Dolch Word Lists in The Reading Game
The Reading Game incorporates words from the Dolch word lists. Dolch words are high-frequency English words that are assigned in American elementary schools for memorization. By the time the child completes the six fun and interactive books in The Reading Game, he/she will have learned 180 fundamental words, many of which are from the Dolch reading word lists. Between 50% and 75% of all words used in schoolbooks, library books, newspapers and magazines are part of the Dolch basic sight word vocabulary[1]. You can download the rules booklet for The Reading Game here, or read the proven track record of teaching essential Dolch words to beginner readers on our testimonal page.
Dolch Word List History and Implementation in Education
The Dolch word lists were compiled in 1936 by their namesake, Edward William Dolch, a proponent of the “whole-word” method of beginning reading instruction. These lists of common, high-frequency English words include over 220 “service words” essential for fluent, effective reading. The Reading Game introduces 180 high-frequency words in a fun, educational way through the card matching game. 63% are Dolch Site Words and 54% are Fry's High Frequency Site Words for K and 1st Grade.
of The Reading Game. After completing the matching games, the child moves on to using the words in complete sentences in The Reading Game’s progressive books. The Dolch sight words are taught through repetition in the card-matching game, and the six illustrated storybooks in The Reading Game.
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Here is a list of the Dolch high-frequency words from Pre-Primer to 3rd Grade.
Pre-primer: 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: 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
Grade 1: after, again, an, any, as, ask, by, could, every, fly, from, give, giving, 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
Grade 2: 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
Grade 3: 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
[1] Wikipedia, The Ultimate Dolch Sight Word List, July 21, 2013.
The Reading Game includes six decks of matching word playing cards, six sets of picture flashcards, six beautifully illustrated story books, & a Teacher and Parent's Guide
Ages 4 & Up 2 or More Players
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Page updated July 8, 2020