Why does English spell long i so many ways?

English borrowed spellings from several languages and kept them all. The good news: each spelling has favorite positions, and the sort makes those positions visible.

Is the gh in night really silent?

Completely. Igh works as a single team that says long i. Centuries ago the gh had a sound; the spelling stayed after the sound left.

1st grade long i teams (igh, ie)

1st grade long i teams (igh, ie) worksheets

Igh and ie are the two big spelling teams for long i. First graders sort words like night, high, pie, and tie, and start noticing that igh often comes before t while ie usually takes the end.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core RF.1.3.c.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of words you'll complete and sort

Fill in the missing letters to make a real word, then write the whole word in its column.

h (far up, like a kite)nttluntflt

Columns: igh and ie. The clue (far up, like a kite) picks igh for "h_", so high goes under igh; Only ie turns "l_" into a real word, so lie goes under ie.

Every print pulls a new set of words at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 1st grade sheet

1st grade sheets draw from 26 words, 10 to a page. 1st and 2nd grade print from the same 26 words. What changes is the standard (RF.1.3.c here) and the teaching notes below. 2nd grade sheets print 14 to a page.

Some of the words:

nightbrightmidnightpietiefliesskiesuntienecktiemagpie

Complete and sort. Fill in the missing letters to make a real word, then write the whole word in its column. 10 words per page.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Teach igh as one chunk: three letters, one sound, gh silent. Have your child circle the team in each word before sorting. Chunk-spotting is the skill that later conquers words like frightening.

Watch for: The gh in igh is completely silent; it is part of the vowel team, not a sound. Kids who try to pronounce it need to see igh as one glued-together piece. Position is a strong hint, not a law: igh usually comes before t (night, right, light) but also ends words like high and sigh, and ie usually ends short words (pie, tie). Noticing where each team stands is the real lesson of the sort.

Common questions about 1st grade long i teams (igh, ie)

Why does English spell long i so many ways?: English borrowed spellings from several languages and kept them all. The good news: each spelling has favorite positions, and the sort makes those positions visible.
Is the gh in night really silent?: Completely. Igh works as a single team that says long i. Centuries ago the gh had a sound; the spelling stayed after the sound left.

Related worksheets

Ready to print one?

Need a fresh set of words? Download another copy.

Aligned to Common Core RF.1.3.c. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated October 2026.

Spot a mistake on this sheet? Tell us. · About these worksheets