Sight words are commonly used words that young readers are encouraged to memorize as a whole by sight, rather than by sounding them out phonetically. These sight words frequently don’t follow standard phonetic patterns and can be difficult to decode using traditional phonics strategies. Recognizing sight words instantly and automatically helps children read more fluently and understand texts better, since they don’t need to pause and decode these words. Examples include “the,” “you,” “said,” and “where.” Teaching sight words alongside phonics provides a comprehensive approach to early reading instruction, helping children navigate a wide range of texts with greater ease.