Sight Word Flashcards
Generate printable sight word flashcards by grade level. Choose from Pre-K through 3rd grade Dolch word lists or create custom cards with your own words.
Select a word list and click
"Generate Flashcards" to create cards
About This Tool
The Sight Word Flashcard Generator creates instant printable flashcards from grade-appropriate Dolch sight word lists. Sight words (also called high-frequency words) are common words that children learn to recognize instantly without sounding out. Select a grade level from Pre-K through 3rd grade to access age-appropriate word lists, or enter your own custom words. Customize card size, cards per page, and color themes to create perfect flashcards for home practice, classroom centers, or tutoring sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sight words are common words that appear frequently in reading but often can't be easily sounded out phonetically (like 'the', 'was', 'said'). Children learn to recognize these words instantly 'by sight' rather than decoding them. Mastering sight words dramatically improves reading fluency and comprehension.
Dolch words are a list of 220 common words compiled by Edward William Dolch in 1936. They make up 50-75% of all words in children's books. The lists are organized by grade level (Pre-Primer through Third Grade) and remain the standard for sight word instruction in most schools today.
Practice in short sessions (5-10 minutes). Show each card and give your child 3 seconds to respond. Known words go in one pile, unknown in another. Focus extra practice on unknown words. Once a word is recognized instantly 3 days in a row, it's mastered. Shuffle cards regularly to prevent memorizing order.
Start with Pre-K words even for older struggling readers—mastering easier words builds confidence. For kindergarteners, begin with Pre-K and add Kindergarten words as they progress. By first grade, children should know Pre-K and Kindergarten words and be learning 1st grade words. Don't skip levels; sight words build cumulatively.