The Fry Sight Words list is a more modern and expansive list of words than the Dolch list (at only 315 words), and was extended to capture the most common 1,000 words. Dr. Edward Fry developed this expanded list in the 1950s (and updated it in 1980), based on the most common words to appear in reading materials used in Grades 3-9. Learning all 1,000 words in the Fry list would equip a child to read about 90% of the words in a typical book, newspaper, or website.
The Fry word list, also called "instant words" or "high frequency words" are widely accepted to contain the most used words in reading and writing. The list is divided into ten levels and then divided into groups of twenty-five words, based on frequency of use and difficulty. The first hundred words are intended for mastery by kindergarten and first grade students. Second and third graders focus should be on the second and third hundred words. The fourth through tenth hundred words listed are intended for fourth and fifth grade students.
It is important for young readers to instantly recognize these words by sight in order to build up their reading fluency. It is also important for readers to practice words in meaningful context through phrase and sentence reading practice. Students should also demonstrate fluency when writing sentences that include Fry words.
You can examine the lists by opening the following file:
The Fry word list, also called "instant words" or "high frequency words" are widely accepted to contain the most used words in reading and writing. The list is divided into ten levels and then divided into groups of twenty-five words, based on frequency of use and difficulty. The first hundred words are intended for mastery by kindergarten and first grade students. Second and third graders focus should be on the second and third hundred words. The fourth through tenth hundred words listed are intended for fourth and fifth grade students.
It is important for young readers to instantly recognize these words by sight in order to build up their reading fluency. It is also important for readers to practice words in meaningful context through phrase and sentence reading practice. Students should also demonstrate fluency when writing sentences that include Fry words.
You can examine the lists by opening the following file: