Sight Word Flash Cards

How to use the Sight Word Flash Cards tool

1. In the box labeled “Your words (one per line)”, replace the default words (the, and, said, was) with your own list. Type or paste the words one per line, or separate them with commas. Repeated words are printed once, and up to 240 words can print.
2. In “Title on the sheet”, enter a name such as your grade or list name. It appears in the small caption above the cards, not on the cards.
3. Under “Letters”, choose Exactly as typed, all lowercase, Capital first letter, or ALL CAPITALS.
4. Under “Word size”, choose Biggest that fits, Large, Medium or Small. Leave “Same size on every card” checked to keep all words the same size.
5. Under “On the back of each card”, choose Nothing, Blank, The word spelled out, or Lines to write a sentence.
6. Under “Printing style”, choose Double-sided or Fold in half.
7. Under “Cards per page”, choose 6, 8, 12 or 16. Check “Shuffle the order” if you want a random order.
8. Set the paper size to US Letter or A4, check the preview, then select “Print or save as PDF”.

The page address stores your settings and word list, so you can bookmark it or share the link to open the same set again. “Reset settings” restores the defaults.

How do I make sight word flash cards?

To make sight word flash cards, type your word list into the box and print the result. Each word becomes one card with the word printed large in the middle. The tool sets the words in Andika, an open-source reading font designed for literacy, and measures each word so it fits inside its card with space around it.

Keep each set to the words a reader is currently learning. A short set is easier to practice in one sitting, and you can always make a new sheet from a different list.

How do double-sided flash cards line up when printed?

Double-sided printing gives you fronts on one page and backs on the next, and the two pages are set so each back lines up behind its front when the sheet is flipped on its long edge. The back of the card in the first column appears in the last column of the back page. This mirrored layout is correct for that flip.

Each page has a short caption that says whether it shows the fronts or the backs, and which sheet it belongs to. Print the fronts first, then the backs, and check that the caption matches the page you are printing.

How do I use sight word flash cards at home?

Start by cutting the cards along the dashed lines. Then show the front of a card, have the reader say the word aloud, and turn the card over to check it. If you chose spelled-out backs, the reader can spell the word after reading it.

Shuffle the order before each practice session so the reader cannot rely on memory of the sequence. Many families sort the cards into two piles, “knows it” and “still learning,” and spend more time on the second pile.

Can I use my school’s sight word list?

Yes. The box starts with four words (the, and, said, was), and you replace them with the list your school or reading program uses. Type or paste that list into the box, one word per line or separated by commas. Each word then becomes its own card.

The tool does not include a built-in word list, so the words on your cards come from the list you enter. If a word appears twice in different capital letters, it is printed once.

What can go on the back of each card?

The back can be left out, left blank, show the word spelled out, or have lines for writing a sentence. Choose Nothing to print fronts only, on one side. Choose Blank for an empty back, The word spelled out for letters separated by hyphens, or Lines to write a sentence for a “Use it in a sentence” prompt with two lines.

For example, with the default words the, and, said and was, the spelled-out backs read t-h-e, a-n-d, s-a-i-d and w-a-s. Fold-in-half printing needs a back, so if you choose Nothing with that style, the back half is left blank and a note says so.