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Sorting Long i Sounds

Sorting Long i Sounds.jpeg

Ready to give your students a clear, hands‑on way to master the long i vowel?


At Smart Boarding School we’ve created a free phonics worksheet that lets early readers explore the four most common spellings of the long i sound—like in tiger, kite, night, and fly.

Meet the “Sorting Long I Words” worksheet—perfect for Grade 1 and Grade 2 literacy centres, small‑group lessons, or homework practice.

 

What’s inside?

  • A list of 15 long i words ready to sort and read.

  • A four‑column sorting table where students organise words by spelling pattern:

    • i as in tiger

    • i‑e (split digraph) as in kite

    • igh as in night

    • y (long i at the end) as in fly

 

Why teach the long I spellings?

Mastering multiple spellings for the same sound helps students:

  • Recognise spelling patterns for accurate writing.

  • Increase reading fluency by quickly decoding familiar words.

  • Strengthen phonemic awareness—the key to tackling new words with confidence.

 

How to use the worksheet

  1. Print & Prep – Hand out the worksheet with pencils or highlighters.

  2. Read Together – Say each word aloud and underline the letters that spell the long i sound.

  3. Sort – Students write or cut‐and‐paste each word into the correct column on the sheet.

  4. Review – Check answers as a class and discuss why each spelling makes the same sound.

 

Easy extension ideas

  • Sentence Builder – Write one sentence for each spelling pattern using a word from that group.

  • Long I Word Hunt – Challenge students to find additional long i words in books, around the classroom, or at home and add them to the appropriate column.

  • Illustrate & Label – Have students draw a picture of a favourite long i word and label it.

 

Why you’ll love this resource

  • Zero prep – just download, print, and teach.

  • Appeals to visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic learners.

  • Works for whole‑class instruction, guided reading groups, or independent practice.

 

Download your free worksheet now!

Click the button below to grab the “Sorting Long I Words” worksheet and give your learners the practice they need to read and spell long i words with ease.

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