Sight words, also known as high-frequency words, are common words that young children are encouraged to memorize as a whole by sight, so they can automatically recognize these words in print without having to use any strategies to decode them. Knowing sight words helps children build reading fluency.
By the end of Year 2, most educators agree that students should know at least 150-200 sight words. The exact number varies slightly depending on the curriculum, but reaching 150-200 sight words is considered a typical benchmark for 7-8 year olds.
Why are sight words important?
Sight words are very important building blocks for reading skills. Here are some key reasons sight word knowledge matters:
- Sight words make up a large portion of the words young students encounter in books and text. Studies show that just 100-150 words make up around 50% of the words found in children’s reading materials.
- Having sight words memorized allows children to recognize words automatically without having to use decoding strategies. This helps children build reading fluency.
- Knowing sight words helps children unlock meaning and comprehend what they are reading more quickly. Less decoding = better comprehension.
- As children build their sight word knowledge, they free up mental energy for comprehension. They spend less time struggling through unknown words.
- Sight word knowledge improves reading confidence. The more words a child recognizes instantly, the more willing they become to take risks and work through harder reading material.
Overall, sight word knowledge is one of the key pillars of reading skills. Children who reach reading fluency read more, enjoy reading more, and access the benefits of reading much more easily.
How many sight words should a Year 2 student know?
Most literacy experts agree that by the end of Year 2, students should know at least 150-200 sight words. This large core of memorized words allows 7-8 year old students to achieve basic reading fluency.
Here are some standard sight word benchmarks for Year 2 students:
- 150 sight words – This is the minimum number of sight words a Year 2 student should know. Most students will exceed this benchmark.
- 175 sight words – This is an average or typical number of sight words for a Year 2 student.
- 200+ sight words – It is common and expected for many Year 2 students to master 200 or more sight words.
So in summary, while the exact number varies, a Year 2 student reading at grade level should have at least 150 sight words memorized and be working towards 200+ sight words as they near the end of the school year. A student who has not yet learned at least 150 sight words may be struggling and need additional reading support.
Common sight word lists for Year 2
While sight word lists can vary slightly based on different literacy curriculums, there are some standard lists that many Year 2 teachers use as a basis. Here are some of the most popular sight word lists for Year 2 students:
Dolch Second Grade Sight Word List
The Dolch list for second grade contains 101 common sight words. This includes all the Pre-Primer, Primer, and First Grade Dolch lists. Here are the sight words included:
| a | and | away | big | blue | can | come | down | find | for |
| funny | go | help | here | I | in | is | it | jump | little |
| look | make | me | my | not | one | play | red | run | said |
| see | the | three | to | two | up | we | where | yellow | you |
| all | am | are | at | ate | be | black | brown | but | came |
| did | do | eat | four | get | good | have | he | into | like |
| must | new | no | now | on | our | out | please | pretty | ran |
| ride | saw | say | she | so | soon | that | there | they | this |
| too | under | want | was | well | went | what | white | who | will |
| with | yes |
Fry Second 100 Sight Words
The Fry Second 100 sight word list contains the 101 most common words for Year 2 students after the first 100 Fry words. These include words like:
| after | again | an | any | as | ask | by | could | every | fly |
| from | give | going | had | has | her | him | his | how | just |
| know | let | live | may | of | old | once | open | over | put |
| round | some | stop | take | than | them | then | think | walk | were |
| when | first | would |
Letters and Sounds Second 200 Sight Words
The Letters and Sounds lists break down sight words by phase. Their Phase 5 list for Year 2 contains 215 words including:
| Oh | their | people | Mr | Mrs | looked | called | asked | could | through |
| work | where | every | very | after | many | before | nned | saw | made |
| right | came | light | sometimes | city | lived | along | know | want | thought |
| anything | head | almost | heard | once | asked | been | around | far | home |
| made | during | few | while | along | second | soon | body | together | took |
How to build sight word knowledge
There are many fun, engaging activities teachers use to help students master sight words. Here are some effective ways to build sight word knowledge:
Flashcards
Simple flashcards with individual sight words are very effective for practicing until words are memorized. Both traditional paper flashcards or digital flashcard apps can be used. Students practice reading the word on one side, then trying to recall it when flipped over.
Word walls
Posting sight words on the classroom wall makes them visible for easy reference. Word walls allow sight words to be displayed, practiced and reinforced daily. Add new words gradually over time.
Games
Fun sight word games make practice more motivating. Memory matching games, word bingo and word puzzles are great options. Games allow students to review words repeatedly while staying engaged.
Songs and chants
Putting sight words into simple rhythmic songs and chants makes them even easier to memorize. Upbeat sight word songs make learning enjoyable.
Reading and writing sentences
After introducing new words, give students practice reading and writing short sentences containing the sight words. This reinforces using the words in context.
Technology tools
Educational technology tools like apps, websites and video games provide interactive sight word practice. These can supplement learning in an appealing way for young students.
Tips for parents supporting sight word learning
Parents play a key role in helping reinforce children’s sight word knowledge. Here are some top tips for parents to keep sight word learning progressing outside the classroom:
- Ask the teacher for a list of your child’s current sight words to focus on.
- Review flashcards periodically – make it brief but frequent.
- Read together every day and prompt your child to identify sight words they know.
- Point out sight words your child recognizes when you are reading street signs, grocery items, billboards, menus and more real-life examples.
- Make a word wall at home, or post sight words around the house where your child will see them regularly.
- Incorporate sight word games and activities into everyday time together – make learning fun!
- Avoid scolding over errors – gently reinforce words your child struggles with.
- Celebrate when your child masters a new word – positivity keeps them motivated.
Keeping sight word practice a consistent but low-pressure part of your child’s routine will go a long way towards boosting their reading skills.
What if my child struggles with sight words?
It’s not uncommon for some students to have difficulty memorizing sight words as quickly as peers. If your child struggles, here are some ideas:
- Discuss any concerns with the teacher – they may have additional practice materials or strategies.
- Ensure your child’s vision has been tested recently – poor vision can make sight word memory harder.
- Check if your child needs stronger decoding skills – blending letter sounds helps cement sight word memory.
- Consider an assessment for learning disorders like dyslexia if struggles seem severe.
- Keep practicing challenging words more frequently in creative ways.
- Focus on success, not failure – praise any progress and keep sight words fun.
With patience and the right support, most children can get on track mastering sight words. Additional reading assistance may be warranted if problems persist. The most important thing is to continually encourage your child and foster a positive attitude about their reading journey.
Conclusion
By the end of Year 2, students should know at least 150 sight words, working towards 200+ sight words. Automatic sight word recognition is foundational to achieving reading fluency. While approaches may vary, the consensus is that mastering a large bank of common words is essential for 7-8 year olds to gain confidence and success as readers. With a little creativity and consistency, practicing sight words can be an engaging and rewarding process for both students and parents!