How to teach primary sight words without memorisation tears
High-frequency sight words (such as 'the', 'said', 'where', 'because') make up over 50% of beginner children's reading material. Many of these words do not follow regular phonetic rules and must be recognised instantly by sight.
Keep sessions short and encouraging—five to ten minutes per day is far more effective than an overwhelming 30-minute drill on the weekend. Introduce only three to five new words at a time alongside familiar words so the child feels confident and capable.
Track progress on a visual mastery chart. Let children place a tick or star when they read a word smoothly on three separate days. Celebrating small milestones keeps early reading joyful and empowering.
Print sight words mastery tracker →