Tricky words

These are the 36 tricky words in the app, grouped by the stage they are taught in. The stages follow the order of the UK Letters and Sounds phases, so Stage 1 lines up with phase 2. Tap any word to hear it with its sentence.

Stage 1 phase 2, 4 words

• to
• the
• into
• no

Stage 2 phase 3, 10 words

• her
• me
• they
• was
• be
• we
• you
• my
• she
• are

Stage 3 phase 4, 13 words

• some
• so
• come
• do
• what
• when
• said
• one
• little
• like
• have
• were
• there

Stage 4 phase 5, 9 words

• their
• people
• asked
• could
• called
• looked
• Mr
• oh
• Mrs

Why they are taught separately

A beginner reads by blending sounds: c, a, t, cat. That works for most words, including most common ones. A few very common words contain a spelling the child has not met yet, and they turn up on the first page of the first reading book. Rather than wait, teachers introduce them early, say which part is unexpected, and let repetition do the rest.

See heart words for the American name for the same practice, and what sight words are for how this fits with the Dolch and Fry lists.

Questions parents ask

Do tricky words stay tricky?

No. A word is tricky only until the child learns the spelling pattern in it. Words like he and she stop being tricky once long vowel sounds are taught. That is why the lists are tied to phases rather than to age.

How should I practice them?

A few at a time, daily, inside a sentence. Say the word, point out the unexpected part, read the sentence, and move on. Bring back the missed ones first the next day.