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Beth's Clay Tray

Vowel Team — AY 1st-2nd Phase 4
Beth's Clay Tray
Beth's Clay Tray, page 1
1It was a fine day down by the bay. Beth sat on the damp sand with a plan. She had a big lump of gray clay.
Beth's Clay Tray, page 2
2"I will make a nice tray today," she said. Beth started to press and shape the wet clay. Then, a stray dog ran up.
Beth's Clay Tray, page 3
3He saw Beth and wanted to play. He got right in the way. He jumped and gave her a spray of sand.
Beth's Clay Tray, page 4
4Beth had to keep the dog off her clay. "No, you must stay back!" Beth said. "I say no!" The dog did not run off.
Beth's Clay Tray, page 5
5He just sat in the sand and looked at her. "I pray he does not step on it," Beth thought. She had to find a way to fix this.
Beth's Clay Tray, page 6
6Beth stood up. She grabbed a thick stick and lay it on the sand to make a line. "You can stay on that side of the stick," she told the dog.
Beth's Clay Tray, page 7
7"Then we can play." She tossed a small stick for the dog to fetch. The stray dog ran to get it.
Beth's Clay Tray, page 8
8Beth sat back down to work. She let a ray of sun bake her new tray. It was a very good day by the bay.
Circle or highlight all the target words in the story above.

Comprehension Questions

After reading, ask these questions to check understanding:

  1. Where did Beth sit with her clay?
  2. What did the dog spray on Beth?
  3. What baked Beth’s new tray at the end?
Keep practicing
Practice Vowel Team — AY with 10 more free worksheets

Picture worksheets to read, match and spell these words, plus this story's word sort, phrasing cards and word search.

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Reader Details

Phonics Skill Vowel Team — AY
Grade Level 1st-2nd
Phase Phase 4
Worksheets Vowel Team — AY Worksheets

Target Words

bay day hay jay lay may pay ray say way gray pray

Sight Words

the is a and to was it she he they said have with you are be

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About This Decodable Reader

“Beth's Clay Tray” is a free printable decodable reader designed for 1st-2nd students practicing vowel team — ay phonics patterns. This mini-book uses phonetically controlled vocabulary so beginning readers can successfully sound out nearly every word in the story, building confidence and reinforcing the specific phonics skills they're learning.

The free PDF is a full-color illustrated mini-book: a cover, eight picture pages with one or two lines of story text each, and a back page listing the vowel team — ay words, high-frequency words, and discussion questions. Print the five sheets, cut each one in half along the dashed line, and staple — your child has a real little book to hold. A read-aloud version with one large page per sheet is also included for projecting to the whole class.

This reader is part of our collection of free decodable readers organized by phonics skill and aligned with the Science of Reading. For additional practice with vowel team — ay patterns, try our vowel team — ay phonics worksheets which include word sorts, phrasing practice cards, and rapid naming charts.