Sight word tracing worksheets
Load a Dolch sight word list or type this week’s words. Each word gets a solid example, a row to trace and a row to write it alone.
Load a Dolch list or type your own: this week’s sight words or a spelling list. Up to 100 words.
6 words entered · 2 PDF pages
Print at 100% scale (“Actual size”) so the lines match.
How to use sight word tracing
- Read the word aloud together and point to each letter.
- Trace it, saying the letters as you go.
- Write it on the empty line without looking, then check.
- Use it in a short sentence: “I see the dog.”
Tracing builds the letter order; reading the word in a sentence makes it stick.
The Dolch sight word lists
Edward Dolch put together the most common words in children’s books, and his lists are still what most US classrooms use. Click a list above the box to load it.
Dolch pre-primer (40 words, Pre-K)
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
Dolch primer (52 words, Kindergarten)
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
Dolch first grade (41 words, 1st grade)
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
More practice
Children who are still learning letter shapes get more from the letter tracing worksheets first. And every child’s favorite word is their own name: try the name tracing worksheets.
Questions people ask
What are sight words?
Short, common words that children learn to recognize at a glance, like the, and, said and was. Many of them don't follow regular phonics rules, so they are practiced until they are read without sounding out.
Which sight words should a kindergartner know?
Many kindergarten classes work through the Dolch pre-primer and primer lists, 92 words in all, over the year. Ask the teacher for the class list and type those words in.
How many sight words should we practice at once?
Three to five new words a week is plenty for most children. Keep the words they already know in the mix so the sheet ends on success.
Can I use my own spelling list?
Yes. Type any words, one per line, and each gets its own example, tracing row and writing row.
Are these free for teachers?
Yes, for home and classroom use.