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How to run sight word practice with the wheel
Keep it to two to five minutes, one Dolch level at a time. The trick is spin, read, use it: the student reads the word on sight, then says the example phrase or a new one, so the word gets a meaning as well as a shape.
- Load one Dolch levelPre-primer is on the wheel now. Pick another tab and press Put these on the wheel. Switch off rows a group already reads fluently, so the wheel holds only the words they still need.
- Spin and read on sightThe student, or the whole class together, reads the word within about three seconds. A word that has to be sounded out isn't automatic yet: jot it on a sticky note for tomorrow.
- Use it in a phraseRead the example phrase from the table ("you and me"), then ask for a new one. Spelling the word aloud, or in the air, adds a second pass.
- Work through the levelTurn on Remove winner in Options so each word leaves once it's read. If a student misses a word, press Undo to put it back for another try later in the round.
- Move up when it's easyWhen a group reads every word on a level without hesitating, on two different days, switch to the next tab. Copy the share link for each group's wheel so you can open it again tomorrow.
The noun list has 95 words
Wheels with more than 40 words show the word under the pointer in big type and offer to split the list. For a shorter noun wheel, switch rows off in the table, or load the 15 animal nouns from the ideas below.
Dolch sight words by grade level, with an example for every word
The 220 Dolch words in the five levels schools use, plus the 95 Dolch nouns. Each word has a short phrase to read or say aloud. The noun list keeps Dolch's holiday words (Christmas, Santa Claus); switch those rows off if you'd like a list without them.
| Word | Example phrase | On the wheel |
|---|---|---|
| a | a red ball | |
| and | you and me | |
| away | run away | |
| big | a big dog | |
| blue | the blue sky | |
| can | I can jump. | |
| come | Come and see. | |
| down | sit down | |
| find | Find the cat. | |
| for | a card for you | |
| funny | a funny joke | |
| go | Ready, set, go! | |
| help | Can you help me? | |
| here | I am here. | |
| I | I can run. | |
| in | in the box | |
| is | It is red. | |
| it | Look at it. | |
| jump | Jump up high. | |
| little | a little bug | |
| look | Look at me. | |
| make | Let's make a tower. | |
| me | Play with me. | |
| my | my hat | |
| not | It is not big. | |
| one | one sun | |
| play | Let's play. | |
| red | red paint | |
| run | See it run. | |
| said | The dog said woof. | |
| see | I see you. | |
| the | the moon | |
| three | three bears | |
| to | go to school | |
| two | two feet | |
| up | look up | |
| we | We can help. | |
| where | Where is my cap? | |
| yellow | a yellow duck | |
| you | Thank you. |
| Word | Example phrase | On the wheel |
|---|---|---|
| all | all done | |
| am | I am ready. | |
| are | You are kind. | |
| at | Look at the bird. | |
| ate | We ate lunch. | |
| be | Be safe. | |
| black | a black cat | |
| brown | a brown bear | |
| but | small but fast | |
| came | The bus came. | |
| did | I did it! | |
| do | What do you see? | |
| eat | Time to eat. | |
| four | four legs | |
| get | Get your coat. | |
| good | a good book | |
| have | We have art today. | |
| he | He can swim. | |
| into | jump into the pool | |
| like | I like to draw. | |
| must | We must line up. | |
| new | a new book | |
| no | No, thank you. | |
| now | Clean up now. | |
| on | on the mat | |
| our | our class | |
| out | Go out to play. | |
| please | Pass the glue, please. | |
| pretty | a pretty flower | |
| ran | The dog ran fast. | |
| ride | ride a bike | |
| saw | I saw a bird. | |
| say | Say hello. | |
| she | She can sing. | |
| so | so much fun | |
| soon | See you soon. | |
