Real or Silly?
Read each word. Is it a real word or a silly word? Circle one.
Fresh sheet anytime. Tap New sheet or reload for a different one. Tap + for up to 10.
This is sheet #16224601.
How to do it
- Read the word out loud.
- Is it a real word you know?
- Circle Real or Silly.
Teaching tip
Silly words are great practice. If your child can read zat, they are truly sounding out. This sheet is aligned with Common Core RF.1.3b.
About this worksheet
Twelve words from short-vowel families. Some are real and some are silly.
What kids practice
A word family is a group of words that share the same ending chunk, like cat, hat and sat (the -at family). Once kids can read one word in a family, they can read the rest by changing the first sound. Short-vowel families (-at, -ig, -op, -ug, -en and more) are the first big step from sounding out letter by letter to reading chunks. Word families are a core part of first grade phonics.
Watch for
- Guessing from the first letter (seeing c and saying cup for cat). Ask them to look at the whole word.
- Mixing up short e and short i, like reading pen as pin.
- Reading the chunk but forgetting the first sound. Have them slide a finger under the whole word.
It's free to print, with Fewer, Standard or More on the page and an answer key. See the full short-vowel word families phonics guide for 1st grade.
More sheets in this set
- See it all
1. Word Family ChartTwelve short-vowel word families with eight real words each, on one page. 
2. Read It, Circle ItEight short-vowel words, each with three pictures that look alike or sound alike.
3. Word Family SortTwelve words to sort into three word families.
5. Read the FamilyThree word family houses with six words each, the family chunk shown in blue.
6. Read and DrawFour silly decodable sentences like "A pig in a wig" to read and draw.
7. Color by Word FamilyA hidden picture made of words from the -ack, -ing, -ill, -ank, -ump and -est families. Includes an answer key.