Pre-K sight words worksheets (Dolch pre-primer list)
The 40 Dolch pre-primer words are the first sight words most children meet: short, common words like I, can, see, and the. Trace a few at a time, read them aloud, and print the sheet for pre-K or early kindergarten.
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All preview pages are included in the PDF.
The 40 words on this list
Click a preset above to load a group of eight, or choose “All 40 words”. The full list:
- a
- and
- away
- big
- blue
- can
- come
- down
- find
- for
- funny
- go
- help
- here
- I
- in
- is
- it
- jump
- little
- look
- make
- me
- my
- not
- one
- play
- red
- run
- said
- see
- the
- three
- to
- two
- up
- we
- where
- yellow
- you
How to use the pre-primer list
The pre-primer list has only 40 words, most with one to four letters. That makes it a good first list for pre-K and early kindergarten. Choose one group of eight words, a few words a week is plenty, and place the printed sheet beside a favorite picture book so the child can spot the words in real sentences. Several words (a, I, go, me, we) use only one or two letters, which makes them a good starting point for beginning writers.
Watch the word I: it is the only capital-letter word on the list and a child’s first step to writing their own sentences. This page keeps its capital letter when you use the as-typed setting.
Tracing and reading together
Tracing builds a memory of how a word looks and feels. Tell the child to say the word, trace each letter while saying its sound or name, then say the whole word again. Keep it light: two or three words per sitting. Sight words are not just memorization. Pair them with CVC word tracing so children also practise sounding out words they can decode.
Games that fit the list
- Find it: look through a picture book for the, and, or can.
- Tower words: write each word on a sticky note, say it, then stack the notes into a tower.
- Pocket words: keep three new words in a pocket and show them to a grown-up at night.
About the Dolch list
Edward W. Dolch’s basic sight vocabulary was compiled in the 1930s from words common in early children’s books, and the lists are widely reproduced. Levels such as “pre-primer” are traditional names, not an official grade requirement; schools use many lists, and some use Fry or district lists instead. Paste your school’s list into the box above if it differs.
Continue with a related worksheet
Pre-K sight word questions
How many pre-primer Dolch words are there?
There are 40 words on the Dolch pre-primer list. All of them are in the editable box when you pick “All 40 words”.
Is the pre-primer list for pre-K?
Pre-primer is the earliest Dolch level and is commonly used for pre-K and early kindergarten, but readiness varies. Go at the child’s pace.
Can I edit the words before printing?
Yes. Add, remove, or reorder words in the box, one per line, then print or download the PDF.
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