A small set of words — the, and, said, was, is — makes up a huge share of everything your child will ever read. Knowing them instantly makes every sentence easier.
Phonics first, sight words alongside
Sight words are not a replacement for phonics — they are a small supplement. Most 'sight words' are actually mostly decodable; only the odd part ('the') needs memorising. Teach the regular parts with sounds and point out the tricky bit.
Little and often wins
Practise five to eight words at a time, a few minutes a day. Games work best: word snap, treasure hunts, spotting the word in a storybook. Once a word is instant, retire it and add a new one.
Where they fit in our programme
Our lessons weave high-frequency words into every grade at the right CAPS moment, with audio support so children hear each word as they learn it. See how they appear in Grade 1 and Grade 2.
Key takeaways
- A small set of high-frequency words covers a huge share of all text.
- Teach them alongside phonics — decode the regular parts, memorise only the tricky bits.
- Short daily games beat long drills.
References & further reading
- Department of Basic Education — CAPS Foundation Phase
- Department of Basic Education — Rainbow Workbooks
External sources open in a new tab. Saving Grace Education Group is not affiliated with these organisations.