Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Dolch Sight Words


What are Dolch sight words? The Dolch Word List is a list of frequently used words compiled by Edward William Dolch, PhD. The list was originally published in his book “Problems in Reading”, The Garrard Press, 1948. Dolch compiled the list based on children’s books of his era. The list contains 220 “service words” that have to be easily recognized in order to achieve reading fluency. The compilation excludes nouns, which comprise a separate 95-word list.
Many of the 220 Dolch words can’t be “sounded out” and have to be learned by sight. Hence the alternative term “Sight Words”.

From 50-75% of all words used in school books, library books, newspapers, and magazines are in the Dolch Basic Sight Vocabulary of 220 words (preschool- 3rd grade). There is no way that some of these words can be sounded out.
I found some powerpoints to practice these words with your kiddos here:
Here is a list of other websites that have the Dolch word lists available for printout and use:

http://www.janbrett.com (The prettiest and most colorful)
http://www.fcboe.org/schoolhp/shes/sight_words.htm
http://www.kidzone.ws/dolch/kindergarten.htm (Kindergarten sight words list)
http://www.kidzone.ws/dolch/grade1.htm (1st grade sight words list)
http://www.kidzone.ws/dolch/grade2.htm (2nd grade sight words list)
http://www.kidzone.ws/dolch/grade3.htm (3rd grade words list)
http://www.learningbooks.net/xDolchSpanish.html (words in Spanish & English)
http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/Dolch/Contents.html. (This site contains a wealth of information. It has a complete lesson plan that can be used, along with all the materials necessary. I highly recommend this.)
Check it out!

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