Step-by-step English Level 2: Spelling ai and ee words
Part of the Step-by-step English Level 2 long vowel sounds: ai and ee chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Spelling ai and ee words
To spell a word with ai or ee, write the two letters together.
Spell snail as s, n, ai, l. Spell feet as f, ee, t.
Keep the pair together, then finish the rest of the word.
Key ideas
- Keep ai together.
- Keep ee together.
- Spell from the first sound to the last.
Method. Say the name slowly, then write its letters in order.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.snail
- Put the letters in order. Start with the first sound.s - n - ai - l
- Read the letters from left to right. Check the word matches the picture.snail
- Write the answer. snail
Check. Read the letters back: s - n - ai - l. They make snail. ✓
Watch out. Each letter goes in the order of the sounds, not in alphabetical order.
Method. Say the name, then check which spelling has the right letters.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.t - ai - l
- Check each spelling. Only one spelling uses the right letters.tail is right; tale is not
- Write the answer. B
Check. tail matches the picture. ✓
Watch out. tale is not a word we use for this picture.
Method. Say the name slowly, then write its letters in order.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.feet
- Put the letters in order. Start with the first sound.f - ee - t
- Read the letters from left to right. Check the word matches the picture.feet
- Write the answer. feet
Check. Read the letters back: f - ee - t. They make feet. ✓
Watch out. Each letter goes in the order of the sounds, not in alphabetical order.
Watch out
Watch out: ai and ee must stay together. Do not write a and i in separate places.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask the child to write the pair first, then the other letters. Accept neat letters.
Exercise 4D Practice: spelling ai and ee words
Method. Say the name, then check which spelling has the right letters.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.t - r - ee
- Check each spelling. Only one spelling uses the right letters.tree is right; tre is not
- Write the answer. A
Check. tree matches the picture. ✓
Watch out. tre is not a word we use for this picture.
Method. Say the name slowly, then write its letters in order.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.train
- Put the letters in order. Start with the first sound.t - r - ai - n
- Read the letters from left to right. Check the word matches the picture.train
- Write the answer. train
Check. Read the letters back: t - r - ai - n. They make train. ✓
Watch out. Each letter goes in the order of the sounds, not in alphabetical order.
Method. Say the name, then check which spelling has the right letters.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.sh - ee - p
- Check each spelling. Only one spelling uses the right letters.sheep is right; sheap is not
- Write the answer. B
Check. sheep matches the picture. ✓
Watch out. sheap is not a word we use for this picture.
Method. Say the name slowly, then write its letters in order.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.nail
- Put the letters in order. Start with the first sound.n - ai - l
- Read the letters from left to right. Check the word matches the picture.nail
- Write the answer. nail
Check. Read the letters back: n - ai - l. They make nail. ✓
Watch out. Each letter goes in the order of the sounds, not in alphabetical order.
Method. Say the name, then check which spelling has the right letters.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.b - ee
- Check each spelling. Only one spelling uses the right letters.bee is right; be is not
- Write the answer. A
Check. bee matches the picture. ✓
Watch out. be is not a word we use for this picture.
Method. Say the name slowly, then write its letters in order.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.seed
- Put the letters in order. Start with the first sound.s - ee - d
- Read the letters from left to right. Check the word matches the picture.seed
- Write the answer. seed
Check. Read the letters back: s - ee - d. They make seed. ✓
Watch out. Each letter goes in the order of the sounds, not in alphabetical order.
Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.
- Read each choice. Check which one fits.ee / ai / oa
- Find the one that fits. sail has ai in the middle.ai is choice B
- Write the answer. B
Check. Read ai in the sentence or list again. ✓
Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.