ShortControlled connected reading
Short E Decodable Passages
Three original reading levels with word previews and comprehension
Practise short E in connected text after learners can distinguish it from short A and short I. Each passage increases the amount of mixed review without asking the learner to guess from pictures.
Before reading a passage
A passage is decodable only when its spelling patterns match what the learner has already studied. Preview the listed focus words and any temporarily irregular high-frequency words before beginning.
Three levels
Short E reading practice
Ben and the Red Hen
Ben had a red hen in a pen. Ben fed the hen at ten. The hen pecked and then sat on a bed of grass. Ben let the hen rest. At ten past ten, the hen got up again.
Check understanding
- What color was the hen?
- When did Ben feed it?
- Where did the hen rest?
Meg Gets a Pet
Meg met a pet at the vet. The pet was wet and had a red leg. Meg held the pet and set it on a bed. The vet said the pet could rest. Meg felt glad when the pet got well.
Check understanding
- Where did Meg meet the pet?
- Why was it set on a bed?
- How did Meg feel at the end?
The Shell on the Step
Beth left a shell on the step. The shell had a fresh sea smell. When the wind swept past, the shell fell next to a chest. Beth went to get it and set it back on the step.
Check understanding
- Who left the shell?
- What made it fall?
- Where did Beth put it at the end?
Use evidence from the reading
Support accuracy, fluency, and meaning
Point to the unfamiliar spelling and ask the learner to say its sounds before blending.
A second accurate, expressive reading is enough. Speed without attention to print is not the goal.
If several words in each sentence require help, review the matching word families first.
Have the learner point to the sentence that supports each comprehension answer.
Offline reading
Print these passages
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