Grades 4–5
Spelling Sort: -tion or -sion?
Twelve words to finish with -tion or -sion by listening to the ending sound, then sort.
Writing worksheet · Spelling and word sorts
Spelling Sort: ai or ay?
Twelve long a words to finish with ai or ay and sort, using where the sound comes in the word.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–3
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Spelling patterns, Word study, Spelling rules and generalizations, Self-checking spelling
What kids do
“ai and ay both say the long a sound. ay usually comes at the end of a word, and ai comes in the middle. Fill in each word, then sort.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Write a sentence with one ai word and one ay word.
Words on this sheet
pltrstntgrsnchawai wordsay words
Teacher tip
Teach the rule: ai in the middle of a word (rain), ay at the end (play).
How to use it
- Read each word aloud and have kids repeat it before they write.
- Introduce the pattern with a short list on the board and underline it.
- Keep a word wall or a word bank in reach so spelling does not stop the ideas.
Watch for
Kids who memorize words without the pattern. Ask them to spell a new word with it.
Talk about it
- Which word broke the rule?
- Where else do writers use this skill?
Take it further
Have kids hunt for the pattern in a library book and list what they find.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More spelling and word sorts
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Find the Misspelled Word
Eight sentences with a commonly misspelled word (museum, separate, weird, tomorrow) to find and fix.
Grades 2–5
Spelling Story Challenge
Use any spelling list in a story: ten word boxes, a story and a count of how many words made it in.
Grades 1–3
Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check
The look, say, cover, write, check study routine for any ten spelling words.
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