Free Printable Sight Words Flashcards: Kindergarten

Sight words are the building blocks of reading. These common words—like “the,” “and,” “is,” and “you”—appear so frequently that fluent readers recognize them instantly, without sounding them out. For beginning readers, mastering sight words unlocks confidence and speed.

These free printable sight words flashcards cover the essential words your kindergartener needs to know. Use them for daily practice, games, or on-the-go learning. Print, cut, and start building your little reader’s word bank.

[Image placeholder: Colorful sight words flashcards spread on table with child’s hands]

What Are Sight Words?

Sight words are high-frequency words that readers recognize instantly “by sight.” They include:

Tricky phonics words: Words that don’t follow typical phonics rules (the, said, was)
Common words: Words that appear frequently in text (and, the, is, it)
Service words: Words that connect ideas (but, or, because)

Learning these words by sight—rather than sounding them out each time—speeds up reading dramatically.

What’s Included

Pre-Primer Sight Words (40 words):

The most basic sight words for early readers

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 (52 words):

Building on pre-primer foundations

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

First Grade Sight Words (41 words):

How to Use These Flashcards

Print and Prepare

Print on cardstock for durability (or laminate for repeated use)
Cut carefully along the lines
Organize by set (pre-primer, primer, first grade)
Store in bags or boxes for easy access

Daily Practice Ideas

Quick Review (5 minutes):

Flash through 10-15 cards. If they know it, it goes in the “known” pile. Unknown words go in the “practice” pile.

New Word Introduction (5 minutes):

Introduce 2-3 new words at a time. Use them in sentences. Point them out in books.

Game Time (10+ minutes):

Use the games below to make practice fun!

Related: Free Alphabet Worksheets

Games to Play with Sight Words Flashcards

Memory Match

Print two copies of a set. Turn face down. Take turns finding matching pairs.

Best for: 2-10 words at a time

Go Fish

Deal 5 cards each. Ask for matches. “Do you have ‘the’?”

Best for: Practicing multiple words

Sight Word Bingo

Create bingo boards with sight words. Call out words; cover with chips.

Best for: Groups or siblings

Word Hunt

Hide flashcards around the room. Child finds them and reads each word aloud.

Best for: Active learners

Beat the Timer

See how many cards they can read correctly in 60 seconds. Try to beat their score!

Best for: Building speed

Word Slap

Spread cards face up. Call out a word. Child “slaps” the correct card.

Best for: Quick recognition practice

Word Building Sentences

After learning several words, arrange flashcards into simple sentences.

Best for: Older kindergarteners

Tips for Teaching Sight Words

Start Small

Begin with 5-10 words. Master these before adding more. Overwhelm kills motivation.

Practice Daily

Short, consistent practice beats long, sporadic sessions. 5-10 minutes daily is enough.

Make It Multi-Sensory

Say it: Pronounce the word clearly
See it: Look at the word
Trace it: Use finger to trace letters
Write it: Practice writing the word
Use it: Put the word in a sentence

Celebrate Progress

Track known words visually. Celebrate milestones. Make them feel like readers!

Exposure, Exposure, Exposure

Point out sight words everywhere:

In books during read-aloud
On signs while driving
In junk mail and packages
On cereal boxes

[Image placeholder: Child playing sight word memory game on floor]

Troubleshooting Common Challenges

“My child guesses based on first letter”

Solution: Cover the word, reveal one letter at a time. Or show similar words together (the, they, that) and compare.

“They know it one day but forget the next”

Solution: This is normal! Keep reviewing “known” words periodically. Use spaced repetition.

“They get frustrated and want to quit”

Solution: Shorten practice time. Focus on games over drills. End on a success—always finish with words they know.

“They’re memorizing by the card, not the word”

Solution: Print multiple versions in different fonts or colors. Write words on a whiteboard to test.

“My child reverses letters”

Solution: Normal through age 7! Gently correct but don’t stress. Practice tracing the word correctly.

Sight Words Beyond Flashcards

In Books

While reading together, point out sight words. “Look, there’s ‘the!’ You know that word!”

Writing Practice

Encourage using sight words in their own writing (even if spelling isn’t perfect yet).

Environmental Print

Notice sight words on:

Stop signs
Store names
Food packaging
Screen titles

Digital Practice

Many free apps reinforce sight words:

Starfall
Sight Words by Photo Touch
Endless Reader

Tracking Progress

Word Wall

Create a wall of mastered words. Add new words as they learn them. Watch the wall grow!

Checklist

Print a master list. Check off words as they’re mastered. Celebrate milestones (25 words, 50 words, etc.)

Fluency Timing

Periodically time how many words they can read in one minute. Track improvement over time.

FAQ

When should my child start learning sight words?

Most children begin in preschool or kindergarten (ages 4-6). Start when they show interest in letters and reading.

How many sight words should a kindergartener know?

By end of kindergarten, most curricula expect 25-50 sight words. Some children learn more; some are still building—both are normal.

Should I teach sight words or phonics first?

Both! Teach them together. Phonics gives decoding skills; sight words give fluency. They work hand in hand.

My child can read the words but not spell them. Is that okay?

Yes! Reading recognition comes before spelling for most children. They’ll learn to spell these words with more practice.

What if my child isn’t learning sight words?

Learning pace varies dramatically. If there are persistent struggles, consult with their teacher. Some children benefit from additional support or different approaches.

Conclusion

Sight words are the express lane to reading fluency. With regular practice using these flashcards—plus games, books, and real-world exposure—your kindergartener will build a strong foundation of instant word recognition.

Print these free flashcards, make it fun, and watch your little reader blossom. Every word mastered is a step toward confident, independent reading.