How it works
This heart words list holds 84 common words in three levels: kindergarten, first grade and second grade. Each line names the letters to learn by heart and their sound. The choice of words is ours, not a published list.
Read the full guide
How each word is mapped
Say the word and count its sounds. Said has 3: s, ai, d. The s and d sound out, so only the ai, which says /e/ as in bed, is learned by heart. Each card back splits the word into one spelling per sound, and the line under it names the heart part. Sounds follow American speech. A vowel plus r counts as one sound, so there has 2.
One heart part, many words
Twelve words share an o that says /u/: of, from, one, some, come, love, done, once, does, other, mother and brother. In seven the o says /oo/: to, do, into, you, two, who and move. Could, would and should share oul. Teach a set together and one heart part covers it.
- For a list of heart words pdf first grade teachers can send home, press First grade, print, then Save as PDF: 36 cards, 3 sheets.
- He, me, go, no and like are left out on purpose. They sound out once long vowels are taught, so no part needs the heart.
- Been is mapped as most Americans say it, with ee saying /i/ as in sit. If your class rhymes it with seen, skip the card.
Questions and answers
What is a heart word?
A common word with a part that does not follow the letter sounds a child has been taught, so that part is learned by heart. In said the s and d sound out, and only the ai is the heart part.
Which words are on the kindergarten heart words list?
24 words: the, a, to, do, into, of, from, was, what, want, you, said, are, have, give, they, one, two, is, his, as, has, put and your. The levels are our suggestion, so check them against your own scope and sequence.
Is there a list of heart words pdf?
The list is text on this page, in three levels. For a file, turn a card, press the print button under it and choose Save as PDF. The file holds the cards, 12 to a Letter or A4 sheet, each sound map on its back.
Is of the only word where f says /v/?
Among common words, yes. Wikipedia's article on the letter F says f stands for the v sound in of and the words built on it. Both letters of of are heart parts, because the o says /u/ as in cup.