1st Grade Spelling Words

First-grade spellers are moving from individual sounds to complete word patterns. This list combines useful high-frequency words with patterns learners will meet across early reading.

Choose a practice set

Patterns and learning focus

  • Short- and long-vowel contrasts
  • Beginning and ending consonant blends
  • High-frequency words that do not always sound exactly as expected

Is this the right difficulty?

Start here when simple consonant-vowel-consonant words feel comfortable but longer sight words still require attention.

100 spelling words in 10 practice sets

Start with one 10-word set. Read the pattern note, hear the words in a quiz, then review the spellings that need another try. These are independent practice suggestions; school curricula and learners’ needs vary.

Set 1 · 10 words

Short a

Listen for the middle vowel in these short-a words.

  1. cat
  2. mat
  3. sat
  4. bag
  5. cap
  6. map
  7. ham
  8. jam
  9. fan
  10. pan

Read aloud: The cat sat on a mat.

Practice set 1

Set 2 · 10 words

Short e

Keep the short-e sound distinct from short i.

  1. bed
  2. red
  3. fed
  4. hen
  5. pen
  6. ten
  7. net
  8. pet
  9. wet
  10. leg

Read aloud: The hen sat beside the red pen.

Practice set 2

Set 3 · 10 words

Short i

Say each sound, then blend the complete word.

  1. big
  2. dig
  3. pig
  4. sit
  5. hit
  6. fit
  7. pin
  8. win
  9. lid
  10. lip

Read aloud: The pig hid in a big bin.

Practice set 3

Set 4 · 10 words

Short o

Listen for the vowel between the consonants.

  1. dog
  2. log
  3. fog
  4. hot
  5. pot
  6. top
  7. hop
  8. mop
  9. box
  10. fox

Read aloud: The dog ran to the top of the hill.

Practice set 4

Set 5 · 10 words

Short u

Listen for short u in the middle of each word.

  1. sun
  2. fun
  3. run
  4. bun
  5. cup
  6. pup
  7. bug
  8. rug
  9. mud
  10. tub

Read aloud: The pup had fun in the sun.

Practice set 5

Set 6 · 10 words

Beginning blends

Hear both consonants at the start of a blend.

  1. flag
  2. flat
  3. clap
  4. glad
  5. plan
  6. stop
  7. step
  8. spin
  9. frog
  10. drip

Read aloud: The frog made a splash in the pond.

Practice set 6

Set 7 · 10 words

Sh and ch

Two letters can work together to spell one sound.

  1. ship
  2. shop
  3. shut
  4. fish
  5. dish
  6. chin
  7. chip
  8. chop
  9. rich
  10. much

Read aloud: The fish swam past the ship.

Practice set 7

Set 8 · 10 words

Th and wh

Notice the two letters at the start or end.

  1. thin
  2. thick
  3. this
  4. that
  5. them
  6. then
  7. with
  8. when
  9. whip
  10. whiz

Read aloud: When will they come with us?

Practice set 8

Set 9 · 10 words

Final e

Compare cap and cape: final e can change the vowel sound.

  1. cake
  2. make
  3. name
  4. game
  5. same
  6. bike
  7. like
  8. time
  9. home
  10. rope

Read aloud: Write your name beside the cake.

Practice set 9

Set 10 · 10 words

Everyday words

Look closely at the parts that are hard to hear.

  1. said
  2. have
  3. come
  4. some
  5. one
  6. two
  7. was
  8. you
  9. friend
  10. school

Read aloud: My friend said we could come to school.

Practice set 10

How we choose words: sets progress from sound patterns to word parts and useful everyday vocabulary. Use the grade as a starting point, move down a level for support, or choose a harder set when the words feel familiar.

Practice recommendations

  • Listen for the first and last sounds.
  • Use each word in a spoken sentence.
  • Review two or three missed words after the main session.

Spelling improves through short, repeated retrieval rather than one long study session. Listen to the complete word, spell it without character-by-character clues, then spend the final few minutes on missed words.

Practice this list

Take a short quiz from these words, or enter your own school list for focused practice.

Practice this listAdd a custom list

Frequently asked questions

What spelling patterns should a first grader know?

Common goals include short vowels, basic long-vowel patterns, consonant blends, digraphs such as sh and ch, and frequently used words.

What should I do when a word is consistently difficult?

Say the word, use it in a sentence, identify the tricky part, and practice it separately from the full list before trying it again.

How do I use the 100 first-grade spelling words on this page?

Choose one of the ten 10-word sets rather than practicing all 100 at once. Read its pattern note, study the words, then select that set’s practice button. Begin with short vowels and move to blends, digraphs, or final-e words as those earlier spellings become familiar.

What is the difference between a consonant blend and a digraph?

In a blend, you can hear the individual consonant sounds, as in the f and l in flag. In a digraph, two letters represent one sound, as with sh in ship. Ask the learner to listen for those sounds before spelling the complete word.

How can I teach silent e to a first grader?

Compare a short-vowel word with a related final-e word, such as cap and cape or hop and hope. Read both aloud and notice the change in the vowel. Explain that this is a useful pattern with exceptions; words such as have do not follow it.

Can I print the first-grade spelling sets?

Yes. Select Print word list near the top of this page to open your browser’s print dialog. The printable version includes the word sets and their pattern notes. Cover the words when giving an oral practice test, then uncover them to check the answers.