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Sight Word List :
Fry's 1000 Instant Words  (1-300)

The Fry Sight Word List is made up of the most frequently used words in children's books, novels, articles and textbooks. The words are ranked in order of frequency.

faucet with a drop of water coming out

The list was compiled by Dr. Edward B. Fry in 1996.  His research found that just 25 words make up approximately 1/3 of all published text. He noted that 100 words make up about 1/2, and 300 words make up 65% of all written material.

Clearly, students need to be able to read and spell these 300 hundred words easily to be successful in the early grades. Use the printable lists for writing and spelling practice at home and in the classroom. You'll find a link for each  remaining Fry sight word list at the bottom of the page.

I've also posted the popular Dolch Sight Word lists.

The First Hundred Words (Words 1-100) 
Printable list

List 1 List 2 List 3 List 4
the or will number
of one up no
and had other way
a by about could
to words out people
in but many my
is not then than
you what them first
that all these water
it were so been
he we some called
was when her who
for your would am
on can make its
are said like now
as there him find
with use into long
his an time down
they each has day
I which look did
at she two get
be do more come
this how write made
have their go may
from if see part

I have printable flash cards for the first 100 words.

Second Hundred (Words 101 - 200) - Printable List

List 1 List 2 List 3 List 4
over say set try
new great put kind
sound where end hand
take help does picture
only through another again
little much well change
work before large off
know line must play
place right big spell
years too even air
live means such away
me old because animal
back any turn house
give same here point
most tell why page
very boy ask letter
after follow went mother
things came men answer
our want read found
just show need study
name also land still
good around different learn
sentence form home should
man three us America
think small move world


Third Hundred (Words 201 - 300) - Printable List

List 1 List 2 List 3 List 4
high saw important miss
every left until idea
near don't children enough
add few side eat
food while feet face
between along car watch
own might mile far
below close night Indian
country something walk real
plant seem white almost
last next sea let
school hard began above
father open grow girl
keep example took sometimes
tree begin river mountains
never life four cut
start always carry young
city those state talk
earth both once soon
eyes paper book list
light together hear song
thought got stop being
head group without leave
under often second family
story run late it's

Find Another Sight Word List:

Find more of the Fry sight words here:

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Hundred Words

Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Hundred Words

Tips for Using Sight Word Lists

Now that you know all these sight words, it's great to actually use them with your child or students! I've written several sight word games to give kids fun practice in recognizing these all-important words at an early age. Here are just two examples:

wooden alphabet blocks

Love the Letters! - Three fun activities for partners using any sight words. Children work in pairs to use alphabet blocks to spell sight words, following one of several interesting variations. Bore no more!

Tic-Tac-Toe Game - A simple format that kids can use over and over with any sight words. Students write sight words into a blank tic-tac-toe board. Then the fun begins!

Sight Word Game : Bingo!

Or how about a classroom game of Sight Word Bingo?! What better way to have FUN recognizing words?  This is a great educational game from other site, www.word-game-world.com. While you're there, check out some of my other word games and puzzles!

Author Ann Richmond Fisher

Ann Richmond Fisher is a longtime published educational writer, a former classroom teacher and a former homeschool teacher. Ann's spelling bee resources, graded spelling word lists, spelling games, worksheets, and other language arts resources have become respected around the globe since she launched Spelling-Words-Well in 2010.

Ann is also the creator of www.word-game-world.com.

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