Teaching AI and AY Phonics Spelling Patterns

Teaching AI and AY Phonics Spelling Patterns 

Hey, y'all! Have you ever had those moments in teaching where you look up something to help your students and you have a lightbulb moment of your own? I have these all the time when my students ask me why something is spelled a certain way or why a certain word doesn't follow the "rules" we've learned in our phonics lessons. Knowing these things at their age would have helped me become a better speller as a kid myself. Now that I know when to use "ai" and "ay" in spelling, I can make it easier for my students to use the correct spelling. Our AI and AY phonics games and interventions are a perfect way for students to practice reading the long a pattern and to know which to use in their own writing. 

If you're still learning these rules too, pull up a seat. We use "ai" when it comes in the middle of a syllable, and "ay" when it comes at the end of a syllable. Not the end of a word. In the word "pay," we spell the long a sound with "ay" since it's at the end of the syllable, not just because it's at the end of the word. The word "crayon," has the "ay" because we break the word into two syllables: "cray" and "on." The long a sound is at the end of the syllable. 

With words like "paid," there is a consonant after the long a sound in the same syllable, so "ai" would be used. In words like "available," we would first break it up into its syllables: a-vail-a-ble. The "vail" syllable has a consonant sound after the long a sound, making the spelling "ai." 

When students get this, their writing and spelling blossoms. Doing sound sorts helps students to put these phonics pieces together. We also play a racing game based on these spelling patterns. Students race to see which spelling pattern gets to the end first. They love this game and don't even realize they're learning!

We use these ai and ay phonics games in our literacy centers and during small groups. After teaching the skill whole class, we break into groups to practice. One group will be working on these during literacy centers, one will be reading to themselves, one group will be working on the district provided online program, and one will be with me at the small group table working on these games and interventions, as well as reading books focused on the spelling patterns we've learned and discussing comprehension questions. Sometimes, students even play these when they've finished their work early. 

As they get better at this, I throw in some sentence scrambles and Bump games to give them even more practice. At the end of the week, or when I feel they're ready for it, we'll do a Scoot game to assess how they're doing. We'll even use the cards as a quiz-quiz-trade game for review during our morning meeting. 

These phonics centers have made a huge difference for my students and they love to play them! You can find these AI and AY phonics games and interventions in my TPT store here. It's also part of a larger, growing bundle of phonics centers designed to last you the entire school year. You can check out the big bundle here. 

While you're there, be sure to follow me on TPT. I'm always adding new resources and freebies and you won't want to miss any of it! Several new things are on the way right now. 

I hope this helps make your phonics lessons go a little easier. Thanks for hanging out here. Have a wonderful week and I'll talk to you soon. 

Stay cozy,