Reading is one of the most powerful skills we can give our children. The journey begins with the basics: CVC words (consonant-vowel-consonant words) and sight words. These simple building blocks make reading fun, approachable, and achievable for young learners. Once children can recognize and blend CVC words and remember sight words, they are already on their way to becoming confident readers.

Why CVC Words Are the First Step

CVC words such as cat, dog, pin, bus, and net are the backbone of phonics learning. They allow children to:

Hear and blend sounds (c + a + t = cat).
Understand word patterns and vowel sounds.
Gain confidence with quick wins in reading.

By practicing CVC words, children learn the logic of how letters work together to make words, setting the stage for fluent reading.

The Role of Sight Words in Reading

While phonics teaches children how to “sound out” words, sight words are those that don’t always follow regular rules but are very common in texts. Words like the, my, you, is, and was appear so often that children need to recognize them instantly. Sight words help:

Build reading fluency.
Allow children to read full sentences quickly.
Reduce frustration when encountering tricky words.

First 30 Sight Words to Teach

Here are the first 30 sight words you can introduce alongside CVC words:

I, a, is, in, the, my, and, go, to, do, it, me, at, we, be, on, by, of, you, had, are, he, for, was, as, has, they, can, this

These words unlock countless sentence possibilities!

Let us group these sight words with each vowel to make learning easy! take a set of 5-6 sight words weekly and frame sentences with CVC words . this is the easiest way you can teach reading to kindergarteners. First teach reading the sight words one by one . Ask your child to repeat. It is advised ti skip sounding of these words as we are teaching them these words by sight which means these words need to be memorized.

Below are the sentences you can use to practice reading. if you notice these are built using only the sight words ans CVC words to make reading an easy job.

Short Vowel a Sentences

Short Vowel e Sentences

Short Vowel i Sentences

Short Vowel o Sentences

Short Vowel u Sentences

Teaching children to read starts with small, joyful steps: CVC words, sight words, and simple sentences. These are the seeds of a lifelong love for reading. By making reading approachable and fun from the beginning, we help children build confidence, curiosity, and the foundation for academic success. Remember, the earlier we introduce these tools, the quicker children can unlock the magic of reading!

CVC Words Sentences