Tricky Words Worksheet — Phase 1-2 (Free PDF)

The first tricky words a beginning reader needs — I, me, the, be, to, was — to read and write from memory.

What’s inside

• An instructions page with a worked example.
• One practice page: I, me, the, be, to, was and the other earliest tricky words, each with a line to write it.

Every word in this PDF (18)

Handy for checking the list fits your child before printing, or for making your own games.

I, me, the, be, to, was, no, my, go, you, into, they, he, all, she, are, we, her

How to use it

1. Read the word and point to its tricky part (the e in "the").
2. Say it, sound it, then write it from memory.
3. Check and correct.
4. Pair each word with a short decodable sentence that uses it.

Watch out for

• Most of these words are only tricky in one letter (the e in "the", the o in "to") — sound out the rest.
• I is always a capital letter — point it out when writing.
• Introduce no more than a few tricky words a week; the study plan groups them in fives.

Who it’s for

Ages 4–5, Stages 1–2. The study plan's first tricky-word lessons use this group.

Where it fits: Stage 2 — The Rest of the Alphabet

Goes well with

• Tricky Words List (Free PDF): Phase 2 to 5 Words
• Lesson: the first tricky words