Today I’m sharing a set of free short vowel worksheets to help your child spell simple words.
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I use very few worksheets with my preschooler – almost none, in fact. However, we’ve spent many months learning about short vowel words in a variety of hands-on ways. So I created a simple set of worksheets for some beginning spelling practice.
Don’t get me wrong. I really don’t expect my four-year-old to sit down and spell words with a pencil and paper. He’s still learning to write letters correctly, and proper penmanship is not something we’ll spend much time on until he’s closer to starting kindergarten.
But he can use alphabet stamps!
Short vowel worksheets
We started with a short a page, because short a is often the easiest short vowel for kids to hear. After seeing the picture of a bag, he knew that a b was first. I asked him what was next, and he said a “g.” This was an excellent guess and not a surprising one. In the writing that he’s doing, he does not often put a vowel in the words unless I prompt him.
But I know he’s ready to move on, so I made sure he left a spot for the vowel.
Then we looked at the word again. In the photo above, he’s checking his work.
After determining that the missing letter was an a, he moved onto the picture of a van. This time he remembered the a on his first time through.
He completed this page and part of another before he’d had enough for the day.
But you’ll find a lot more in the pack! Here’s how it breaks down:
- Page 1: Terms of Use
- Page 2: Answer Key
- Pages 3-6: Short a words
- pages 7-8: Short e words
- Pages 9-10: Short i words
- Pages 11-12; Short o words
- Pages 13-14: Short u words
- Pages 15-17: Mixed practice
You’ll even find pages with words that have beginning blends and digraphs, like this one. For the word crab, for example, your child will need to hear both the /c/ and /r/ sound in the first part of the word. This will be quite challenging for early readers and writers, so be sure to give assistance when needed.
Don’t have alphabet stamps? No problem! These pages are designed to fit perfectly with my free printable letter tiles. My beginning blend and digraph tiles will fit perfectly, too.
Be sure to check out some of my other free printables for short vowel words!
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M. G.
Love what you are doing for us….. those who really love to educate children.
You have a true caring heart and imagination to create the items for FREE.
Really like your short vowel pages, though was wondering if you were going to create short sound for letter “e” and “u” like the other vowels. (The nine page activities)
Thanks for all you do for us educators!!!!
Anna G
Yes, I’m sharing the short e worksheets later this week and the short u worksheets next month. 🙂
Diane
I love all of your games and worksheets that you post, and I think it’s so wonderful that you offer so many things free to print. I know that you create most of materials yourself, but was wondering if you’ve ever visited the Florida Center for Reading Research website. If you go to their website, fcrr.org, and click on FOR EDUCATORS and then STUDENT CENTER ACTIVITIES, you can access a ton of great games that are free to print off. I use this website and yours for a large portion of my homeschooling. Thanks again for all of your great activities!
Anna Geiger
Thank you, Diana – what a great resource!
Anna Geiger
*Diane* 🙂
Marcella
Hello. I am a new teacher, and I just love your website. It has been so helpful in my first year. My students love this activity so I was wondering if you had any more of these activities.
Thanks again.
Anna Geiger
Hello, Marcella!
I’m glad your students enjoy these stamp and spell sheets! Right now I do not have any more of these. Maybe in the future, but it’s not my plans right now. 🙂
Marcell
Hello. I am a new teacher, and I just love your website. It has been so helpful in
Tara Naveen
Thank you
Tara Naveen
Children learning reading programm.. In that they teached their kids earlier than 3 year.. So I’m interested to teach how to read.. So I asked you in my old comment.. My baby know letters and their sounds.. I don’t know what to do next.. I started blending but she not interested.. If you have any suggestions.. Please guide me.. Thank you
Anna Geiger
Hi Tara, I really don’t think that it’s necessary or even wise to teach children before age 3 to read. If your child isn’t interested, it’s because she’s not ready. My biggest advice to you is to read, read, and read to her. Try introducing “sounding it out” again in a few months to see if she wants to try. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but that’s exactly what I think you should do.