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132 Common Sight Words & How to Teach Them

Updated: Jun 22

What is the meaning of sight words?


Sight words are a fundamental component of reading instruction in elementary schools. These are words that students are encouraged to recognize instantly, without needing to sound them out. This blog explores the importance of sight words and offers practical tips on how to effectively integrate them into a child’s learning process.


Why Sight Words? Sight words make up a significant portion of the text in early reading materials. Mastering these words helps children build confidence, speed, and fluency in reading. Since many sight words do not follow regular phonetic rules, recognizing them on sight is crucial for smooth reading and comprehension.


Recommended Ages: Age 4, Age 5, Age 6


Effective Strategies for Teaching Sight Words


  1. Repetition and Consistency: Repetitive exposure through flashcards, repetitive reading, and word games can reinforce recognition.

  2. Use in Context: Incorporating sight words into sentences and stories helps students understand their usage and meaning.

  3. Visual and Kinesthetic Learning: Activities like word tracing, writing in sand, or using magnetic letters can engage different learning styles.

  4. Interactive Games: Online games and mobile apps that focus on sight words can make learning fun and engaging for young students.

  5. Regular Assessment: Quick, regular quizzes and progress checks can help track student progress and identify areas needing more focus.


Incorporating Sight Words at Home Parents can support their children’s learning by:

  • Creating a word-rich environment at home with labeled items.

  • Encouraging daily reading practices that involve sight word books.

  • Playing simple sight word games like 'find the word' or 'word bingo' during family time.


132 Common Sight Words for Ages 4-6

  1. a

  2. about

  3. after

  4. again

  5. all

  6. an

  7. and

  8. are

  9. as

  10. at

  11. be

  12. because

  13. been

  14. black

  15. blue

  16. bring

  17. brown

  18. but

  19. buy

  20. by

  21. call

  22. can

  23. clean

  24. cold

  25. come

  26. could

  27. day

  28. did

  29. do

  30. done

  31. down

  32. draw

  33. drink

  34. each

  35. find

  36. first

  37. for

  38. from

  39. get

  40. give

  41. go

  42. good

  43. got

  44. green

  45. had

  46. has

  47. have

  48. he

  49. her

  50. him

  51. his

  52. how

  53. if

  54. in

  55. into

  56. is

  57. it

  58. its

  59. like

  60. little

  61. live

  62. long

  63. look

  64. made

  65. make

  66. many

  67. may

  68. more

  69. my

  70. no

  71. not

  72. now

  73. number

  74. of

  75. off

  76. on

  77. one

  78. or

  79. other

  80. out

  81. part

  82. people

  83. pick

  84. play

  85. please

  86. pretty

  87. pull

  88. put

  89. said

  90. see

  91. she

  92. so

  93. some

  94. than

  95. that

  96. the

  97. their

  98. them

  99. then

  100. there

  101. these

  102. they

  103. this

  104. time

  105. to

  106. together

  107. too

  108. try

  109. two

  110. under

  111. up

  112. upon

  113. use

  114. was

  115. water

  116. way

  117. we

  118. were

  119. what

  120. when

  121. which

  122. who

  123. will

  124. wish

  125. with

  126. word

  127. would

  128. write

  129. yellow

  130. yes

  131. you

  132. your


What are 10 common sight words?

  1. the

  2. and

  3. a

  4. to

  5. in

  6. is

  7. you

  8. that

  9. it

  10. for


Sight words are essential for developing early reading skills in elementary students. Through consistent practice, engagement in interactive activities, and support both in the classroom and at home, students can master these words, leading to significant improvements in their reading abilities. Teachers and parents working in tandem can create a supportive learning environment that fosters a love for reading from an early age.


By focusing on these sight word strategies, educators and parents can provide children with the tools they need to succeed in their reading journey, paving the way for future academic success. Happy reading!



Sight words and how to teach them

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