Understanding Sight Words

First published March 2017
Updated December 2025

What are sight words? They are also known as Fry, Dolch, high frequency and common words. These are words that don’t always follow regular sound patterns and are recognized through repeated exposure and understanding how letters and sounds connect.

The English language is based on sound associations to letters and letter pairs. Children must learn the patterns of letters and sounds while also recalling words that do not follow the standard pattern. This can be tricky work for a young reader and takes time and practice.

For many years, early reading curricula emphasized sight words and contextual reading. Children were given flash cards, word lists, and assessments to make sure that their word recall was growing at a set pace. As reading scores across the country continued to decline, many districts began to return to the science of reading, which is the large body of reading research that places emphasis on language comprehension as well as word recognition. This shift helps ensure children learn how sounds and letters work together to form words and meaning.

Sight words still have a role in early reading. For example, words such as “said, was, have, and come” do not fit typical patterns and must be remembered. These words are learned alongside phonics skills so children can recognize both regular and irregular patterns.

You can strengthen your child’s early reading skills by providing them with a language-rich environment where they notice familiar words and signs in their environment. These experiences help build the memory and pattern recognition that support reading development.

Visit your local library and let them pick out books that spark their interest. Talk with them, play word games, and read to them daily. As you’re reading stories, talk about the who, what, and where of the story. Make up stories about things they love (“The dog is hiding. Where did he go?”).

For many children, motor-patterns help solidify the learning process. Use bath-time or outside play to incorporate the foundations of reading. Draw with bath crayons, sidewalk chalk, and make signs with paper cups, rocks, or other scraps of material.

Recognizing common words works best alongside learning letter and sound patterns.
If you have concerns about your child’s language or reading development, talk with their teacher, physician, or a speech-language pathologist. Early support can make reading feel easier and more fun. Having enjoyable early experiences with reading is what build lifelong readers.