Sorting Long a Sounds
Looking for a fun and effective way to help your students master the long a sound? At Smart Boarding School, we’re excited to share a free phonics worksheet that supports early readers as they explore the different spelling patterns for the long a vowel sound—like in rain, play, cake, and apron.
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Say hello to the “Sorting Long A Words” worksheet! Designed for Grade 1 and Grade 2, this printable activity helps young learners build confidence in identifying, reading, and sorting long a words.
What’s Included in the Worksheet?
This engaging, no-prep resource includes:
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A list of 15 long a words featuring different phonemes.
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A sorting table where students organise the words by spelling pattern.
Students will sort words into four categories:
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“a” as in apron
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“ai” as in rain
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“ay” as in play
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“a_e” (split digraph) as in cake
Why Teach the Long A Sound?
Understanding that one sound can be spelled in different ways is a key phonics skill. By focusing on the long a sound, students will:
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Boost their spelling skills by recognising common vowel patterns.
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Improve reading fluency as they become familiar with long a words.
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Develop phonemic awareness and decoding strategies.
How to Use the Worksheet
Step 1 – Prep: Print the worksheet and give students a pencil, crayon, or highlighter.
Step 2 – Read the Words: Go through the list of words together and highlight the part of the word that makes the long a sound.
Step 3 – Sort the Words: Students place each word into the correct column based on how the long a sound is spelled.
Step 4 – Check and Discuss: Review the answers as a group and talk about how the spelling patterns change.
Extension Ideas to Deepen Learning
Make phonics even more meaningful with these optional activities:
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Sentence Writing: Ask students to write a sentence using one word from each column.
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Word Hunt: Challenge them to find more long a words around the classroom or in books.
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Draw and Label: Students can draw a picture for a favourite word and label it.
Why Teachers and Parents Love This Worksheet
The “Sorting Long A Words” worksheet is:
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No prep and ready to use in minutes
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Perfect for whole-class, small group, or independent work
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Designed to support visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners
Download Your Free Worksheet Now!
Build strong phonics foundations with this fun and interactive long a sorting activity.
Click the button below to download your free worksheet and bring more confidence into your students’ reading and spelling journey.
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At Smart Boarding School, we believe learning to read should be engaging, effective, and free. Let’s make phonics fun!
