 2. Use Fry words if your child breezes through Dolch and needs more challenge.