How to Build Sight Word Fluency
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Sight words are the most commonly used words in the English language. Accordingly, a majority of the words that we read in a text are considered sight words. For example, I, you, and the account for 10% of all words in printed English! Therefore, students need to know sight words instantly and accurately in order to build fluency and comprehension. In general, teaching sight words employs a “whole language approach,” which means it is not phonics based. However, when sight words are coupled together with phonics, we build strong, confident and fluent readers. To be clear, sight words are not a substitute for teaching phonics. Rather, sight word instruction helps students master reading words that frequently occur in a text so they don’t have to stop and decode every….single….word.
Sight Word Fluency Pyramid Sentences
Sight Word Statistics:
*12 Sight Words make up about 25% of those we read and write.
*100 Sight Words make up about 50% of those we read and write.
*About 300 Sight Words account for 75% of those we read and write.
When we teach sight words strategically, specifically and consistently, we build readers who are confident and fluent!
How do you EFFECTIVELY teach Sight Words?
When I teach sight words, I don’t have students sound them out. Many of the sight words are not decodable with early phonics skills. For example, sounding out the word the for a child, t/h/e does not work. Beginning and struggling readers may not understand how to use the th digraph and the schwa sound to sound out the word the. To help, I always use a non verbal cue of circling the sight word. This indicates that we read the word on demand without sounding it out. To clarify, we sound out other words like CVC words, but not sight words.
In addition, students need repetition and practice reading the word in context to help them master the word. For this reason, the Sight Word Fluency pages allow the students to see the word, trace the word and read the word multiple times in a pyramid sentence. The most effective way to use the Sight Word Fluency Pyramid Sentences is to show the word (upper right hand corner), say the word, trace the word, and read the word in context in a sentence.
Sight Word Fluency Pyramid Sentences in action:
Sight Word Fluency Pyramid Sentences from Annie on Vimeo.
Included in the BIG BUNDLE:
Pre-Primer Edition Sight Words: 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
Primer Sight Words: 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
1st Grade Sight Words: 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, thank, them, then, think, walk, were, when
2nd Grade Sight Words: always, around, because, been, before, best, both, buy, call, cold, does, don’t, fast, first, five, found, gave, goes, green, its, made, many, off, or, pull, read, right, sing, sit, sleep, tell, their, these, those, upon, us, use, very, wash, which, why, wish, work, would, write, your
3rd Grade Sight Words: about, better, bring, carry, clean, cut, done, draw, drink, eight, fall, far, full, got, grow, hold, hot, hurt, if, keep, kind, laugh, light, long, much, myself, never, only, own, pick, seven, shall, show, six, small, start, ten, today, together, try, warm
Here is a look at the Pre-Primer Edition that includes the Pre-Primer Sight Words and CVC words…
The sentence below is comprised of 5 pre-primer sight words: where, is, the, big, red and 1 CVC phonics word: mug.
By providing students with genuine opportunities to read and decode sentences at their reading level, we help them become confident and fluent readers!
On the card below, there are 4 pre-primer sight words (can, you, the and big) in this sentence and two decodable CVC words (get and net).
The Primer Edition will include Primer sight words, CVCe words and a review of CVC words. The star at the on the E in the CVCe word indicates that the vowel is long and the e is silent. This is the “magic e”
The First Grade Edition will include First Grade sight words, beginning and ending blend short vowel words and a review of CVCe word. The blend words are indicated by the two dots and a line linked together. This reminds the student that this is a blend word.
The Second Grade Packet will include all the 2nd Grade sight words, digraphs and r-controlled vowel words.
The Third Grade Packet will include all the 3rd Grade sight words, trigraphs long vowels and a review of other phonics words.
SAVE BIG WITH THE BUNDLE HERE!
I hope this makes learning sight words fun and effective!
Happy teaching!
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Annie Moffatt
Annie Moffatt is a former elementary school teacher and homeschool mom with a passion for helping young learners thrive. With a background in early education and a heart for making learning fun, Annie designs engaging, low-prep resources that build confidence and success in the classroom. Her hands-on, kid-friendly approach has supported thousands of teachers and parents around the world in creating joyful learning experiences for their students.
I hope you will put these together in a FRY words package. My school is starting Enhanced Core Reading Instruction (ECRI) this year, but uses FRY as our standard list. These cards fit well in the ECRI model by spelling the sight words and taping the sounds in the CVC words.
Hi Dawn,
Unfortunately, the Fry word probably wouldn’t come out anytime soon. I wish that I had the time to work on those, but at the moment I don’t.
Kindly,
Annie
Can you please explain why having them read the sentence in pyramid form like this is beneficial? Is it not more fragmented to read it this way? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks!
Hi Abby!
That is a great question, and I’m so glad that you asked it, because I completely forgot to include that in my description for the product! Here are my thoughts: sometimes students have a difficult time moving from reading words to reading full sentences. Many times, children are overwhelmed when they see a sentence with 6+ words, but it’s absolutely necessary for them to make this transition if they are going to be successful readers. If a child can read one word, then two, then three and so forth, they become more confident readers of full sentences. These are also a great way for repeated exposure to sight words. This helps transition to reading words in context, which in turn helps build comprehension.
I hope that helps! Thank you for the question!
Kindly,
Annie
Hi, I was so excited to see this, but we teach the Fry words. Do you happen to have a set that goes with that? I teach Kindergarten and would love to incorporate these! 😊
Hi Jennifer!
Unfortunately, the Fry word probably wouldn’t come out anytime soon. I wish that I had the time to work on those, but at the moment I don’t.
Kindly,
Annie
What is your frequency of teaching new cards? A card a day?, One every other day?, etc.
Hi Jennifer,
It’s completely up to you as to how many per day. I suggest starting with a few and gaging your child’s reading stamina. You can add more per day as your child’s stamina improves. I hope this helps!
Kindly,
Annie
I have these and they are SO cute!! I’m debating how to best use them in my classroom. I considered printing 6 sets to use them in a small group. Would this be an effective way?
Thanks!
Hi Charissa!
So sorry for the late response! I think that would be perfect for small group work. These can be used in many different ways including one-on-one, small group and shelf work. I’ve also included a digital version that can be used on any device that has PowerPoint. I hope that helps!
Kindly,
Annie
Do you get all of the grades when you order the bundle of sight words?
Hi Marci!
Yes, if you purchase the bundle, you would get the pre-primer, primer, 1st grade, 2nd grade and 3rd grade sight words. 🙂
Kindly,
Annie
I am bummed that you are not making a Fry First 100 sight word fluency pyramid. I have looked around and none compare to yours. I love this concept!
Hi. I want to buy this sight word fluency set, but I don’t know how. Can you explain it to me?
Hi! Here is a link to the bundle. Click Here. You can also purchase individual bundles by clicking the direct links on this page.
You will need to first make an account on Teachers Pay Teachers in order to purchase any product from my store. I hope this helps!
Kindly,
Annie
Any chance you could do these with a magic 100 word list. Love this resource!
Hi there, do you by chance sell these already laminated and put together? I would definitely pay for the whole set. I really want these but I don’t have time or a colored printer and these would look so awesome in color. as**********@*ol.com thanks, Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Unfortunately, at the moment the only version you can purchase is a digital download.
Kindly,
Annie
Hello, i’d love to teach this on my elementary kids but sad to say I don’t have bank account or credit cards, Is there any way I can pay the said bundle?
Hi Mercy,
Unfortunately, at the moment the only way to purchase the materials is to set up an account on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Kindly,
Annie