High Frequency words are the words you most frequently see when reading. Sometimes students can sound them out and sometimes they cannot because they have not learned the syllable type yet. Because they show up in text so frequently, it is best if students can read them quickly. These words can also be called irregular words, trick words, or heart words because they do not follow the typical decoding patterns. Students need to learn to recognize these exceptions. Recognizing and reading high frequency words quickly helps students become fluent readers.
Below, you will find a link to the Fry Lists of high frequency words by grade. Each grade has a list of 100 words students should be able to recognize by the end of the school year. Please only practice a few at a time as giving a long list of words is overwhelming for students.
Recommended Ways of Practicing High Frequency Words
Flash Cards
Tracing over the letters in a sight word 2 or 3 times as you say the letters aloud
Creating movements to go with each sight word
Games: go fish, memory, bingo, etc.
When reading together, pause at the high frequency words so your child can read them to you.