Long vowels: silent e phonics worksheets
Aligned with Common Core RF.1.3c
Printable silent e phonics worksheets for first grade: picture word choice, long or short vowels, a silent e sort and sentences with kit and kite style pairs.
The worksheets
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Silent E Chart
Twelve short and long word pairs, like cap and cape, showing what a silent e does.
Which Word?
Ten pictures, each with a short vowel and a silent e word to choose from.
Long or Short?
Twelve words, some with silent e and some without.
Silent e Sort
Twelve silent e words to sort by vowel.
Silent e Sentences
Ten sentences with a pair like kit and kite to choose from.
Color by Short or Long Vowel
A hidden picture made of word pairs like cap and cape, kit and kite, and hop and hope. Includes an answer key.
Print the whole packet
One copy of every sheet above, in order. Tap + for more copies (up to 10).
For the parent or teacher
What it is
When a word ends in a vowel, a consonant and an e (like cake, kite, bone and cube), the e is silent and makes the first vowel say its name. That's called a long vowel. Comparing pairs like cap and cape helps kids see exactly what the e does. Silent e is usually the first long vowel pattern children learn in phonics.
What comes next
Vowel teams, where two vowels work together to make a long vowel sound.
How to teach it
- Read pairs side by side: kit, kite. tap, tape. Ask "What changed?"
- Call it the bossy e or magic e. It jumps over a letter and makes the vowel say its name.
- Use a card with an e on it. Slide it onto the end of short words and read the new word.
- Sort words into short and long before reading sentences.
Common mistakes
- Reading the e out loud, like kite-ee.
- Using the long vowel for every word after learning silent e, like reading cap as cape.
- Not noticing the e at the end. Have your child look at the last letter first.