Instant Words for Grades 1, 2, 3

By Edward Fry, Ph.D.

These 300 words are extremely important for children to learn for they make up 65 percent of all written material. It is virtually impossible for anyone to read or write a sentence without several of these words coming up. The words are listed in order of frequency of usage.

First hundred

1-25

the

of

and

a

to

in

is

you

that

it

he

was

for

on

are

as

with

his

they

I

at

be

this

have

from

26-50

or

one

had

by

words

but

not

what

all

were

we

when

your

can

said

there

use

an

each

which

she

do

how

their

if

51-75

will

up

other

about

out

many

then

them

these

so

some

her

would

make

like

him

into

time

has

look

two

more

write

go

see

76-100

number

no

way

could

people

my

than

first

water

been

call

who

am

its

now

find

long

down

day

did

get

come

made

may

part

Second hundred

101-125

over

new

sound

take

only

little

work

know

place

year

live

me

back

give

most

very

after

thing

our

just

name

good

sentence

man

think

126-150

say

great

where

help

through

much

before

line

right

too

mean

old

any

same

tell

boy

follow

came

want

show

also

around

farm

three

small

151-175

set

put

end

does

another

well

large

must

big

even

such

because

turn

here

why

ask

went

men

read

need

land

different

home

us

move

176-200

try

kind

hand

picture

again

change

off

play

spell

air

away

animal

house

point

page

letter

mother

answer

found

study

still

learn

should

American

world

Third hundred

201-225

high

every

near

add

food

between

own

below

country

plant

last

school

father

keep

tree

never

start

city

earth

eye

light

thought

head

under

story

226-250

saw

left

don't

few

while

along

might

close

something

seem

next

hard

open

example

begin

life

always

those

both

paper

together

got

group

often

run

251-275

important

until

children

side

feet

car

mile

night

walk

white

sea

began

grow

took

river

four

carry

state

once

book

hear

stop

without

second

later

276-300

miss

idea

enough

eat

face

watch

far

Indian

really

almost

let

above

girl

sometimes

mountain

cut

young

talk

soon

list

song

being

leave

family

it's

Importance of these instant words

Children simply cannot read well if they are constantly stumbling over the most frequently used words. Good readers will recognize them instantly. There is no time for children to stop and try to identify them.

Standards for learning these words

Here are the rough standards for knowing these words:

Grade 1 - First 100 words by the end of the year

Grade 2 - Second 100 words by the end of the year

Grade 3 - Third 100 words by the end of the year

Because so many children now have reading instruction in kindergarten, 3 out of 4 first graders will actually be able to read the first 100 words by the end of the year while the same number of second graders will be able to read all 300 words.

Suggestions for learning these words

Identify the words your child does not know. Test your child's knowledge of each column of words beginning with the first column. Then teach the child those that are not known or read with any hesitation in a column before going on to the next column.

Teach these words any way you can. You should employ several methods in teaching these words. You can use flash cards for drill and review. Don't try to teach more than five words at a time. Tell your child a word when you introduce it on a flash card. Write it in a sentence. Have the child find it in books. Then use the flash cards. If your child does not know a flash card word, say what the word is. Once a child knows all five words, go on to another five, but don't forget to review words frequently.

Have fun teaching your child these words. Adapt popular games, such as Bingo, Old Maid, and Go Fish. For example, you can play a form of Bingo using the words your child is learning instead of numbers.

Have your child read easy material. It will give him or her practice in reading these words. For example, a first grader could read material from beginning readers, and a second grader could read first grade materials. Just use materials in which the child does not miss more than one word in twenty.

More help for learning to read

Dr. Edward Fry has written a very easy-to-understand book for parents, tutors, and teachers called How To Teach Reading. It includes a list of 600 Instant Words; sections on teaching phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension; information on how to find the right reading material for children; suggestions for games; and much more. It can be found at online booksellers and in Barnes and Noble stores.