Do you teach phonemic awareness and phonics? Do you follow the science of reading? These phonics word ladders (or word chains) are critical for your teaching reading toolbox!

⭐️⭐️--Digital Update - March 27, 2024---⭐️⭐️

I have now added DIGITAL versions of ALL the word ladder resources that have been formatted for use with Google Drive! You can access them at no extra cost in the BONUS file section!

Phonemic and phonics are vital to teaching reading to the science of reading. These word ladder worksheets will help your students connect phonemic awareness TO phonics through word ladders (also knows as word chains).

How do the word ladders work?

1. Look and identify the picture. (answer key/clip art key provided)
2. Use the cut out letter cards (provided on the bottom of the worksheet) to build the word.
3. Write the word. Then go down the "ladder" to the next picture.
4. Repeat the process until students get to the "bottom of the ladder". One sound (phoneme) will change in each picture. Students slide down the letters that stay the same, and change the sound/letter that does not.
   1. The sound placement (beginning, middle, end, etc.) changes throughout each page, so students practice manipulating sounds in ALL parts of the word.

Note: The letter cards are not meant to be glued down onto the page. Letters are meant to be "slid down" the ladder as sounds remain the same (and switched out where the sounds change)!

Not only does this activity reinforce basic phonetic principles such as recognizing letters and sounds, it also encourages critical thinking skills as students must figure out which letter changes will result in new words being formed.

Whether used in the classroom or at home, phonics word ladders offer an enjoyable way for kids of all ages to become more confident readers!

Available NOW

• CVC Word Ladders - 15 pages
• Digraphs Word Ladders - 15 pages
• Beginning Blends Word Ladders - 16 pages
• CVCe - 21 pages
• Long Vowel Teams - 22 pages
• Diphthongs - 10 pages
• R-Controlled Vowels - 11 pages

How many pages are included?

• There are 15 pages of mixed CVC practice , 15 pages of mixed Digraph practice, 16 pages of mixed Beginning Blends practice, 21 pages of mixed CVCe practice, 22 pages of mixed Long Vowel Team practice, 10 pages of mixed Diphthong practice, and 11 pages of mixed R-Controlled Vowel practice included. A total of 110 pages.

Are the target skills practice separately (For example, only short a CVC words on one page?

• No, all target skills are mixed on each page throughout the packet.

Are answer keys included?

• Yes, there is an answer key for every page.