High-Frequency Words by Grade
High-Frequency Words are the spellings students meet most often in reading and writing, organized into grade-level sets and practiced alongside Core Spelling.
- • "High-frequency" describes how often a word occurs — not whether its spelling is irregular.
- • Not every High-Frequency Word is unpredictable; many follow familiar sound-spelling patterns.
- • High-Frequency Words complement Core Spelling; they are practiced alongside it, not instead of it.
27 sets · 316 words across Kindergarten–5th Grade.
Each set below shows a few sample words from the full set. Open a set to see all of its words and practice them.
Kindergarten
4 sets · 40 words
introduces the earliest, most frequent words children meet in print, alongside Core Spelling.
-
10 words
Sample words
- a
- and
- the
- can
- is
-
10 words
Sample words
- he
- you
- go
- to
- not
-
10 words
Sample words
- she
- was
- here
- that
- see
-
10 words
Sample words
- come
- look
- with
- two
- play
1st Grade
7 sets · 84 words
builds accuracy with words students regularly use in reading and writing, alongside Core Spelling.
-
12 words
Sample words
- said
- have
- they
- what
- down
-
12 words
Sample words
- when
- who
- over
- ask
- has
-
12 words
Sample words
- why
- make
- about
- home
- very
-
12 words
Sample words
- where
- your
- time
- give
- will
-
12 words
Sample words
- were
- want
- some
- day
- find
-
12 words
Sample words
- more
- help
- long
- need
- name
-
12 words
Sample words
- place
- thing
- keep
- room
- part
2nd Grade
7 sets · 84 words
supports accurate spelling of words students frequently need for everyday reading and writing.
-
12 words
Sample words
- again
- people
- could
- know
- their
-
12 words
Sample words
- because
- school
- book
- which
- little
-
12 words
Sample words
- before
- story
- found
- made
- under
-
12 words
Sample words
- answer
- someone
- large
- learn
- never
-
12 words
Sample words
- together
- young
- high
- other
- came
-
12 words
Sample words
- right
- work
- think
- much
- away
-
12 words
Sample words
- night
- water
- house
- read
- year
3rd Grade
5 sets · 60 words
is practiced alongside, not instead of, the growing morphological focus of Core Spelling.
-
12 words
Sample words
- friend
- family
- different
- question
- through
-
12 words
Sample words
- thought
- brought
- caught
- already
- toward
-
12 words
Sample words
- practice
- difficult
- heard
- become
- especially
-
12 words
Sample words
- world
- believe
- probably
- usually
- really
-
12 words
Sample words
- remember
- weather
- study
- certain
- during
4th Grade
2 sets · 24 words
gives focused practice with academically weighty words that still merit dedicated attention.
-
12 words
Sample words
- important
- example
- understand
- possible
- straight
-
12 words
Sample words
- whether
- include
- though
- written
- however
5th Grade
2 sets · 24 words
strengthens accuracy with frequently used words that remain important in independent writing.
-
12 words
Sample words
- government
- business
- language
- beautiful
- attention
-
12 words
Sample words
- process
- piece
- provide
- problem
- experience
Each set link goes straight to its full word list. The grade-specific High-Frequency Words gateway above still owns the complete same-grade inventory and orientation.
See how High-Frequency Words fits alongside Core Spelling, or read the reasoning behind the curriculum on Our Spelling Curriculum.