controlled patterns, grown-up stories · free from Sure Step Education
Decodable Passages · 1 of 6Focus: short vowels
The Last Shift
Closed syllables — short vowels, plus everyday sight words.
Name
Date
Dan has the last shift at the dock. A truck backs in, and the men lift box after box onto the belt. The clock ticks past ten. Dan checks his list: six bags, ten tubs, one big black trunk. The wind snaps at his vest, but Dan does not stop. At the end, the boss nods. “Good job, Dan. Rest up.” Dan grins, grabs his bag, and jogs to the bus stop.
Pattern words: shift · dock · truck · backs · lift · box · belt · clock · ticks · past · checks · list · six · bags · tubs · big · black · trunk · wind · snaps · vest · stop · nods · job · rest · grins · grabs · bag · jogs · bus
Quick check
Where does Dan work his last shift? at the dock
Who tells Dan “Good job”? the boss
Decodable Passages · 2 of 6Focus: silent-e
A Late Ride
Vowel–consonant–e words, plus everyday sight words.
Name
Date
June’s bike ride home is five miles. She takes the wide lane by the lake, where the pines make shade. The sun dips, and the sky fades. June checks the time — late. She picks up the pace. At the gate she taps the brake, slides to a stop, and smiles. Made it home safe, with time to spare.
Pattern words: June · bike · ride · home · five · miles · takes · wide · lane · lake · pines · make · shade · fades · time · late · pace · gate · brake · slides · smiles · made · safe · spare
Quick check
How long is June’s ride home? five miles
What does June tap at the gate? the brake
Decodable Passages · 3 of 6Focus: vowel teams
Rain on the Coast Road
Teams ai, ay, ea, ee, oa, ow — plus everyday sight words.
Name
Date
Rain streaks the coast road all day. Dean keeps the speed low and stays in his lane. The wipers sweep, and the beams glow on the wet road. He dreams of a seat by the heater and a deep sleep. At the end of the day, the rain eases. Dean parks the van and treats the team to sweet tea down on the beach.
Decodable Passages · 4 of 6Focus: r-controlled vowels
Her First Storm
ar, or, er, ir, ur — plus everyday sight words.
Name
Date
Marta parks her car by the curb and darts for the porch. Her first storm on the farm is here. The wind whirls; the barn door jerks and slams. Marta grips the cord hard and ties it firm. Thunder barks far off. By morning the yard is a mess, but the barn stands. Marta smirks — her first storm, and the farm is fine.
Pattern words: Marta · parks · her · car · curb · darts · porch · first · storm · farm · whirls · barn · jerks · cord · hard · firm · barks · far · morning · yard · smirks
Quick check
What jerks and slams in the wind? the barn door
When does Marta see the messy yard? by morning
Decodable Passages · 5 of 6Focus: digraphs
The Lunch Rush
sh, ch, th, wh, tch, ck — plus everyday sight words.
Name
Date
The lunch rush hits the chip shop fast. Trish chops fresh fish; Mitch runs the till and checks the cash. “Which dish?” he asks each guest. Shrimp in a bun, chips with a pinch of salt, thick shakes. Dishes clink and flash. Then, at three, the rush thins. Trish and Mitch share the last batch of chips and a rich, thick shake. Such is the shop: mad dash, then hush.
What do Trish and Mitch share at three? the last batch of chips
Decodable Passages · 6 of 6Focus: two-syllable words
The Winter Market
VC·CV words — split between the middle consonants — plus everyday sight words.
Name
Date
Each winter, Justin sets up a basket stand at the market. He stacks muffins in napkins and pins a magnet sign to the tin roof. Sudden gusts rattle the tunnel of tents, but the vendors carry on. A contest starts at noon: the best basket wins a blanket. Justin’s basket has a problem — a bent handle — but he fixes it fast and wins. Winter at the market is never dull.