Are you ready to teach long A vowel teams? There are over 8 different ways to make the long a sound. Ai and ay are two of the most common spellings. With a little creativity and some engaging strategies, your students will confidently tackle those long A words in no time. Let’s dive in and make phonics fun and frustration-free!
Introduce the Rules
Like with many other vowel teams, there are some rules to follow. If you hear the long a sound in the middle of a word or syllable, it is typically the ai spelling. Ay is the most common long a vowel team when you hear /a/ at the end of a word or syllable.
This poster is helpful in teaching when to use which spelling.
Sort words with ai and ay
Sorting words helps children practice their ability to recognize beginning letter sounds, practice writing skills, and build familiarity with new vocabulary. It also provides students the opportunity to see the rules in action. I love to ask “What do you notice?” after sorting words to see students’ observations. We can compare what we notice after sorting words with the rules that have been introduced. Are there any rule breakers?
Practice Words with ai and ay
- Play games with flashcards like Kaboom or memory
- Create a tongue twister with a set of words that fit the pattern. Practice reading it with a partner.
- Make a list of words with each spelling pattern. Try to draw a picture to represent each word.
- Use picture cards to sort and write words with each pattern.
- Create a word search using a list of long a vowel team words.
- Search for long a vowel team words in books.
Dictation
Dictation is seriously a game-changer when it comes to mastering phonics! Your students can boost their spelling and reading skills by practicing common phonics patterns. Plus, with regular dictation, they’ll build confidence in decoding tricky words like pros! Want your students to rock those long A vowel teams and other phonics skills? Start adding a little daily dictation to your routine and watch the magic happen!
Apply the Skill to Text
Once students have had ample time to practice sorting, spelling, and writing words with the long a vowel team patterns, it’s time to apply their knowledge to text. Using a decodable story that includes words with ai and ay is the perfect way to formatively assess students’ understanding of how to decode these words.
Independent Practice and Assessment
Now that your students are beginning to master this skill, they can continue reviewing and practicing on their own! You can incorporate more practice into their morning work, literacy centers, or independent work time.
Now that students have worked hard to master long a vowel teams, it’s time to check their understanding. Using a quiz or exit ticket will help you plan for further instruction.
There are so many great activities and games that you can use to teach the long a vowel teams! This can be a tough concept for students to grasp, but with some practice, they will get it in no time. Check out the links below for more resources for teaching ai and ay.
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