Vowel Team Sort
Read each word. Write it under its vowel team.
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This is sheet #17924601.
How to do it
- Read a word from the box.
- Find its vowel team.
- Write it in the right column.
Teaching tip
Underline the vowel team in each word before sorting. This sheet is aligned with Common Core RF.1.3c.
About this worksheet
Twelve words to sort into ai/ay, ee/ea and oa/ow.
What kids practice
A vowel team is two letters that work together to make one long vowel sound: ai and ay say /ā/ (rain, play), ee and ea say /ē/ (tree, seal), and oa and ow say /ō/ (boat, snow). First graders start with these six common teams. Vowel teams are a key phonics pattern for reading longer words.
Watch for
- Reading each vowel separately, like ra-in.
- Mixing up which team to use when spelling. That's normal; it takes lots of reading.
- Reading ow as in cow for snow. Both are right in different words, so try both.
It's free to print, with Fewer, Standard or More on the page and an answer key. See the full long vowels: vowel teams phonics guide for 1st grade.
More sheets in this set
- See it all
1. Vowel Team ChartThe six first-grade vowel teams (ai, ay, ee, ea, oa, ow) with pictures and words. 
2. Which Team?Ten picture words with the vowel team missing. A hint shows the two teams to choose from.
3. Circle the SpellingEight pictures with three spellings each. Only one is right.
5. Find the TeamEight sentences with one to three vowel team words each.
6. Color by Vowel TeamA hidden picture made of vowel team words like rain, play, tree, leaf and boat. Includes an answer key.