
Sorting Long i Sounds

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?
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A list of 15 long i words ready to sort and read.
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A four‑column sorting table where students organise words by spelling pattern:
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i as in tiger
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i‑e (split digraph) as in kite
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igh as in night
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y (long i at the end) as in fly
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Why teach the long I spellings?
Mastering multiple spellings for the same sound helps students:
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Recognise spelling patterns for accurate writing.
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Increase reading fluency by quickly decoding familiar words.
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Strengthen phonemic awareness—the key to tackling new words with confidence.
How to use the worksheet
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Print & Prep – Hand out the worksheet with pencils or highlighters.
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Read Together – Say each word aloud and underline the letters that spell the long i sound.
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Sort – Students write or cut‐and‐paste each word into the correct column on the sheet.
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Review – Check answers as a class and discuss why each spelling makes the same sound.
Easy extension ideas
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Sentence Builder – Write one sentence for each spelling pattern using a word from that group.
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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.
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Illustrate & Label – Have students draw a picture of a favourite long i word and label it.
Why you’ll love this resource
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Zero prep – just download, print, and teach.
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Appeals to visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic learners.
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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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