Dolch Words Worksheet

The Dolch lists, one level at a time

Five levels are available, running from pre-primer up to third grade. Pick one and the sheet draws its words from that list, printing each to read, to trace, and to write.

Eight to twenty words per page, laid out in two columns.

What the Dolch list is

It is a list of the words that turn up most often in children's reading, compiled by Edward Dolch in the 1930s. It is still in use for a straightforward reason: word frequency in English has barely moved since.

Between them the levels account for a large share of the words on any page of children's writing, which is the argument for teaching them directly rather than waiting for them to be encountered. A child who reads the pre-primer list instantly — a, and, away, big, blue, can, come, down — can give their attention to the words that carry the story.

Many of them cannot be sounded out

This is the part that matters and the part most often skipped.

Come does not rhyme with home. Said does not sound like it looks. Are, from, could, been — a child applying phonics to those gets them wrong, and being corrected repeatedly on a word they decoded by the rules they were taught is a fast route to deciding the rules do not work.

Say plainly that these are words to learn by sight, and that they are exceptions. Children accept that easily; what they find confusing is being told to sound out a word that will not sound out.

Choosing a level

Start below where you think the child is. A level that is too easy costs one session. A level that is too hard costs a fortnight of reluctance, and you will not get that back.

Twelve words a sheet is the default and about right. Twenty is a lot of new sight words for one week — use it for revision of words already met rather than for a fresh list.

Adjustments

Level, word count from 8 to 20, a title, an instruction line, and optional Name and Date fields. A4 or US Letter.

Words are drawn from the level's list and shuffled, so two sheets at the same setting are not the same page.

Running it

Say each word before tracing it. A silent tracer is practising handwriting; the connection being built is between the shape and the sound, and it needs both present.

Then cover the row and ask for the word written from memory on the back. Ten seconds, and considerably more informative than the finished sheet.

Print at 100% on A4 or US Letter.