What are sight words and why are they important for young readers?

[david1]

I’m helping a child with reading and keep seeing the term “sight words.”

 

[Gsusangrey]

Sight words are high-frequency words, some of which don't follow typical phonetic rules (e.g., "the," "said"). They're crucial for young readers because recognizing them instantly builds fluency, improves comprehension, and boosts confidence by reducing the need to sound out every word.

 

[Erwin]

Sight words are common words children are encouraged to recognize instantly without sounding them out (e.g., the, and, said). They often don’t follow standard phonetic rules. Mastering sight words helps young readers improve fluency, comprehension, and confidence by allowing them to read more smoothly and focus on understanding the text.