| that | Look at that! | |
| there | over there | |
| they | They are friends. | |
| this | this one | |
| too | Me too! | |
| under | under the table | |
| want | I want a turn. | |
| was | It was fun. | |
| well | Well done! | |
| went | We went to the park. | |
| what | What is that? | |
| white | white snow | |
| who | Who is it? | |
| will | I will try. | |
| with | Come with me. | |
| yes | Yes, please. |
| Word | Example phrase | On the wheel |
|---|---|---|
| after | after lunch | |
| again | Try again. | |
| an | an egg | |
| any | Are there any left? | |
| as | as fast as a fox | |
| ask | Ask a friend. | |
| by | Sit by me. | |
| could | Could you help? | |
| every | every day | |
| fly | Birds fly. | |
| from | a letter from a friend | |
| give | Give it a try. | |
| going | We are going outside. | |
| had | We had fun. | |
| has | She has a red pen. | |
| her | her backpack | |
| him | Wave to him. | |
| his | his book | |
| how | How are you? | |
| just | just right | |
| know | I know the answer. | |
| let | Let me see. | |
| live | Frogs live in ponds. | |
| may | May I go? | |
| of | a cup of water | |
| old | an old tree | |
| once | once upon a time | |
| open | Open the door. | |
| over | jump over the log | |
| put | Put it away. | |
| round | a round ball | |
| some | some apples | |
| stop | Stop at the corner. | |
| take | Take one. | |
| thank | Thank the bus driver. | |
| them | Read with them. | |
| then | First wash, then eat. | |
| think | I think so. | |
| walk | Walk, don't run. | |
| were | We were late. | |
| when | When is recess? |
| Word | Example phrase | On the wheel |
|---|---|---|
| always | always be kind | |
| around | walk around the block | |
| because | We stayed in because it rained. | |
| been | I have been here before. | |
| before | Wash your hands before lunch. | |
| best | my best work | |
| both | both hands | |
| buy | buy apples at the store | |
| call | Call my name. | |
| cold | cold ice | |
| does | Does it float? | |
| don't | Don't forget your hat. | |
| fast | a fast car | |
| first | first in line | |
| five | five fingers | |
| found | I found my pencil. | |
| gave | She gave me a card. | |
| goes | The bus goes fast. | |
| green | a green frog | |
| its | The dog wagged its tail. | |
| made | We made a card. | |
| many | How many? | |
| off | Turn off the light. | |
| or | red or blue? | |
| pull | Pull the wagon. | |
| read | Read a book. | |
| right | Turn right. | |
| sing | Sing along. | |
| sit | Sit down, please. | |
| sleep | Bears sleep in winter. | |
| tell | Tell a story. | |
| their | their coats | |
| these | these shoes | |
| those | those birds | |
| upon | upon the hill | |
| us | Come with us. | |
| use | Use a pencil. | |
| very | very good | |
| wash | Wash your hands. | |
| which | Which one? | |
| why | Why is the sky blue? | |
| wish | Make a wish. | |
| work | Work hard. | |
| would | Would you like a turn? | |
| write | Write a note. | |
| your | your turn |
| Word | Example phrase | On the wheel |
|---|---|---|
| about | a book about frogs | |
| better | better than before | |
| bring | Bring your book. | |
| carry | carry the box | |
| clean | clean hands | |
| cut | Cut on the line. | |
| done | I'm done! | |
| draw | Draw a circle. | |
| drink | a drink of water | |
| eight | eight legs on a spider | |
| fall | Leaves fall. | |
| far | far away | |
| full | a full cup | |
| got | I got a new book. | |
| grow | Seeds grow. | |
| hold | Hold the door. | |
| hot | hot soup | |
| hurt | Walk so no one gets hurt. | |
| if | if it rains | |
| keep | Keep trying. | |
| kind | a kind friend | |
| laugh | laugh at a joke | |
| light | light as a feather | |
| long | a long tail | |
| much | Thank you very much. | |
| myself | I did it myself. | |
| never | never give up | |
| only | only one left | |
| own | my own desk | |
