Kindergarten sight words worksheets (Dolch primer list)
The Dolch primer list has 52 words and is the usual next step after pre-primer. Use it as a kindergarten sight words list: pick eight words at a time, trace and copy them, then read them in sentences.
Preview every page
All preview pages are included in the PDF.
The 52 words on this list
Click a preset above to load a group of eight, or choose “All 52 words”. The full list:
- all
- am
- are
- at
- ate
- be
- black
- brown
- but
- came
- did
- do
- eat
- four
- get
- good
- have
- he
- into
- like
- must
- new
- no
- now
- on
- our
- out
- please
- pretty
- ran
- ride
- saw
- say
- she
- so
- soon
- that
- there
- they
- this
- too
- under
- want
- was
- well
- went
- what
- white
- who
- will
- with
- yes
Eight words at a time
Fifty-two words are too many to learn at once, so the buttons above split the list into groups of eight. Print one group, practise for a week, and revisit the old group before adding a new one. A rule of thumb: introduce two or three new words a day and mix in a review word. Choose short sessions; writing words for ten minutes is plenty for kindergarten.
Words that are easy to confuse
Several primer words look alike and are easy to mix up: was and saw, no and on, who and what, there and they. When you see a mix-up, put the two words side by side on a card and trace both. The fill-in-the-blank maker can turn them into sentences such as “I ___ a dog.” Reading a word in a sentence helps a child choose the right one.
From tracing to writing
After tracing, ask the child to write the word on the blank line without looking at the model. Then use sentence tracing for short sentences such as “I see the red hat.” Many primer words (like, want, have) also make good first sentences about the child’s own life.
Where this list comes from
These are the 52 primer words from Edward W. Dolch’s 1936 basic sight vocabulary. Treat the level as a guide: kindergarten expectations differ by school and state, so use your own classroom list when you have one and paste it into the box.
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Kindergarten sight word questions
Are Dolch primer words kindergarten sight words?
The primer list is commonly used in kindergarten, though your school may use a different list or a different order.
How many sight words should a kindergartener learn?
It depends on the school; many programs aim for a few dozen words by the end of kindergarten. Follow your teacher’s list and the child’s progress.
Can I print only some of the words?
Yes. Choose a group of eight or edit the box to include just the words you want.
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