50 Common Sight Words for Kindergarten - Mr. Greg's English Cloud

Sight words are words that young children are encouraged to memorize as a whole by sight, so they can automatically recognize them without needing to use decoding strategies. These words often appear frequently in text, making them essential for early reading success. Below is a list of 50 common sight words for kindergarten, along with examples of how they can be used in simple sentences.

1. I

Example: I am happy.

2. Am

Example: I am five years old.

3. A

Example: I see a cat.

4. And

Example: I like apples and bananas.

5. An

Example: She has an orange.

6. At

Example: I am at school.

7. Can

Example: Can you help me?

8. Do

Example: Do you like to play?

9. He

Example: He is my friend.

10. She

Example: She is my sister.

11. It

Example: It is a sunny day.

12. Is

Example: The dog is big.

13. In

Example: The ball is in the box.

14. Go

Example: I want to go to the park.

15. We

Example: We are going home.

16. Me

Example: This is for me.

17. My

Example: That is my toy.

18. Like

Example: I like ice cream.

19. To

Example: I am going to the zoo.

20. Up

Example: Look up at the sky.

21. Down

Example: The bird flew down.

22. See

Example: I see a rainbow.

23. Look

Example: Look at the butterfly.

24. The

Example: The sun is shining.

25. You

Example: You are my friend.

26. They

Example: They are playing a game.

27. Are

Example: The toys are on the floor.

28. For

Example: This gift is for you.

29. With

Example: I am going with my mom.

30. Of

Example: The cup is full of juice.

31. On

Example: The book is on the table.

32. All

Example: All of the children are here.

33. By

Example: The dog is by the door.

34. One

Example: I have one apple.

35. Two

Example: She has two dolls.

36. Three

Example: I see three birds.

37. Big

Example: That is a big ball.

38. Little

Example: I have a little puppy.

39. Has

Example: He has a red car.

40. Have

Example: I have a new toy.

41. Here

Example: Here is my book.

42. There

Example: There is a cat in the yard.

43. This

Example: This is my favorite toy.

44. That

Example: That is a funny clown.

45. What

Example: What is your name?

46. Where

Example: Where is my hat?

47. Who

Example: Who is your teacher?

48. When

Example: When is your birthday?

49. Why

Example: Why is the sky blue?

50. No

Example: No, I don’t want any more cookies.

Why Sight Words Matter

Sight words are important because they help children develop reading fluency. Many of these words don’t follow standard phonetic rules or are frequently used, so recognizing them by sight allows young readers to focus on the meaning of the text without getting bogged down by trying to sound out each word.

How to Teach Sight Words

Flashcards: Use flashcards to help children memorize sight words. Show the word on one side and have the child read it aloud.
Repetition: Repetition is key. Read books with these words and point them out as you go.

Games: Play games like word bingo or memory matching to make learning sight words fun.
Writing Practice: Have children write the words on paper or in sand to engage multiple senses in the learning process.

By mastering these common sight words, kindergarten students will be well on their way to becoming confident, independent readers.