| pick | Pick a card. | |
| seven | seven days in a week | |
| shall | Shall we go? | |
| show | show and tell | |
| six | six legs on a bug | |
| small | a small mouse | |
| start | Start here. | |
| ten | ten toes | |
| today | Today is Monday. | |
| together | Let's work together. | |
| try | Try your best. | |
| warm | a warm coat |
| Word | Example phrase | On the wheel |
|---|---|---|
| apple | a red apple | |
| baby | a baby bird | |
| back | the back of the line | |
| ball | Kick the ball. | |
| bear | a big brown bear | |
| bed | time for bed | |
| bell | the school bell | |
| bird | a bird in a nest | |
| birthday | a birthday card | |
| boat | a boat on the lake | |
| box | a box of crayons | |
| boy | a boy on a bike | |
| bread | a slice of bread | |
| brother | a big brother | |
| cake | a piece of cake | |
| car | a car on the road | |
| cat | the cat's whiskers | |
| chair | Push in your chair. | |
| chicken | The chicken lays eggs. | |
| children | children at play | |
| Christmas | a Christmas tree | |
| coat | Zip up your coat. | |
| corn | an ear of corn | |
| cow | The cow says moo. | |
| day | a sunny day | |
| dog | Walk the dog. | |
| doll | a doll in a dress | |
| door | Shut the door. | |
| duck | a duck in the pond | |
| egg | a bird's egg | |
| eye | Close one eye. | |
| farm | animals on the farm | |
| farmer | The farmer plants seeds. | |
| father | the father bear in the story | |
| feet | Wipe your feet. | |
| fire | a fire drill | |
| fish | a fish in a bowl | |
| floor | Sit on the floor. | |
| flower | Smell the flower. | |
| game | Play a game. | |
| garden | Plant a garden. | |
| girl | a girl on a swing | |
| goodbye | Wave goodbye. (Some printings of the list spell it good-bye.) | |
| grass | green grass | |
| ground | on the ground | |
| hand | Raise your hand. | |
| head | Nod your head. | |
| hill | roll down the hill | |
| home | Time to go home. | |
| horse | ride a horse | |
| house | a little red house | |
| kitty | a soft kitty | |
| leg | a table leg | |
| letter | the letter A | |
| man | a man on a ladder | |
| men | two men in a boat | |
| milk | a glass of milk | |
| money | Coins are money. | |
| morning | Good morning! | |
| mother | a mother duck | |
| name | Write your name. | |
| nest | eggs in a nest | |
| night | stars at night | |
| paper | a sheet of paper | |
| party | a class party | |
| picture | Draw a picture. | |
| pig | a pig in the mud | |
| rabbit | A rabbit hops. | |
| rain | Rain falls. | |
| ring | Hear the bell ring. | |
| robin | a robin in spring | |
| Santa Claus | Santa Claus and his sleigh | |
| school | the first day of school | |
| seed | Plant a seed. | |
| sheep | a woolly sheep | |
| shoe | Tie your shoe. | |
| sister | a little sister | |
| snow | Snow is cold. | |
| song | Sing a song. | |
| squirrel | A squirrel hides nuts. | |
| stick | A dog fetches a stick. | |
| street | Look both ways to cross the street. | |
| sun | The sun is hot. | |
| table | Set the table. | |
| thing | one more thing | |
| time | What time is it? | |
| top | the top shelf | |
| toy | a toy car | |
| tree | an apple tree | |
| watch | a watch on a wrist | |
| water | Fish swim in water. | |
| way | This way, please. | |
| wind | The wind blows. | |
| window | Look out the window. | |
| wood | a table made of wood |
The standard Dolch lists compiled by Edward William Dolch: 220 service words (first published in 1936) in the five levels schools commonly use, plus his 95 nouns. Every word and every count was checked against two published copies of the lists. We spell goodbye as one word; some printings use good-bye.
8 ways to use the sight word wheel
Two-word sentence spin
Spin twice and ask for one sentence that uses both words. "See" and "yellow" might give "I see a yellow bus." Write the best one on the board and read it together.
