Kids Learning Arcade
Sight word games and lists
Sight words are common words children learn to recognize at a glance, like the, said and was. In Spell the Picture, your child hears a sight word and spells it with letter tiles.
The Dolch lists
Each list has its own page with every word, which ones are in the game, and a Play button for that list.
Hear it, then spell it
A sight word card has no picture unless one fits plainly (colors, numbers, up and down). The child taps the ear, hears the word, and puts its letters in the tray. On Easy the word shows on the card; on Tricky it does not, so the child spells from listening alone.
Tips for practice
- Read the word in a short sentence after the round: "We can go."
- Pick 5 words a week, not the whole list.
- Look for the words in picture books together.
Questions parents ask
What are sight words?
Sight words are common words children learn to recognize at a glance, like the, said and was. Many do not follow the usual sound rules, so children learn them by heart.
What are the Dolch words?
A list of 220 common words grouped by grade, put together by Edward Dolch in the 1930s and 1940s. This site covers the first three groups: pre-primer, primer and first grade.
How does the game teach sight words?
Most sight words have no picture, so the card shows a big ear. Your child taps it, hears the word and spells it with the letter tiles. Colors and numbers, like blue and two, keep a picture.