SpellwrenNo login

Spellwren / Phonics lists / Vowel team ai and ay

Vowel team ai and ay spelling words

A vowel team is two letters that spell one vowel sound. Here ai (middle of a word) and ay (end of a word) both spell long a.

Edit this list

13 pages, made in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

The list

Vowel team ai and ay class list
#WordLettersWord shapeShort list
1rain4short, short, short, shortyes
2mail4short, short, short, tallyes
3wait4short, short, short, tallyes
4tail4tall, short, short, tallyes
5paint5tail, short, short, short, tallyes
6day3tall, short, tail
7play4tail, tall, short, tail
8stay4short, tall, short, tail
9may3short, short, tail
10say3short, short, tail

Short list: the first 5 words, for children who need fewer.

Challenge words
Challenge wordLettersWord shape
train5tall, short, short, short, short
snail5short, short, short, short, tall
spray5short, tail, short, short, tail
today5tall, short, tall, short, tail
chain5short, tall, short, short, short

Challenge words: ai and ay with blends, digraphs or two syllables. The short and challenge versions are part of the school-year pass (free during launch); open the list in the packet maker to add them.

Closest Common Core standards (suggested grade: 1 to 2)

  • RF.1.3.c: Know final -e and common vowel team conventions for representing long vowel sounds.
  • RF.2.3.b: Know spelling-sound correspondences for additional common vowel teams.

Standard wording checked on 2026-11-10 against the English Language Arts standards document published by the Council of Chief State School Officers. The grade and the match to this list are our reading, not an official alignment. Spellwren is not affiliated with the standards' authors.

Pages from this packet

Spelling homeworkNameDo one row each night. Tick the box when you finish.Vowel team ai and ay: 10 wordsrainmailwaittailpaintdayplaystaymaysayMondayTrace and write (pages 2 to 3)Grown-up initialsTuesdayWord shapes and ABC order (pages 4 to 5)Grown-up initialsWednesdayMissing letters and word scramble (pages 6 to 7)Grown-up initialsThursdayWord search, then look, cover, write, check (pages 8 to 9)Grown-up initialsFridaySpelling test in class. Bring this packet back.Vowel team ai and ayFree packet from spellwren.pages.dev1
Homework menu
Trace and writeNameTrace each word. Then write it again beside it or on the next line.1rain2mail3wait4tail5paintVowel team ai and ayFree packet from spellwren.pages.dev2
Trace and write
Word shapesNameWrite each word in the boxes that fit its shape. Tall, short and tail letters each have their ownbox.Word bankdaymailmaypaintplayrainsaystaytailwait12345678910Vowel team ai and ayFree packet from spellwren.pages.dev4
Word shapes
Missing lettersNameFill in the missing letters. Then write the whole word.Word bankdaymailmaypaintplayrainsaystaytailwait1tal2wit3pnt4ply5my6ran7mal8dy9sy10styVowel team ai and ayFree packet from spellwren.pages.dev6
Missing letters
Word searchNameFind and circle each word. Words go across and down.eswnplaycgtndmmjatfajagvtwtvywyjrcaawfktmkpiiyaygaratljaswiaiixecawlingymaypfnttsrainmailwaittailpaintdayplaystaymaysayVowel team ai and ayFree packet from spellwren.pages.dev8
Word search
Spelling testNameDate/ 10Score12345678910Vowel team ai and ayFree packet from spellwren.pages.dev10
Spelling test

Questions

What is a vowel team, and when do you use ai or ay?

A vowel team is two letters that spell one vowel sound. Here ai (middle of a word) and ay (end of a word) both spell long a.

How many pages is the packet?

13 pages for this 10-word list at the 5/8 inch line size on US Letter paper: a teacher page, the homework menu, 8 practice pages, the Friday test and 2 answer key pages.

Can I change the words?

Yes. Press "Edit this list" to open the list in the packet maker, change any word, pick a line size and download again. Lists up to 10 words are free.

More lists