Long o Words

organised list of words with the long o sound, sorted into four columns by their grapheme:

• o (as in go, no)

• oa (as in boat, coat)

• ow (as in snow, throw)

• o_e (as in rope, home)

Each column provides helpful examples that students are likely to encounter in their reading and writing, making it a perfect addition to any phonics or spelling lesson.

 

Why It's Useful

This resource supports students in understanding that the same sound can be spelled in different ways. It:

• Builds awareness of common long o spelling patterns

• Helps students visualise and group words by their phoneme

• Makes spelling lessons more structured and predictable

• Serves as a handy reference sheet in writing tasks and spelling practice

 

Ideas for Using the Worksheet

Whether in a classroom or at home, this worksheet offers flexibility. Here are some simple ways to use it:

• Use the list as a word bank during writing sessions

• Have students highlight the long o graphemes in each column

• Play a sorting game by giving students mixed-up long o words and having them match each to the correct column

• Challenge students to write sentences using one word from each column

This is also a fantastic support tool for literacy centres, group work, or take-home practice.

 

Extend the Learning

Want to go further with long o phonics? Try some of these activities:

• Word Hunt: Ask students to find and record long o words from books or around the classroom.

• Rhyming Pairs: Encourage students to find rhyming words within the same column (e.g. boat and coat).

• Spelling Bee: Use the word lists to play a friendly classroom spelling challenge.

• Create-a-Story: Have students use 4–6 long o words to write a silly or creative short story.

 

Download the Free Printable

The Long o Words phonics resource is available now and free to download from Smart Boarding School. It's a simple, no-prep way to support your students’ spelling skills and phonics knowledge in a structured and visual format.