Fry and Dolch Sight Words: What's the Difference?

When it comes to teaching reading skills, many educators rely on sight words to help their students build a strong foundation in language. Two of the most well-known and widely used lists of sight words are the Fry and Dolch lists. While both lists have been instrumental in helping children learn to read, there are some key differences between them.

The Fry Sight Words list was first compiled by Edward Fry in 1957 and updated again in 1980. This list consists of 1,000 common words, including nouns, and is divided into ten different groups or lists. In contrast, the Dolch list was first compiled and published in 1936 and has not been significantly updated since.

One of the main advantages of the Fry Sight Words list is its comprehensiveness. With 1,000 words to learn, students who master this list will have a strong foundation in reading and writing, with knowledge of around 90% of the words they come across in their daily reading and writing. The Dolch list, on the other hand, consists of just 220 words.

While both lists are widely used and respected, many educators prefer to teach the Fry lists due to their more recent update and greater comprehensiveness. Ultimately, the decision to use one list over the other often comes down to personal preference.

In conclusion, while both the Fry and Dolch sight word lists have been instrumental in helping children learn to read, there are some key differences between them. The Fry Sight Words list is a more comprehensive and up-to-date list of 1,000 common words, while the Dolch list consists of just 220 words and has not been significantly updated since its original publication.

Fry and dolch sight words