1 Decodable Reading Passage

A short, decodable story embedding short i words. Students read the passage then highlight all the target words.

Pip's Big Wish

Skill: Short I • Sight Words: the, is, a, and, to, was

Coloring page included in PDF

Pip, a pig, had a wish. He wanted a big fig. He wanted to win a prize. Pip saw a fig high up. It was a big, ripe fig. Pip did not know how to get it. He saw a bin. Pip began to dig under the bin. He dug and dug in the mud. He found a pin! It was a good, big pin. "This pin will help," said Pip. He hit the fig with the pin. The fig fell down. Pip did not want it to rip. He ran to get it. He did not let it rip! Pip ran to sit on a mat. He had his big fig. He took a sip of milk. "I will win!" said Pip. He had a good, big fig now.

Circle or highlight all the short I words in the story above. How many did you find?

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2 Word Sort

Cut out the word cards and sort them into the correct columns: Real Words vs Nonsense Words.

Real Words

Nonsense Words

sit

hit

bit

pig

big

dig

win

lip

zip

zit

bim

hig

lig

rin

dib

fip

gid

vig

nip

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3 Phrasing Practice Cards

Practice reading these phrases for fluency. Cut out the cards and read them quickly and smoothly.

the big pig

sit on it

a bit of jam

dig in the mud

pin on her lip

rip the bin

a tin lid

tip and dip

Kim and the pig

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4 RAN Chart (Rapid Naming)

Read each word in the grid as quickly as you can. Time yourself and try to beat your best time!

Decodable RAN Chart — Short I

big

lip

sit

pig

lip

big

sit

big

pig

sit

lip

pig

Target words: sit, pig, big, pin, lip

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Free Printable Short I CVC Words (Story 2)

The short 'i' sound, as heard in words like "sit" and "pig," is a crucial consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) pattern often introduced early in kindergarten. It’s a foundational short vowel because its mouth position is relatively straightforward compared to other vowels, yet it frequently causes confusion with the short 'e' sound (as in "pin" vs. "pen") or even the long 'e' sound if children over-articulate. Young learners might mispronounce "kit" as "ket" or struggle to differentiate "big" from "beg." The subtle shift in tongue placement between 'i' and 'e' requires careful attention, making consistent practice with minimal pairs essential for solidifying this specific vowel sound. Mastering short 'i' builds confidence for tackling more complex vowel patterns. Our short 'i' worksheets provide targeted practice to overcome these challenges. When working through "Pip's Big Wish," encourage your child to sound out each word, focusing on the quick, crisp 'i' sound in words like "win" and "lip." Use the decodable passage to build fluency, pointing out how many short 'i' words Pip encounters. The word sort activity helps children visually categorize words like "dig" and "rip," reinforcing the consistent spelling pattern. For extra support, use the phrasing cards to practice reading short 'i' words in meaningful chunks, improving prosody. Finally, the Rapid Automatic Naming (RAN) chart for short 'i' words helps develop instant recognition, a key component of reading fluency.

For more early literacy resources, explore our sight word flashcards, tracing worksheets, handwriting worksheets, and coloring pages.

Short I CVC Words (Story 2)

1 Decodable Reading Passage

2 Word Sort

3 Phrasing Practice Cards

4 RAN Chart (Rapid Naming)

📖 Decodable Readers

Free Printable Short I CVC Words (Story 2)

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