LONG VOWEL TEAM SERIES · BOOK 1
Train Trip To The Bay
Help your child learn 92 words containing ai and ay for the long /ā/ sound through one memorable story - with printable flashcards, games and step-by-step guidance included.
92 focus words containing ai and ay
Focused practice with ai and ay for the long /ā/ sound
Story, flashcards and printable games
Step-by-step guidance for adults
The Story
About Train Trip To The Bay
Fay sets off by train to meet her friend Den for a picnic by the bay, but delays, stormy weather and a sneaky quail disrupt her journey. With quick thinking and help from her friends, the picnic goes ahead after all.
The story gives children repeated exposure to 92 focus words using ai and ay for the long /ā/ sound, helping them connect the spelling pattern with characters, events and images they can remember.
Spelling focus
ai, ay
Target sound
long /ā/
Focus words
92
Example Focus Words
ai: plain, rain, train, main
ay: tray, pray, clay, may
The Challenge
Does your child recognise the long /ā/ sound - but still guess which spelling pattern to use?
tail
or
tale
or
tayl
or
tael
?
pain
or
pane
or
payn
or
pene
?
pray
or
prey
or
prae
or
prai
?
The long /ā/ sound can be represented by several spelling patterns. A child may hear the sound correctly but still be unsure whether a word uses a, ai, ay, ea, ei, ey, eigh or another spelling.
Train Trip to the Bay gives children repeated, meaningful exposure to words in which ai and ay represent the long /ā/ sound.
The Solution
How This Book Solves It
Instead of asking children to memorise isolated word lists, Train Trip to the Bay places 92 words containing ai and ay for the long /ā/ sound inside one engaging and memorable story.
One Clear Spelling Focus
The story focuses on words in which ai and ay represent the long /ā/ sound. This gives children repeated exposure to the same sound-spelling connection without overwhelming them with competing patterns.
Words Connected to a Story
Each focus word appears in a meaningful context. Children can connect the word to a character, event or image from the story, making its spelling easier to recall.
Practice That Reinforces Learning
Included flashcards, games and activities help children revisit the focus words through reading, spelling and play - building familiarity, confidence and fluency over time.
Inside the Book
What's Included
An Engaging Story
A carefully written and illustrated story featuring 92 focus words in which ai or ay represents the long /ā/ sound.
Printable Flashcards
Story-linked flashcards featuring ai or ay words from Train Trip to the Bay, helping children connect each word with a character, event or image.
Games and Activities
Printable games using words from the story to provide repeated reading and spelling practice through play.
Complete Focus Word List
A full list of the words featured in the story, making it easy to review and practise the target spelling pattern.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Clear guidance showing parents, teachers and tutors how to use the story and companion resources effectively.
The Audience
Who Is It For?
Train Trip to the Bay is designed for school-aged children who need additional support recognising, reading and spelling words containing ai or ay for the long /ā/ sound.
It is especially helpful for:
Children who recognise the long /ā/ sound but are unsure which spelling pattern to use
Learners with dyslexia or other literacy difficulties
Children who find traditional isolated spelling lists difficult to remember
Learners who respond well to stories, illustrations and meaningful context
The story can be read independently, read together with an adult or read aloud, depending on the child’s current reading ability.
Feedback About Story Spellers
What Parents and Educators Say
I love the way the words are broken into syllables and how colour is used to highlight phonics patterns. The printable games and clear guidance will be very helpful for busy parents and educators.
I absolutely loved these books. It's such an interesting idea. Too often, instruction gets overlooked in schools. I am excited to see how the whole series pans out. This is definitely a unique way to teach kids.
I read the book to my son, and we played the games included with it. He enjoyed the story and completed the activities without complaining.
How to Use the Book
Instructions
Read the Story
Read Train Trip to the Bay to or with the child. Discuss the characters and important events so the story becomes familiar and memorable.
Recall the Words with Flashcards
Use the included flashcards to connect each ai or ay word with a moment from the story.
Example
Educator: (shows card ‘snail’)
Prompt: “Tell me a short sentence from the story.”
Student: “Fay had a pet snail.”
Practise Through Play
Use the included games and activities to revisit the ai and ay focus words through reading, spelling and play.
Practise Encoding and Decoding the Focus Words
If the student has difficulty spelling a word, remind them how the word appeared in the story to support their memory and reinforce learning.
Example
Educator: "Please spell tail, as in 'My cat has a fluffy tail'."
Student: “Is it tail or tale?”
Educator: “Remember, the stray dog wagged its tail when it saw Fay?”
Student: “It's from Fay's story, so I'll use 'ai' in the beginning and middle of words and 'ay' at the end.” (Writes: tail)
Please refer to the book for detailed step-by-step instructions.
The Results
What Children and Educators Gain
With repeated reading and practice, children build a stronger connection between the long /ā/ sound, the ai and ay spelling patterns and the meaning of each focus word.
What Children Gain
Greater familiarity with 92 words spelled with ai or ay
Improved recognition of ai and ay representing the long /ā/ sound
Stronger connections between sounds, spellings and meanings
Increased reading and spelling fluency through repeated practice
A memorable story context for recalling ai and ay words
What Educators and Parents Gain
A structured way to reinforce ai and ay for the long /ā/ sound
Ready-to-use flashcards, games and activities
Less time spent creating supplementary materials
A resource suitable for individual, small-group or classroom use
The goal is not simply to help children remember a list for the week - it is to help these spellings become familiar, meaningful and easier to retrieve when reading and writing.
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