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English Sight Words for Year 1: A First List of 50 Words and How to Teach Them
Sight words are common words such as the, was, said and you that children meet constantly in early reading. Some can be sounded out, some cannot, so children learn them by seeing them repeatedly in sentences and games. A good first list is about 50 words taught five at a time, using short, playful practice and reading them inside real sentences.
What sight words are and why they matter
A small group of words makes up a large share of everyday text, so knowing them quickly makes reading smoother.
Common words appear everywhere
Words such as a, and, is, to and the appear in almost every sentence. When a child recognises them instantly, they can put more attention on the new words.
Some words break the sound rules
Words like said, was, you and they do not follow simple phonics rules, so children need to memorise them, with a little help from the sounds that do work.
A first list and how to teach it
Teach five words a week and read them in short sentences.
Start small, repeat often
Group 1: the, a, I, is, it, in, to, and, we, me
These ten words appear all the time. Put them on cards and read them in sentences such as "I am in the van."
Quick tip: keep the same words for a week
Repetition builds speed.
Group 2: was, you, they, said, are, he, she, my, go, no
Introduce these slowly. Point out which letters follow the sounds and which part is tricky, such as the ai in said.
Quick tip: find the tricky part
Mark the tricky letters with a different colour.
Group 3: of, have, like, come, some, one, do, so, with, for
Add more words once the earlier groups are quick. Mix old and new in a sentence reading game.
Quick tip: revise before you add
A quick warm-up with old cards helps retention.
Six games to practise
Short, playful practice beats long drills.
- Flashcard snap: match two identical words and slap.
- Sticky note hunt: hide words and find them around the room.
- Hopscotch: call a word and jump to it.
- Bingo: cover the words you hear.
- Sentence build: use word cards to make a sentence.
Sight words and phonics work together
Sight words are not a replacement for phonics. Use phonics wherever words can be sounded out, and treat the tricky parts as small memory jobs.
If your child guesses words from pictures or the first letter, go back to sounding out and use decodable sentences.
How DuoDuo Kidz Academy can help
DuoDuo Kidz Academy's English lessons combine phonics and high-frequency words in 1-to-1 sessions, with the teacher choosing words that fit each child. Book a free 60-minute trial in English to see where your child's reading is today.
DuoDuo Kidz Academy offers three programmes for children aged 4–12: the 1-to-1 Trilingual Language Programme (Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia, English), the Educare After-School Programme (安亲班) and the Holistic Preschool Programme for ages 4–6. There are six branches — Danau Kota Setapak and Wangsa Maju (Kuala Lumpur), Taiping (Perak), Alma Bukit Mertajam and Bayan Lepas (Penang) and Semabok (Melaka) — with the same curriculum, teacher training and progress charts at every one.
FAQ
How many sight words should a Year 1 child know?
Schools vary. A first list of around 50 common words is a helpful early target.
Should I teach sight words before phonics?
Teach phonics first for decodable words and add tricky words gradually.
How often should we practise?
Five minutes a day is more effective than a long weekly session.
Are flashcards enough?
Flashcards help, but reading the words in real sentences matters even more.
Is the DuoDuo trial class really free?
Yes. The trial is one free 60-minute 1-to-1 lesson in a single language subject (Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia or English), with no payment and no obligation, so you can see your child's real starting point.
Which DuoDuo branch is nearest to me?
DuoDuo has six branches: Danau Kota Setapak and Wangsa Maju in Kuala Lumpur, Taiping in Perak, Alma (Bukit Mertajam) and Bayan Lepas in Penang, and Semabok in Melaka. WhatsApp 011-2828 8676 with your area and your child's age and we will point you to the closest one.
Give your child the most precious gift: the ability to learn on their own.
Book a free 60-minute 1-to-1 trial class in a single language subject. You'll see your child's true starting point — and exactly how we'll move forward. No payment, no obligation.