A comprehensive explicit phonics lesson on vowel teams ai and ay (/ā/) adhering to the UFLI Foundations routine. Includes instructional slides, three decodable passages, a timed fluency reader with comprehension questions, a 10-word verbal exit ticket with nonsense words, and an instructional teacher guide.
What two things did Ray make using his tray of clay?
UFLI Lesson 84 • Decodable Passage 3
The Big Train Delay
Focus: Mixed ai & ay
Name:
Date:
Spelling Rule Review ai = middle • ay = end
train delay rails stay paid away
Jay and his sister May took a long trip by train today. Their granddad paid for the silver train fare so they could visit the bay. Jay held a mailbag full of snacks, and May brought her sketchbook to paint on the way.
Chug-chug went the engine down the steel rails. But midway into the day, the train groaned and came to an abrupt stop. The conductor stepped onto the main car with a megaphone.
"I must claim your attention," the conductor said. "A heavy rainstorm caused a delay on the main rail trail. We must wait until workers clear the fallen pine branches away."
Jay felt upset that they had to wait. "Will we stay stuck here all day?" he asked May. May smiled and pulled out her tin of paint. "Do not let the delay ruin our day! We can paint the hills and play guessing games until the whistle blows." Soon, the rails were cleared, the engine puffed gray smoke, and the train sailed away safely down the track to the bay.
Sort the Words from the Passage Write 3 words in each column
ai in the middle
ay at the end
Check Your Understanding:
Why did the conductor say the train had a delay?
A Her boat ran out of fuel
B She lost her mail pouch in the water
C Gray clouds brought cold rain and heavy waves
D The lighthouse beacon turned off
3. How did Gale show bravery when the boat began to sway?
A She jumped into the water and swam
B She stayed calm and held the main rope tight
C She called for the train to stop
D She dropped the sails and gave up
4. What guided Gale safely toward the harbor in the storm?
A Bright rays flashing from a silver lighthouse
B The horn of a large cargo train
C A flock of gray sea birds
D Her captain waving a green flag
5. Which word from the story has the vowel team that comes at the end of a base word?
A spray
B pouch
C trail
D rain
Prove It in the Text!
Write the exact words from the story that explain what Gale did instead of panicking:
1. Dictated Word: (middle /ā/)
vowel
2. Dictated Word: (end /ā/)
vowel
3. Dictated Sentence: Teacher: "We can stay and play in the rain."
Checklist: [ ] Capital Letter [ ] Finger Spaces [ ] ai/ay Spelled Correctly [ ] Period at End
Mastery Decision:
Mastered (≥ 8/10) Progressing (6-7/10) Needs Small Group Reteach (≤ 5/10)
Teacher Lesson Plan • Routine & Keys
Lesson 84: Application & Answer Keys
Steps 5 to 8
5 Word Work Chains (6 min)
Students use sound letter boards to build and manipulate:
Chain A (ai): ran → rain → train → trail → snail
Chain B (ay): day → say → clay → play → stray
6 Irregular Heart Words (4 min)
Map regular vs. irregular phoneme parts:
today: "to" has irregular /ōō/; "day" is regular /d/ /ā/.
away: "a" is schwa /ə/; "way" is regular /w/ /ā/.
always: "al" is /aw/ /l/; "ways" is regular /w/ /ā/ /z/.
7 Connected Text Reading & Dictation (Steps 7 & 8) 10-12 min
Decodable & Fluency Routine Use Tale Trail Decodables & Bay Trail Fluency Reader. 1st read: Whispering accuracy. 2nd read: Choral fluency. 3rd read: 1-minute timed partner check.
Dictation Protocol (Exit Ticket Part C) 1. Say word/sentence twice. 2. Students pound syllable, tap finger sounds. 3. Students write in sound boxes. Sentence: "We can stay and play in the rain."
Comprehensive Assessment Answer Keys
Bay Trail Fluency MC Key (5/5)
1. B: Deliver paid mail pouch to dock
2. C: Gray clouds brought cold rain and heavy waves
3. B: Stayed calm and held main rope tight
4. A: Bright rays flashing from silver lighthouse
5. A: "spray" (has ay at end of word)
Prove It: "Gale did not panic or complain."
Sound Sprint Exit Ticket Key (10 Words)
1. chain [Real, ai] • 2. tray [Real, ay]
3. traip [Nonsense, ai] • 4. sprain [Real, ai]
5. snay [Nonsense, ay] • 6. stray [Real, ay]
7. flaim [Nonsense, ai] • 8. braid [Real, ai]
9. blay [Nonsense, ay] • 10. delay [Real, ay]
Dictation 1: paint • Dictation 2: clay
Tier 2 Differentiation & Common Misconceptions
Visual Cue Support: For students who confuse ai/ay positions, use a stop sign on the right margin of paper: "Stop! If it touches the stop sign, it needs ay!"
Nonsense Word Support: Remind students that nonsense words follow the exact same phonetic rules as real words. Tap phonemes sound-by-sound before blending.
UFLI Lesson 84 Instructional Pack • Aligned with Science of Reading & Explicit Systematic Phonics
