Silly Suffixes Decodables UFLI Lesson 99 • Decodable Passage 1
The Foxes and the Red Boxes
Name: ___________________
Date: ___________________
Focus Rule Add -es after hissing sounds: x, sh, ch, s, z (sounds like /ɪz/).
Target: -es after x & sh
Word Warm-Up (Read Before You Begin)
boxes
foxes
pushes
rushes
wishes
crashes
fixes
catches
mixes
bushes
Story Text Total Words: 124
Rex has six big red boxes . He stacks the boxes on the back deck. Two red foxes run past the garden fence. The foxes sniff the tall grass and stop. Rex watches from the back glass window.
One sly fox pushes a red box with his wet nose. The box tips and crashes onto the dirt! Dry twigs and acorns spill across the path. Rex rushes out the door and shouts, "Shoo, pups!"
The quick foxes dash across the yard and jump over low green bushes . Rex catches his breath and chuckles. He picks up the split lids and fixes the damaged corners. Rex wishes the clever foxes would hunt for snacks deep in the woods instead!
Phonics Check: Base Word Breakdown
Separate each word into its base word and suffix (-es):
foxes = ______ + ______
rushes = ______ + ______
fixes = ______ + ______
Passage 1 Accuracy Score: _____ / 124 Self-Check: [ ] Read 3 Times Smoothly
UFLI Lesson 99 • Decodable Passage 2
Lunch on the Park Benches
Name: ___________________
Date: ___________________
Focus Rule Base words ending in ch and tch add -es for plurals & verbs.
Target: -es after ch & tch
Word Warm-Up (Read Before You Begin)
benches
sandwiches
bunches
peaches
dishes
clutches
finches
branches
watches
crunches
Story Text Total Words: 129
Tess and Mitch sit on long green park benches under the shaded pine branches . Mitch unpacks two turkey sandwiches wrapped in wax paper and sets out two paper dishes . Tess pulls out sweet bunches of chilled purple grapes and two ripe peaches .
Four ducks waddle along the gravel walkway. Mitch crunches on pretzel sticks and tosses a small crust. Tess watches as a plump duck snatches the crumb and quacks with joy. Tiny wild finches flutter down from the leafy branches to join the feast.
Tess clutches her lunch sack tightly so the bold birds do not peck inside. A dog barks in the distance, and the flock pitches into the air. Tess and Mitch finish their hearty lunches , wipe the sticky juice from their hands, and brush the crumbs away.
Syllable Beat Count (Clap & Count)
Write the syllable count for each word. Notice how -es adds an extra syllable!
bench __ syllable
benches __ syllables
peach __ syllable
peaches __ syllables
Passage 2 Accuracy Score: _____ / 129 Partner Checked: [ ] Yes [ ] No
UFLI Lesson 99 • Decodable Passage 3
The Big Buzz in the Grasses
Name: ___________________
Date: ___________________
Focus Rule Base words ending in s, ss, or z add -es (sounds like /ɪz/). Compare with suffix -s !
Target: -es after s, ss, z & contrast
Word Warm-Up (Read Before You Begin)
buzzes
grasses
glasses
classes
breezes
dresses
kisses
passes
misses
fizzes
Story Text Total Words: 131
Warm summer breezes sweep across the valley. The wind bends the tall green grasses near the science garden. A fat bumblebee buzzes softly around yellow sunflowers. Miss Ross guides two science classes along the pebble trail.
Miss Ross adjusts her sun glasses and holds up her clipboard. A golden bee buzzes close to Sam. Sam freezes in his tracks and misses a step. He holds his breath until the bee zooms past his cap. "Do not swat," Miss Ross gently instructs. "The bee just wishes to drink sweet plant nectar."
The group passes three wooden beehives sitting by the fence. A cool gust brushes their necks. As the morning bell rings, each student rushes back to the steps with big smiles. Miss Ross praises the class for being calm nature detectives!
Suffix Rule Sorter
Look at the end of each base word. Does it need -s or -es ? Circle your answer:
dish +s | +es
frog +s | +es
fuzz +s | +es
plant +s | +es
Passage 3 Accuracy Score: _____ / 131 Goal: 95%+ Accuracy
Clock Fixer Fluency Reader UFLI Lesson 99 • Fluency Reader
Gus Fixes the Grand Clocks
Name: ___________________
Date: ___________________
Directions: Read for 1 minute. Mark the last word read. Count words read and subtract errors.
Goal: 60+ WCPM
Old Gus sits at his workbench under two bright lamps. Gus fixes grand wooden clocks and shiny pocket watches . On his shelves, dozens of brown boxes hold brass gears, tiny screws, and silver springs.
34
When a dusty grandfather clock stops , Gus rushes to help. He takes off his coat and brushes lint from the pendulum. He reaches inside the glass frame with a slim wrench. Sometimes a tiny bent spring catches on a cog and misses a tick.
