Word Ladders
Change one letter the way the clue says. Write the new word and climb down!
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This is sheet #38224601.
How to do it
- Read the word at the top.
- Change one letter the way the clue says.
- Write the new word and keep climbing.
Teaching tip
Have your child say the new word out loud before writing it.
About this worksheet
Two ladders of short-vowel words. Each step changes just one letter.
What kids practice
These sheets practice the skills that are hardest for kids who struggle to read: hearing each sound in a word, connecting sounds to letters, telling look-alike letters apart, and reading smoothly in phrases. They follow the same ideas as structured literacy programs. They help any beginning reader. They are not a test and not a diagnosis. If reading is a struggle, ask your child's school or doctor about an evaluation. Only a qualified professional can diagnose dyslexia.
Watch for
- Guessing from the first letter or the picture. Point to each letter and blend the whole word.
- Special dyslexia fonts and colored overlays. Research hasn't found that they help most children read better, so time is better spent on sound and letter practice.
- Waiting to see if it gets better on its own. Early help works best, so ask the school if reading is still hard by the middle of first grade.
- Rushing for speed. Accurate first, then smooth, then quicker.
It's free to print, with an answer key. See the full reading helpers (dyslexia-friendly) guide for 1st grade.
More sheets in this set
1. Tap the SoundsShort words split into sounds, with a dot to tap for each one. Some words have two letters that make one sound.
2. b or d?The bed trick for b and d, then ten pictures that start with b or d.
3. Reading Guide StripsThree cut-out strips that help keep your place on a page, plus tips for grown-ups.
4. Letter Hunt b d p qRows of b, d, p and q to scan for one target letter.
5. Clap the SyllablesPictures with one to four syllables, with circles to color for each clap.
7. Letter Sound Speed GridA grid of five letters mixed up in rows, to read three times for smooth letter-sound practice.
8. Scooping PhrasesSentences with scoops under each phrase, then sentences for your child to scoop.