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Long i Words

Long i Words.jpeg

The long i sound can be spelled in several different ways, and this can be confusing for young learners. That’s why this Long i Words resource is a helpful and free tool designed for Year 1 and Year 2 students working on phonics and spelling. It gives children clear examples of how the long i sound appears in different words, helping them become more confident readers and writers.

 

What’s Inside the Resource?

The worksheet features a list of words with the long i

sound, sorted into five columns based on their spelling pattern:

  • i (as in tiger, pilot)

  • ie (as in pie, tie)

  • igh (as in light, night)

  • i_e (as in kite, bike)

  • y (as in fly, cry)

These graphemes are commonly used to make the long i sound in English, and this resource gives young learners a chance to see the different patterns side by side.

 

Why This Resource Works

The Long i Words printable is perfect for introducing or revising vowel patterns. It:

  • Helps students visually connect the long i sound with different spellings

  • Provides a useful reference for writing, reading, and spelling tasks

  • Supports phonics lessons, spelling groups, or literacy centres

  • Encourages students to sort and group words based on spelling rules

Teachers can easily use this resource in small group instruction, and parents will find it helpful for spelling practice at home.

 

How to Use It

Here are a few ideas for using the resource:

  • Display the chart during phonics lessons on long vowels

  • Have students highlight or colour the different graphemes

  • Use the words for sentence writing, dictation, or spelling tests

  • Encourage students to sort words into categories or brainstorm new ones

It’s also great as a support tool for students who are ready to notice and apply spelling patterns independently.

 

Extra Learning Ideas

To make the most of this resource, try these simple activities:

  • Word detective: find long i words in a book and sort them by spelling

  • Create a mini-book using one grapheme per page (e.g. "Words with igh")

  • Spelling challenges: how many i_e words can you write in two minutes?

  • Use as a word bank for a story-writing prompt

 

Download for Free

The Long i Words printable is available now and completely free to download from the Smart Boarding School website. It’s a simple but effective tool to build your students’ phonics knowledge and spelling confidence.

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