Jay's Birthday Play

Vowel Team — AY 1st-2nd Phase 4
Jay's Birthday Play

Today was Jay’s birthday! He went to play in the big sand pit. He could not make a big shape in the sand. The sand was not wet, and it felt too fine. A little stray kit came to play in the sand. Jay saw it.

Jay ran to his dad. “Dad, I want to play in the sand,” Jay said. “The sand is not wet.” Dad went to get a hose. He gave Jay a wet spray. Jay gave the sand a good spray. He made a big pile of wet sand.

Jay saw the stray kit. He took the kit. He gave it a bed of hay. “Stay here, little kit,” Jay said. Then Jay went to play. What a good day!

Circle or highlight all the AY vowel team words in the story above. How many did you find?
2-page PDF: story + coloring page • No signup required
Jay's Birthday Play coloring page illustration
Coloring page included in PDF

Reader Details

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

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

“Jay's Birthday Play” 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 2-page PDF includes the reading passage on page one and a coloring page illustration on page two. Print both pages, staple together, and your child has an instant mini-book. The coloring activity reinforces story comprehension and makes reading practice feel like a fun activity rather than homework.

This reader is part of our collection of 50 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.