Spelling the 'ay' sound with 'ei' or 'ea' | English | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Match the common 'ay' spelling to the word.
- ay
  
  ⇔
  
  clay ✓
- a-e
  
  ⇔
  
  plate ✓
- ai
  
  ⇔
  
  fail ✓
Match the rare 'ay' spelling to the word.
- a
  
  ⇔
  
  apron ✓
- eigh
  
  ⇔
  
  sleigh ✓
- ey
  
  ⇔
  
  they ✓
Correct the spelling in bold in this sentence. I was layt to school.
- late ✓
- lait
- lat
- leyt
Correct the spelling in bold in this sentence. I way the ingredients for my recipe.
- wai
- wey
- weigh ✓
What is the correct spelling for the word in bold in this sentence? The bird swooped to catch its pray.
- prai
- preigh
- prey ✓
Correct the spelling in this sentence. I wore an aypron to protect my clothes.
- 'apron' ✓

Match the rare spellings of the 'ay' phoneme to the word.
- ei
  
  ⇔
  
  vein ✓
- ea
  
  ⇔
  
  break ✓
- a
  
  ⇔
  
  apricot ✓
Which word is a homophone for the word 'grate'?
- greet
- great ✓
- green
Which word is a homophone for the word 'break'?
- brake ✓
- beak
- bake
Correct the spelling in bold in this sentence. Queen Elizabeth's rain lasted a long time.
- rein
- reign ✓
- rane
Which of these spellings for the 'ay' phoneme like to be in the middle of words?
- ay
- ei ✓
- ey
- eigh ✓
- ai ✓
Correct the spelling in bold in this sentence. My vain in my arm pumps the blood around my body.
- 'vein' ✓

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Common spellings for the 'ay' phoneme are 'ay', 'a-e' and 'ai'.
Alternative and rarer spellings for the 'ay' phoneme are 'ei', 'eigh', 'ea', 'a' and 'ey'.
When exploring words including the same phoneme, you often find homophones.
Using the strategy 'big letters' is a useful practice strategy.
Words in word families often have similar spellings.

Children may forget the most common spellings and use the most recently learnt spellings.

Always emphasise prior learning. Show examples of words including incorrect and correct spellings to discuss (e.g. train and trean).