Magic e
Add an e to the end. Read the new word. The vowel now says its name!
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This is sheet #26724601.
How to do it
- Read the short word.
- Add an e to the end and write the new word.
- Read it again. The vowel says its name!
Teaching tip
Read each pair out loud together, like "cap, cape". Hearing both makes the pattern click. This sheet is aligned with Common Core L.1.2d.
About this worksheet
Add a silent e to change short words into long vowel words, then match words to pictures.
What kids practice
In first grade, spelling grows out of phonics. Kids learn to hear each sound in a word and write a letter for it, starting with short words like cat and sun. Then they learn patterns, like word families (cat, hat, mat) and the magic e that changes kit into kite.
Watch for
- Leaving out the vowel, like writing ct for cat.
- Mixing up short e and short i, like writing pin for pen.
- Writing letters in the wrong order, especially the last two sounds.
- Adding an e to every word once they learn magic e.
It's free to print, with an answer key. See the full spelling with phonics patterns guide for 1st grade.
More sheets in this set
- See it all
1. Spelling Patterns ChartSound boxes for cat, ship and frog, the five short vowel sounds with pictures, magic e pairs like cap and cape, and the -at word family. 
2. Sound BoxesTen pictures of short words with one box for each sound.
3. Missing VowelTwelve pictures of short words with the vowel missing. A vowel bank sits at the top.
4. Word Family HousesFour word family houses. Some of the letters make real words and some do not.