A Sight Word Story Generator for Beginning Readers
Flashcards teach the words. Stories make them stick. Time-2-Read writes new, illustrated beginner stories built on the most common sight words.
Sight words are the small, common words (the, and, is, you, said) that beginning readers learn to recognize at a glance. Flashcards help, but children also need to meet those words again and again in real sentences.
Printable sight word stories run out fast. Time-2-Read generates new ones: early reading levels are written mostly with Dolch sight words, and each story stars your child.
Built on Dolch words
Beginner levels lean heavily on the Dolch pre-primer, primer and grade 1 lists.
Never the same story twice
New stories whenever your child wants one, so reading practice doesn't get stale.
Help on every word
Tap a word to hear it, so an unfamiliar word doesn't stop the story.
What are Dolch sight words?
The Dolch list was compiled by Edward W. Dolch, first published in 1936 and later in his 1948 book Problems in Reading. It has 220 "service words" grouped into pre-primer, primer, first, second and third grade lists, plus a separate list of common nouns. Dolch estimated in 1936 that between 50% and 75% of the words used in schoolbooks of his day were from this basic sight vocabulary.
How Time-2-Read generates sight word stories
- Choose a beginner reading level. Early levels are written mostly with Dolch sight words and short, simple sentences.
- Your child is the main character, so they want to keep reading.
- Every page has an illustration that supports the words.
- Tap any word to hear it. Phonics help is there for words to sound out.
- Move up a level as their sight vocabulary grows.
Make sight word practice stick
- Before reading, pick three sight words and ask your child to spot them in the story.
- Reread yesterday's story first. Repetition builds speed and confidence.
- Keep it short: one story, or 10 to 20 minutes, is plenty for a beginner.
- For a printable list, see our kindergarten sight words page.
Sight word stories vs. decodable texts
Decodable texts are written so that almost every word follows phonics patterns a child has been taught. Sight word stories focus on high-frequency words. Most beginner readers benefit from both. Time-2-Read's beginner stories lean on sight words and simple words with phonics help; if your child's school uses a specific decodable sequence, keep using those books for that practice too.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a sight word story generator?
Yes. Time-2-Read generates new illustrated stories for beginning readers. Its early reading levels are written mostly with Dolch sight words, and your child is the main character.
What are Dolch sight words?
A list of 220 high-frequency "service words" plus common nouns, compiled by Edward W. Dolch and first published in 1936, grouped from pre-primer to third grade.
Can I type in my child's own sight word list?
Not at the moment. You choose the reading level, and beginner levels draw on the Dolch lists. Practice your class list with our printable kindergarten sight words alongside the stories.
What age are sight word stories for?
Usually ages 4 to 7 (pre-K to first grade), or any child at a beginning reading level.
How much does Time-2-Read cost?
Your first 3 stories are free. After that, Premium starts with a 7-day free trial, then costs $12.99/month or $99/year.
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