Glossary · Letters, phonics and word reading
What is a sight word?
Definition
A sight word is any word a reader recognizes instantly, without sounding it out; the term is also used loosely for lists of common words.
In the research sense, every word a skilled reader knows is a sight word: you read elephant instantly, even though it is long and fully regular. Words become sight words through orthographic mapping, not through flashcards alone.
In schools, sight words usually means a list of common words students are expected to know, such as the Dolch or Fry lists. Some of those words are irregular, but most are regular and could be decoded.
The mix-up matters for teaching. Treating every sight word as something to memorize by shape wastes time and doesn't stick. Teaching students to decode the regular parts and heart only the odd ones turns list words into real sight words faster.
In a lesson
A student reads jump instantly on the first day of a unit. That's already a sight word for them. The word there still makes them pause, so it gets heart-word practice.
Examples
Each word with its spelling units, one per sound.
- sayss·ay·s
- lovel·o·v·e
- othero·th·er
- goneg·o·n·e
Words come from our lexicon, checked against a pronouncing dictionary. Words a student sees in our assessments are left out.
Why does this matter for the record?
Record when a word becomes instant, not just correct. Speed is what tells you the word has been stored.
Rate each skill as you teach it
Needs support, Developing, Secure. The rating schedules the review and builds the report.