What does the term "sight words" refer to?

The term "sight words" specifically refers to high-frequency words that students are taught to recognize instantly, without needing to decode them letter by letter. This recognition is crucial in developing reading fluency, as many of these words appear frequently in text, and knowing them by sight allows readers to focus on comprehension rather than getting bogged down by decoding common words.

By mastering sight words, students can achieve smoother reading and comprehension, ultimately enhancing their overall literacy skills. This approach is foundational in early reading instruction, as it enables children to concentrate on larger chunks of text and the meaning of what they are reading, rather than getting stuck on individual words.