Dolch Sight Word Flashcards (Free Printable)

How to use the flashcards

Flashcards work best in short rounds with few cards. Take 8 to 10 cards, show them one by one, and sort them into two piles: "I know it" (read in under three seconds) and "Not yet". Only the second pile is practised again.

• Keep the "know it" pile in the box for revision once a week, so the words stay fresh.
• Never show a card for longer than 3 seconds. If the word is not read, say it, and put the card back later in the pile. A child who sounds out a sight word is not yet at the stage of recognising it.
• Add a new card only when one card moves to the "know it" pile. The pile of words in practice stays small.

5 games with the cards

The same cards turn into games that make repetition feel like play.

• Snap: two copies of each card (print the page twice) and turn them over in a grid. Turn two cards and read them; if they match, keep them.
• Hide and seek: hide 8 cards around a room. Your child finds a card, reads it, and takes it to the "word wall".
• Beat the clock: how many cards can you read in one minute? Write the score and try again tomorrow.
• Sentence builder: lay out 3 or 4 cards and make a sentence with them, adding words yourself. "The" + "red" + "ball" + "can" + "jump".
• Mystery word: put a card face down, give clues ("it has three letters, it begins with t"), and your child guesses and checks.

Choosing the right list

Start with a list that is slightly easy, so the first session ends with success. If your child knows nearly every card, move to the next list. If less than half are known, go back one.