Free printable · Dolch sight words

Dolch first grade sight words

Edward Dolch published his list of 220 "service words" in 1936: the small words, like the, and and said, that make up much of what young children read. Schools usually teach them in five levels; this is the first grade level. The first grade level adds many of the question and time words children need for longer sentences, such as how, when, after and again.

This page has all 41 words of the Dolch first grade list, in alphabetical order, as a printable list and as flashcards.

Words a to e

after
again
an
any
as
ask
by
could
every

Words f to h

fly
from
give
going
had
has
her
him
his

Words h to o

how
just
know
let
live
may
of
old
once

Words o to t

open
over
put
round
some
stop
take
thank
them

Words t to w

then
think
walk
were
when

How to use this list

Group the words your child can decode (an, ask, had, him, his, just, let, stop, then, think) and read those first.
Sound out any part of the word that follows the usual rules (most do), and point out only the tricky part.
Keep a small pile of words your child knows and a small pile they are learning, and move cards over as they get them.
Read the words in real books too. A word on a card is learned for good when your child reads it in a story without stopping.

Frequently asked questions

Are Dolch words the same as sight words?

Dolch words are one well-known list of high-frequency words. Many schools call them sight words, but most of them can be sounded out, and children learn them best with phonics plus practice, not by memorising shapes.

Why are of and once so hard?

Their spelling and sound do not match the usual rules: of ends in a /v/ sound, and once starts with a /w/ sound. Those are the words to practise most often.

Is it all right to print and share this list?

Yes. The Dolch lists are old enough to be in the public domain, and this page is free to print for home or classroom use.

Free: the 10-minute daily phonics routine

Four short steps you can do with your child every day: sounds, blending, reading and a quick chat about the story. One printable page.

We'll email you the 10-minute daily phonics routine, a few short reading tips over the next month, then at most one monthly roundup of new guides. Unsubscribe anytime.