79
Gus mixes drops of smooth oil in a small tin. He touches each spinning wheel with a soft cloth. When grease splashes onto the wooden base, Gus wipes it clean with quick strokes. He tests the hands until each pointer passes the twelve smoothly.
125
Suddenly, three tall clocks strike noon! High brass bells ring, and miniature wooden birds pop out of little latches . Gus smiles as the chimes echo through the room. Every clock now ticks , tocks , and buzzes in perfect harmony. Gus packs his tools and locks the shop.
174
Fluency Progress Tracker (3 Timed Reads)
Formula: Total Words Read – Errors = WCPM
Cold Read (1)
Words: _____
Errors: _____
WCPM: _____
Practice Read (2)
Words: _____
Errors: _____
WCPM: _____
Final Read (3)
Words: _____
Errors: _____
WCPM: _____
Turn to Page 2 for the Comprehension Questions.
UFLI Lesson 99 • Comprehension Check
Comprehension Questions
Story: Gus Fixes the Grand Clocks
Directions: Fill in the circle next to the best answer for each question based on the story.
1. What does Gus repair at his workbench?
A) Wagons and bicycles
B) Grand clocks and pocket watches
Suffix Squad Exit Ticket UFLI Lesson 99 • Quick Check
10-Word Verbal Reading Exit Ticket
Student: ___________________
Date: ___________________
Teacher Note: Student reads the 10 words aloud from the card below. Record accuracy and suffix pronunciation.
1-on-1 Check
Student Reading Card (Point and Read Aloud)
5 Real Words + 5 Nonsense Words
1 dishes
2 boxes
3 benches
4 plums
5 claps
6 ★ chashes
7 ★ smoxes
8 ★ plenches
9 ★ drezzes
10 ★ fluts
Words 1–5: Real Words ★ Words 6–10: Decodable Nonsense Words
Teacher Scoring & Phoneme Diagnostic Matrix Score: 1 pt per correct word
# Target Word Type Base Word Ending Sound Check Error Notes / Observations 1 dishes Real dish /ɪz/ (+1 syl) [ ] ______________________________ 2 boxes Real box /ɪz/ (+1 syl) [ ] ______________________________ 3 benches Real bench /ɪz/ (+1 syl) [ ] ______________________________ 4 plums Real plum /z/ (no syl) [ ] ______________________________ 5 claps Real clap /s/ (no syl) [ ] ______________________________ 6 chashes Nonsense chash /ɪz/ (+1 syl) [ ] ______________________________ 7 smoxes Nonsense smox /ɪz/ (+1 syl) [ ] ______________________________ 8 plenches Nonsense plench /ɪz/ (+1 syl) [ ] ______________________________ 9 drezzes Nonsense
Suffix Showdown Slides UFLI Lesson 99 Morphology & Phonics
Foundations Focus
Suffix Showdown:
-s and -es
Discover when base words need -s and when they must have -es to make a whole new syllable!
Goal: Decode inflected words with 100% accuracy Base Word + Inflectional Ending
Listen to the Endings!
Auditory Warm-Up
/s/
Unvoiced -s
Fingers on throat: no buzz!
cats
hops
/z/
Voiced -s
Fingers on throat: vocal buzz!
dogs
runs
/ɪz/
Suffix -es
Adds an EXTRA syllable!
fox•es
dish•es
Key Takeaway: Suffix -s stays 1 syllable. Suffix -es adds a brand new syllable beat!
The Hissing Sound Rule for -es
Spelling & Reading Rule
If the base word ends in a Hissing Sound (ch, sh, s, ss, x, z),
you MUST ADD -es to say and spell it smoothly!
-ch / -tch bench + es = benches
-sh dish + es = dishes
-x box + es = boxes
-s / -ss / -z buzz + es = buzzes
Try saying "boxs" without -es... you can't! That is why our mouths need /ɪz/!
Syllable Beat Clapper
Kinesthetic Practice
Base Word Only
1 Clap 👏
fox
bench
wish
buzz
With Suffix -es
2 Claps 👏👏
fox • es
bench • es
wish • es
buzz • es
Say each word aloud together and clap the beats!
Nonsense Word Detective!
Phonics Mastery Test
These silly words aren't real, but real phonics rules tell us exactly how to read them!
Base: chash chash•es /tʃæʃɪz/
Base: smox smox•es /smɑksɪz/
Base: plench plench•es /plɛntʃɪz/
Base: drezz drezz•es /drɛzɪz/
Base: flut (no hissing!) fluts /flʌts/ (1 beat)
Base: quig (no hissing!) quigs /kwɪgz/ (1 beat)
If it ends in a hissing sound, add -es and say /ɪz/!
Ready for Decodable Reading!
Student Practice
Passage 1
The Foxes and the Red Boxes
Spot suffix -es after x and sh!
Target words: boxes, foxes, pushes, rushes