The Dolch List
The Dolch list is a reading list containing 220 of the most frequently used words. These are the words that would benefit your child to eventually memorize so that they will know them on sight. Some of these words are “jail words”…words that do not follow the rules of phonics. Therefore, they cannot be sounded out.
The list goes up to third grade. It is strongly suggested that you put the preprimer and primer words on index cards for your child and practice a few every night. Please be aware that if you print this out and have them practice these words from a list instead of putting them on index cards, your child may memorize the words based solely on remembering which word follows the next instead of knowing it in isolation. It would be helpful to learn these words before first grade as it prepares them for reading with greater ease.
Over time, you might want to advance to other lists. Learning these words will increase your child’s self-confidence and enhance the flow of their reading.
Preprimer
a funny look see
and go make the
away help me three
big here my to
blue I not two
can in one up
come is play we
down it red where
find jump run yellow
for little said you
Primer
all four out well
am get please went
are good pretty what
at have ran white
ate he ride will
be into saw with
black like say yes
brown must she this
but new so too
came no soon under
did now that want
do on there was
eat our they
1st Grade
after give live take
again going may thank
an had of them
any has old then
as her once think
ask him open walk
by his over were
could how put when
every just round who
fly know some from
let stop
2nd Grade
always fast pull use
around first read very
because five right wash
been found sing which
before gave sit why
best goes sleep wish
both green tell work
buy its their would
call made these write
cold many those your
does off upon don’t
or us
3rd Grade
about far light six
better full long small
bring got much start
carry grow myself ten
clean hold never today
cut hot only together
done hurt own try
draw if pick warm
drink keep seven eight
kind shall fall laugh
show in one up
come is play we
down it red where
find jump run yellow
for little said you
The Dolch list is a reading list containing 220 of the most frequently used words. These are the words that would benefit your child to eventually memorize so that they will know them on sight. Some of these words are “jail words”…words that do not follow the rules of phonics. Therefore, they cannot be sounded out.
The list goes up to third grade. It is strongly suggested that you put the preprimer and primer words on index cards for your child and practice a few every night. Please be aware that if you print this out and have them practice these words from a list instead of putting them on index cards, your child may memorize the words based solely on remembering which word follows the next instead of knowing it in isolation. It would be helpful to learn these words before first grade as it prepares them for reading with greater ease.
Over time, you might want to advance to other lists. Learning these words will increase your child’s self-confidence and enhance the flow of their reading.
Preprimer
a funny look see
and go make the
away help me three
big here my to
blue I not two
can in one up
come is play we
down it red where
find jump run yellow
for little said you
Primer
all four out well
am get please went
are good pretty what
at have ran white
ate he ride will
be into saw with
black like say yes
brown must she this
but new so too
came no soon under
did now that want
do on there was
eat our they
1st Grade
after give live take
again going may thank
an had of them
any has old then
as her once think
ask him open walk
by his over were
could how put when
every just round who
fly know some from
let stop
2nd Grade
always fast pull use
around first read very
because five right wash
been found sing which
before gave sit why
best goes sleep wish
both green tell work
buy its their would
call made these write
cold many those your
does off upon don’t
or us
3rd Grade
about far light six
better full long small
bring got much start
carry grow myself ten
clean hold never today
cut hot only together
done hurt own try
draw if pick warm
drink keep seven eight
kind shall fall laugh
show in one up
come is play we
down it red where
find jump run yellow
for little said you