Sight Words & Simple Phonics: An Essential Word List for Early Readers

I've recently been working on a phonics and sight words list for my 4-year-old son to help him practice reading. Creating this list was both fun and rewarding because it showed me just how far he's come—and it's something I'd love to share with you, too.

To start, I gathered all the CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words I could think of and added some simple phonetically correct words with four or more letters. After introducing him to the "ing" word endings, our list grew even longer since we could easily build on words he already knew.
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I also incorporated sight words—those tricky words that can't be sounded out using phonics alone. Some he's already mastered, while others he still needs a bit more exposure to. Using the Dolch Sight Word List by grade level was the simplest way to ensure he gets consistent practice. This extensive list amazes me, especially seeing my son confidently read so many words at such a young age!

To keep our sessions fun and manageable, we usually focus on one page a day. At his age, sitting still isn't exactly at the top of his list, so we keep it active. If he reads a word like "hop," "jump," or "run," he immediately acts it out. For household objects, I send him off to find and bring them to me, turning the exercise into an energetic game. Numbers become counting games with his favorite toys, like counting out seven Hot Wheels cars.
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Speed is a huge motivator for my son—he absolutely loves timers. Remember Lightning McQueen from Disney Pixar's Cars? His affirmation before his races, "I am speed," is practically my son's motto! Setting a timer to see how fast he can read through a column of words is a surefire way to get him excited. We always go at his pace, making sure the experience remains positive and pressure-free.

Sometimes, we take breaks for short conversations about the words, which can be great for both comprehension and bonding. The key is staying flexible, patient, and making learning enjoyable for a young, energetic learner.

Suggested Use:

• Check the table of contents before you print.  It's not necessary to print this entire PDF.
  
• Choose the theme(s) you think will resonate most with your child.  This free resource includes 6 different designs.  
• I printed the list in color ink on cardstock paper and then laminated each page. I used a hole punch at the top corner and added a ring to keep the pages neatly together, making it easy to hang the list on the wall.
• If you're not using color ink, consider printing on colorful paper instead. Alternatively, you could store the list in a three-ring binder or folder to stay organized.
• Laminating the pages definitely enhances their longevity and durability—especially useful if you have curious younger siblings like my 1-year-old who loves exploring my son's homeschool resources!
• Highlighting words that need extra practice with a dry-erase highlighter makes tracking progress easy since it's simple to write on and erase from laminated sheets.

I’m sharing this phonics and sight word list as a free resource because I believe it could be incredibly helpful for other homeschool parents and educators looking for ways to boost their children's early reading skills. Feel free to grab your copy of Sight Words & Simple Phonics: An Essential Word List for Early Readers below, and let me know how it works for your little readers!

FREE DOWNLOAD

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What's your favorite way to make reading practice exciting for your child?

What's one creative game or activity you've tried that turned reading into something your child truly enjoys?

How do you keep reading fun and stress-free when your child gets frustrated or impatient?

What challenges have you faced when teaching your child to read, and how have you overcome them?
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Do you remember a special moment or milestone when you realized your child's reading skills were really blossoming? Share your story!

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