220 Dolch Words & ASL Sign Language

As I taught my daughter to read, I noticed something that surprised me. The shorter the word, the more likely it was to break the phonics rules I was trying to teach. It quickly became obvious that learning to read isn't just about sounding words out. Many of the most common words in English have to be recognized by sight, which eventually led me to the Dolch Sight Word lists.

Along the way, I also became a big believer in using sign language as a teaching tool. While practicing Dolch words with flashcards, I discovered that adding a sign helped my daughter remember each word much more easily. Sometimes she'd remember the English word first. Other times she'd remember the sign and the spoken word would follow. Either way, learning became easier and much more enjoyable. Looking back, I think adding sign language gave her another meaningful way to connect with each word instead of simply memorizing letters.

By four and a half years old, she had learned all 220 Dolch Sight Words. Rather than immediately introducing new words, we spent time building reading fluency so she could recognize each sight word instantly and effortlessly. Once those words became automatic, we were ready to move on to the Dolch Nouns.

Many people don't realize that the Dolch lists are actually divided into two parts. The original 220 Dolch Sight Words contain the high-frequency words that appear in almost every children's book, such as the, and, was, and said. Nouns were intentionally left out because they vary from story to story. Those common nouns, like apple, house, dog, and mother, were collected into a separate list of 95 Dolch Nouns that children typically learn after mastering the core sight words.

By this point, my daughter had already read several books on her own, including Biscuit, Green Eggs and Ham, Time to Get Dressed, Gossie, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, and A Kiss for Little Bear. More important than finishing a list of words, though, was keeping learning enjoyable. Patience, consistency, and making each lesson interesting turned reading into something she genuinely looked forward to.

I realize that many of these sight words don't have direct equivalents in American Sign Language (ASL) and are more commonly represented in Signing Exact English (SEE). Even so, I think both systems have value, especially when the goal is helping young children build vocabulary and understand language.

To make things easier for other parents, I've created this list of all 220 Dolch Sight Words with links to their signs on Signing Savvy. Some words have multiple signs because they have different meanings. The numbers after each word indicate those different meanings. Exploring those differences became part of the fun. My daughter loved pointing out words that shared the same sign and words whose signs changed depending on their meaning.

I'm far from fluent in sign language, but the little I've learned has become one of the most valuable teaching tools I've used with my daughter. Hopefully these links will be helpful for other families as well.

220 Dolch Words
a about 1 2 after again all always am an and any are around as ask 1 2 3 at ate away be because been before 1 2 3 best better big black 1 2 blue both bring brown but buy by call 1 2 3 4 came can 1 2 carry 1 2 clean cold come could cut 1 2 did do does	done 1 2 don't down draw 1 2 drink eat eight every fall 1 2 far fast 1 2 find first 1 2 five fly 1 2 3 for found four from full 1 2 funny gave get 1 2 give go 1 2 goes going good got green grow had has have he help her 1 2 here him 1 2 his hold 1 2 hot how hurt	I if in into is it its jump just 1 2 3 keep kind 1 2 know laugh let light 1 2 3 4 like 1 2 3 little 1 2 3 live long look 1 2 made make many may 1 2 3 me much must my myself never new no 1 2 not now 1 2 of off old on once one only open or our	out over own pick play 1 2 please pretty pull put ran read red ride 1 2 right 1 2 3 round run 1 2 said saw 1 2 say see seven shall she show 1 2 sing sit six sleep small so some soon 1 2 start stop take 1 2 tell 1 2 3 ten thank that the their them then there	these they think this those three to today together too 1 2 try 1 2 two under up upon us use very 1 2 walk want warm was wash we well 1 2 went were what 1 2 3 when where which white 1 2 who why will 1 2 3 wish with work 1 2 would 1 2 write yellow yes you your