Free printable · Sound: i_e
i_e Split Digraph Decodable Story – Spike Hides (Free Printable)
A short decodable story that practises the i_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 i say its name, so pin becomes pine.
- Hunt for the i_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 i_e split digraph (magic e). Suits Year 1 to Year 2.
- Tracing sheet uses the SA Beginners handwriting style.
- 63 words, 9 different i_e words, short sentences.
- Use for small-group reading, repeated reading for fluency, or homework.
- Photocopy freely for your class.
i_e words in this story
- white
- hide
- time
- pile
- wide
- smile
- pipe
- inside
- fire
Tricky words used
- is
- a
- he
- to
- one
- of
- mouse
- the
Common words that can't be fully sounded out yet. Practise them by sight.
More Longer words printables
Practise i_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.