Lookalike words
Beginning readers often mix up was and saw, on and no, or them and then. Load these 12 Dolch lookalikes and have students point under each letter as they read.
Animal nouns quick draw
Spin one of the 15 animal words from the Dolch nouns. Students read it, then get 30 seconds to sketch it on a whiteboard and label it with the word.
Sight word hunt
After each spin, students search the page of their book (or the room's anchor charts) for the word and put a finger on it. The first table to find three copies picks the next spin.
Choral read on the board
Press F for presentation mode and spin with Space. The whole class reads the word together on the count of three, then whispers it, then says it in a robot voice. There are no ads in presentation mode.
One wheel per reading group
Load a group's level, switch off the words they've mastered and copy the share link. Each group gets its own link in your plans, and a tutor or aide can open it with no account.
Three words at home
Families can spin three words after school, read them together, and make up a silly sentence with each one. It takes about five minutes and keeps the words fresh between lessons.
Play bingo with the same words
The sight word bingo cards use the same Dolch levels, so the wheel can call the words while students mark their cards.
Open sight word bingoSight word: frequently asked questions
What are Dolch sight words?
They are 220 high-frequency "service words" (a, the, said, because) plus 95 common nouns, compiled by educator Edward William Dolch from children's books of the 1930s; the 220 words were first published in 1936. The 220 contain no nouns; Dolch listed the 95 most common nouns separately. Schools usually split the 220 into five levels: pre-primer (40), primer (52), first grade (41), second grade (46) and third grade (41).
How many sight words should a kindergartner know?
There is no national number; each district sets its own goal. A common target is the 40 pre-primer and 52 primer words (92 in all) by the end of kindergarten, with the first grade list added in first grade. The Common Core standards ask kindergartners to read common high-frequency words by sight (RF.K.3c) without naming a list, so check your district's report card for the exact expectation.
What's the difference between Dolch and Fry sight words?
Both are lists of high-frequency words. Dolch has 220 words plus 95 nouns, drawn from 1930s children's books and grouped by level. Fry's Instant Words, from Edward Fry, run to 1,000 words in frequency order and are usually taught 100 at a time. The most common words appear on both lists. Use the list your school uses; this wheel has the Dolch levels.
How do I teach sight words that can't be sounded out?
Many Dolch words can be sounded out (big, can, jump), and most of the rest are irregular in just one spot. In "said," the s and d are regular; only the ai is tricky. Sound out the regular letters, point out the tricky part, then practice until the word is instant. Short daily practice works better than long drills: a few minutes a day with a handful of words, plus seeing them again in real books.
In what order should I teach the Dolch lists?
Go level by level: pre-primer, primer, first, second, then third grade. Inside a level, many teachers start with words students meet most in their books and words that are easy to tell apart, and they keep lookalikes (was and saw, them and then) in separate weeks. Many teachers add the nouns alongside the first grade list, since most of them can be pictured.
Can each reading group have its own sight word wheel?
Yes. Load a level, switch off the words a group already knows, and copy the share link. The words travel inside the link, so it never expires and needs no account; anyone with the link can see the words. Signed-in adults can also save wheels to an account. The words you type stay in your browser until you share or save them.
How the randomness works
When you press Spin, ChalkSpin asks your browser's Web Crypto generator for a random number and uses it to choose the winning slice before the wheel starts turning. The animation then lands on that slice. Each slice's chance is its share of the wheel: 40 equal words means a 1 in 40 chance each.
Weights are always visible: a word marked *2 gets a slice twice as wide, so everyone can see why it comes up more. Turn on Remove winner if a word shouldn't come up twice in a round.
- Generator
- Web Crypto (
crypto.getRandomValues), in your browser - Odds
- Equal to each slice's size on the wheel
- Weights
- Shown openly as wider slices, never hidden
- Repeats
- Off when Remove winner is on
- Your list
- Stays in this browser unless you share or save it