Lesson 53 • Vowel Digraph AI (āi = /eɪ/)

BOOK 1 • WHEELER'S SPELLER PRIMARY PHONICS CURRICULUM • LESSON 53 STUDENT PRACTICE WORKSHEET

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1 Read and write each word carefully.

gain /ɡeɪn/

fail /feɪl/

laid /leɪd/

aid /eɪd/

rain /reɪn/

nail /neɪl/

paid /peɪd/

aim /eɪm/

grain /ɡreɪn/

wail /weɪl/

wait /weɪt/

paint /peɪnt/

2 Sort words by their rhyming pattern.

-ain Words

-ail Words

-aid Words

Other ai Words

3 Write three original sentences using words from above.

4 Orthographic Discovery: Answer each question.

a. What vowel sound does the digraph ai make?

b. Where does ai usually appear in base words?

📖 RULES TO REMEMBER • LESSON 53

Rule 1 • Digraph AI

Two vowels standing together: the a is long and the i is silent (āi).

Rule 2 • Position in Base Words

ai is used at the beginning (aid, aim) or in the middle (rain, wait), never at the end of a word.

Rule 3 • Irregular Spelling

pay becomes paid, and lay becomes laid (irregular past tense spelling with -id).