Free printable · Sound: a_e
a_e Split Digraph Decodable Story – Kate and the Wave (Free Printable)
A short decodable story that practises the a_e sound, plus a matching handwriting sheet. Every word can be sounded out by a child who has learned longer words, apart from a few common tricky words.
Download the free PDF (2 pages, A4)Prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use.
For parents
- Read the story together three times this week. Your child colours a star each time.
- Point to each word as they read. Magic e: the e at the end is silent but makes the a say its name, so cap becomes cape.
- Hunt for the a_e words and write six of them in the boxes.
- Finish with the tracing sheet: trace the grey words, then write each one on its own.
For teachers
- Fits a systematic synthetic phonics sequence at Set 4 · Longer words, after teaching the a_e split digraph (magic e). Suits Year 1 to Year 2.
- Tracing sheet uses the QLD Beginners handwriting style.
- 68 words, 6 different a_e words, short sentences.
- Use for small-group reading, repeated reading for fluency, or homework.
- Photocopy freely for your class.
a_e words in this story
- spade
- make
- cave
- wave
- shape
- whale
Tricky words used
- go
- to
- the
- has
- a
- they
- is
- of
Common words that can't be fully sounded out yet. Practise them by sight.
More Longer words printables
Practise a_e with Digby
In Wombat Words, your child reads stories like this one aloud and Digby follows along, then they trace the tricky words in their school's handwriting style. You get a report showing which sounds they've mastered.