Parenting 101

The Basic Spelling Vocabulary List for kids in grades 1–5

The Basic Spelling Vocabulary List for kids in grades 1–5

The Importance of a Structured Spelling List

This compilation of words forms a child’s language foundation and can be used as a verbal (word) or written (spelling) list. They are approximately 80% of the words used in written text for children, so they need to be learned by children to develop their writing.

Every single word came from:

  • Grade-level difficulty
  • Common in children’s dialogues and writings
  • Up-to-date word lists for education
  • Mistakes in spelling that we see kids make

The payoff for mastering this set is high —students can communicate more clearly, write with more confidence, and more effectively decode and encode words using phonics and recognition of sight words.

How To Enhance Children’s Spelling Skills

Here’s a systematic method using phonics patterns, sight words and word complexity:

Grade 1 – Foundation Stage

Focus: CVC words, simple consonant blends, and high-frequency sight words.

Phonics Focus: Short vowels, digraphs such as sh, ch and th.

Sight Words: Frequently irregular; have to be learned by sight.

Examples:

Phonics: cat, run, bed, hot, pig.

Sight Words: the, was, you, come, one

Sample Fun Exercise:

"Word Hunt!" – Name 5 things in your house that rhyme with bed or begin with the letter of ball.

2nd Grade – Blending and Beyond

Focus: Two-syllable words, r-controlled vowels (ar, er, ir), long vowel patterns (ai, ay, a-e), and high-frequency sight words

Phonics Focus: Magic ‘e, vowel teams (ai, ea, oo).

Sight Words: more, again, before, friend*

Examples:

Phonics: without, street, braid, brook

Sight Words: said, could, were, where*

Sample Fun Exercise:

"Sight Word Bingo!" – You can make your bingo grid with sight words. Give out clues, such as ``An antonym of cold.”

Grade 3 – Building Fluency

Focus: Multisyllabic words, suffixes/prefixes, contractions, compound words.

Phonics Focus: The –ing and –ed endings, contractions (can’t, I’m) and diphthongs (ou, ow).

Sight Words: believe, friend, people, because, through

Examples:

Phonics: flying, finished, shout, can’t

Sight Words: everyone, something, enough, their

Sample Fun Exercise:

"Contraction Match-Up!" – Combine cards from he + is to he’s, do + not to don’t.

Level 4 – Understanding and applying What You Read

Focus: Words with conflicting rules, silent letters, and easily confused homophones/homographs.

Phonics Focus: syllable division, consonant doubling, and exceptions (knife, write).

Sight Words & Homophones: they're vs. their vs. there, knew vs. new

Examples:

Phonics: captain, middle, discover, return

Sample Fun Exercise:

"Homophone Pictionary!" – Draw two meanings: flower and flour, pair and pear.

5th - Grade Genius and Detail

Focus: Abstract vocabulary, Greek and Latin roots, academic language, spelling rules,  mastery and nuance in language.

Phonics Focus: silent consonants, suffix rules and tricky vowel patterns.

Sight Words: surprise, beautiful, important, receive

Examples:

Phonics: choose, evening, cousin, future

Sample Fun Exercise:

Spelling Word Story Challenge” – Include 10 of the above advanced spelling words in a mini-story.

"Homophone Pictionary!" – Draw two meanings: flower and flour, pair and pear.

Read more: 250+ Sight Words for First Graders That Kids Can Easily Learn

List of Spelling Words (30 words per grade as an example)

Grade 1

a, am, at, be, bed, big, box, but, can, cat, come, dad, day, did, dog, go, had, he, in, is, it, like, man, me, my, no, on, one, play, run

Grade 2

add, after, any, are, back, bag, base, bee, boat, both, bring, brother, candy, clean, corn, eat, feed, gave, girl, goat, grade, hand, hill, hope, jump, keep, live, meat, name*, night

Grade 3

again, animal, around, balloon, bear, because, birthday, children, dream, ears face, family, friend, head, kind, money, morning, party, place, paper, plane, place, reach, ready, river, school, stairs, third, today, you're

Grade 4

answer, board, break, captain, circus, clothes, country, discover, doctor, dollar, enough, enjoy, field, Friday, happened, heavy, hospital, idea, laugh, middle, mountain, parent, peanut, police, pretty, raise, really, remember, stories, together

Grade 5

America, arrive, attention, beautiful, cousin, decide, evening, favourite, finally, future, important interest, piece, present, president, probably, receive, sentence, several, special, suddenly, suppose, surely, surprise, they’re, through, usually, vacation, Wednesday, you're

Spelling Fun: Inspiration for Your Little Ones

“Rainbow Write” – Trace spelling words in several colours of pencil.

“Letter Mystery” – Place letters of words in picture cards and have children guess the missing letters.

“Spelling Ladder” — Start short, work up: a → at → cat → chat.

"Sort! – Syllable Sort" – Sort words into 1, 2 or 3+ syllables.

“Roll & Spell” – Roll the die and perform a playful activity: whisper the word, spell it in the air, or sing it!

Final Thoughts

This spell check may seem exceedingly simple, but a full, express explanation of its vocabulary not only contains words but is also a path to effective communication. Phonics patterns, high-frequency words, and lots of practice combine to make spelling fun — and successful — in these lessons for every grade!

Instructional Tip: Begin with decoding by sound in early grades and transition slowly to decoding by visual memory and meaning for advanced vocabulary!

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Article Author

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Swati Prasad

Swati Prasad is a seasoned educator and Communication Trainer with 13 years of teaching experience. She holds a Bachelor of Hotel Management and has completed coursework for a Master's in Tourism. Specializing in remote training, Swati has developed strong skills in independent and efficient work, with a focus on communication and organization. Swati's journey in education includes eight years as a Pre-primary teacher, where she honed her ability to connect with young learners. Her passion for teaching and communication extends beyond the classroom, as she is also the published author of two successful children's books: "You Can Be a Whizz Kid Too!" and "Choose Your Path to Happiness.

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