Sight words and phonicsPre-K to grade 3
Sight word flash cards
Each page holds fifteen cards in three columns and five rows, one Dolch word on each, with dashed lines to cut along. The deck covers a whole level, from pre-primer through third grade.
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On this page
What prints
The title is "Pre-primer Sight Words: Flash Cards" (the level name changes with your choice). The page is a grid of dashed rectangles, three across and five down, with a single word centered in large bold type in each. Words are in Dolch's list order, not shuffled, so the first card on page one is "a" for pre-primer.
The number of pages depends on the list. Pre-primer's 40 words take three pages, primer's 52 take four, first grade's 41 take three, second grade's 46 take four and third grade's 41 take three. The last page may have empty spaces. Long words shrink slightly to stay inside their card.
The instructions on the sheet suggest showing one card at a time and asking the child to read it in three seconds or less. Nothing on the cards is written on the back, so they are one-sided.
The settings
- Word list. Five levels: Pre-primer, Primer, First grade, Second grade and Third grade.
- Activity. Set to "Flash cards to cut out". Words per page is not adjustable; it is always fifteen.
Making a sturdy deck
Print on cardstock if your printer takes it. Otherwise print on regular paper and glue the sheet to a cereal box before cutting. Cut on the dashed lines with scissors or a paper trimmer, and round the corners for small hands.
Sort into two envelopes: "I know it" and "still learning". Only the second envelope gets drilled. After a week, retest the first to make sure nothing slid back.
Worked example: a ten-minute session
You have printed the primer deck and cut out the cards for the first two pages, 30 words in all.
- Shuffle the cards and hold them face down.
- Flip the top card and wait three seconds. If your child reads it, it goes in the "know it" pile with a quick "yes".
- If they cannot, say the word, have them repeat it, and slide the card back about five cards down so it returns soon.
- Stop after ten minutes or when the "still learning" pile is down to a handful, whichever is first.
Next day, begin with the "still learning" cards, then add five from the other pile as a warm-up. Track progress on the kindergarten sight words checklist. For writing practice with the same lists, see sight words worksheets.
Games beyond drills
Lay cards out and ask your child to find "the word that starts with w". Hide a card under a cup and reveal it. Pairing cards with a sentence strips adds meaning to words like the and was, which have little to picture.
Sources
- Reading Rockets: Phonics and Decoding readingrockets.org
- Common Core State Standards: Reading Foundational Skills, Kindergarten (RF.K.3.c) thecorestandards.org